Trends in pediatric trauma management.

Injuries are the leading cause of death in children 1 to 14 years old and result in permanent disabilities for thousands of children each year. Blunt trauma accounts for more than 60% of childhood injuries. Head trauma is most common, but the most severely injured children have multisystem injuries, frequently of the extremities, chest, and abdomen. The child's response to injury differs from that of the adult, and specific patterns are seen with blunt injury; recognition of these patterns is essential for proper management. The general surgeon coordinates the total care of the injured child, including the efforts of a variety of medical specialists, to provide cohesive and efficient care.