@article{ref1,
title="Emergency department imaging of pediatric trauma patients during combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan",
journal="Pediatric radiology",
year="2018",
author="Naylor, Jason F. and April, Michael D. and Roper, Jamie L. and Hill, Guyon J. and Clark, Paul and Schauer, Steven G.",
volume="48",
number="5",
pages="620-625",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Military hospitals in Iraq and Afghanistan treated children with traumatic injuries during the recent conflicts. Diagnostic imaging is an integral component of trauma management; however, few published data exist on its use in the wartime pediatric population. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: The authors describe the emergency department (ED) utilization of radiology resources for pediatric trauma patients in Iraq and Afghanistan. <br><br>MATERIALS AND METHODS: We queried the Department of Defense Trauma Registry (DODTR) for all pediatric patients admitted to military fixed-facility hospitals in Iraq and Afghanistan from January 2007 to January 2016. We retrieved ED data on ultrasound (US), radiographic and computed tomography (CT) studies. <br><br>RESULTS: During the study period, there were 3,439 pediatric encounters, which represented 8.0% of all military hospital trauma admissions. ED providers obtained a total of 12,376 imaging studies on 2,920 (84.9%) children. Of the 12,376 imaging studies, 1,341 (10.8%) were US, 4,868 (39.3%) were radiographic and 6,167 (49.8%) were CT exams. Most children undergoing radiographic evaluation were boys (77.8%) and located in Afghanistan (70.4%), and they sustained penetrating injuries (68.0%). Children who underwent imaging had higher composite injury severity scores in comparison to those who did not undergo imaging (10 versus 9). <br><br>CONCLUSION: Military health care providers frequently utilized radiographic studies in the evaluation of pediatric trauma casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan. Deployed military hospitals that treat children would benefit from dedicated pediatric-specific imaging training and protocols.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0301-0449",
doi="10.1007/s00247-017-4065-9",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00247-017-4065-9"
}