Abstract

BACKGROUND
Based on our previous study, pediatric intentional trauma injuries with Injury Severity Scores (ISS) ≥ 12 were more commonly observed in the urban than the rural setting (15.2% vs. 5.5%) in Alberta from 1996 to 2006. We wish to understand differences between urban and rural pediatric intentional trauma to plan for prevention and supportive strategies.
METHODS
Data were extracted from the Alberta Trauma Registry on pediatric patients (0-17 years) with ISS ≥ 12, treated from 1996 to 2010 at the Stollery Children's Hospital. Statistical analysis was made comparing urban versus rural groups using t test and χ2 with p < 0.05 considered significant.
RESULTS
There were 170 pediatric patients who suffered intentional injury (urban = 58.3%; rural = 41.8%; not significant), with a majority of males (72.4%). Two groups were predominant: the very young (<1 year) at 17.1% of all injuries and the teens (≥ 15 years) at 54.1%. The cause of intent injury was child abuse (31.2%), assault with blunt object (24.6%), assault with a sharp object (22.9%), and suicide (18.2%). The mean ISS was 22.9 ± 7.8 standard deviation. Tragically, 29 patients (17.1%) died. There were no differences between urban and rural pediatric trauma in terms of age, gender, cause of injury, ISS, survival, length of stay, pediatric intensive care unit length of stay, number of operations needed, or alcohol.
CONCLUSION
An important pattern of intentional injuries can be seen where preventative efforts can be strengthened regardless of urban or rural area: the very young as shaken baby cases and the teens, who unfortunately, accounted for the majority of suicidal attempts.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Avdimiretz N, Phillips L, Bratu I

Institution

Department of Pediatric General Surgery, Stollery Children's Hospital, University of Alberta, Alberta, Canada.

Source

The journal of trauma and acute care surgery 72:4 2012 Apr pg 1031-4

MeSH

Adolescent
Age Factors
Alberta
Chi-Square Distribution
Child
Child Abuse
Child, Preschool
Female
Humans
Infant
Injury Severity Score
Length of Stay
Male
Registries
Rural Population
Sex Factors
Urban Population
Wounds and Injuries

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22491622