TITLE:
Child and Adolescent Trauma Epidemiology: Insights from a Comprehensive Retrospective Review of 4568 Pediatric Trauma Cases
AUTHORS:
Zhaoyin Su, Yifu Zhu, Xiangyu Wang, Weitao Wang, Kun Wu, Liyuan Wang, Yao Liu, Junlong Qin, Binhao Zhang, Rubing Lin, Yatao Liu, Nerlich Michael
KEYWORDS:
Trauma and Injury, Pediatric Trauma, Trauma Center, Epidemiology, Disease Analysis
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.12 No.12,
December
31,
2024
ABSTRACT: Objective: The exploration of epidemiological patterns of trauma in underage patients serves as a critical reference for the prevention and treatment of trauma in minors. Methods: Data from all cases at the trauma center of the First Hospital of Lanzhou University were collected for the period from November 1, 2020, to October 31, 2023. Cases involving underage trauma patients with complete and quality-controlled data were selected for retrospective analysis. The data analyzed included age, gender, time of trauma, cause of trauma, and major injured body parts. Results: A total of 4568 underage trauma patients were identified, comprising 3093 males and 1475 females, resulting in a male-to-female ratio of 2.10:1. Trauma incidents were most prevalent between April and October, with fewer occurrences in November and December. Daily trauma incidents peaked between 18:00 and 22:00, while fewer incidents were recorded from 00:00 to 08:00. Among children aged 0 to 6 years, the highest number of injuries was observed. Falls were the predominant cause of trauma, accounting for 52.78%. In terms of the main injured body parts, the limbs/skin were the most affected (60.22%), followed by the head/neck region (32.03%). A statistically significant disparity was observed in the association between distinct causes of trauma and major injured body parts (P Conclusion: Trauma among minors occurs more frequently in males than in females, with the highest incidence observed among preschool-aged children. Falls are the primary cause of these injuries. Strengthening fall prevention measures, particularly for preschool-aged children, along with enhancing their self-protective awareness and traffic safety consciousness, can effectively reduce the incidence of injuries among minors, thereby safeguarding their health and well-being.