M Bachier-Rodriguez1, J Freeman1, A Feliz2. 1. Division of Pediatric Surgery, University of Tennessee, Health Science Center, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, 51 North Dunlap, Suite 230, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA. 2. Division of Pediatric Surgery, University of Tennessee, Health Science Center, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, 51 North Dunlap, Suite 230, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA. Electronic address: afeliz@uthsc.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Firearm injuries have the highest case-fatality rate among pediatric trauma related deaths. We sought to determine whether demographics, mechanism of injury, and outcomes were age specific. METHODS: We performed a 5 year retrospective analysis of patients 0-19 years old with firearm related injuries. Children were divided into two cohorts based on age. Mann-Whitney and Pearson's X2 were used to compare continuous and categorical variables, respectively. Significance was established at p < 0.05. DATA: Compared to their younger counterparts, children >15 years old were more likely to be male (82% vs. 90%, p = 0.02), African-American (71% vs 89%, p < 0.0001), and injured due to assault (76.9% vs 44.6%, p < 0.0001). Mortality rates for children <14 was 1.4 times the national average (10.7% vs. 7.5%) while the rate for children >15 was 3.9 times the national average (12.4% vs. 3.2%). CONCLUSION: Firearm injuries continue to be a prevalent public health concern greatly affecting African-American adolescent males. Prevention strategies and trauma related healthcare resource utilization should target this group in order to reduce the risk of injury and improve outcomes and case-fatality in our population.
BACKGROUND: Firearm injuries have the highest case-fatality rate among pediatric trauma related deaths. We sought to determine whether demographics, mechanism of injury, and outcomes were age specific. METHODS: We performed a 5 year retrospective analysis of patients 0-19 years old with firearm related injuries. Children were divided into two cohorts based on age. Mann-Whitney and Pearson's X2 were used to compare continuous and categorical variables, respectively. Significance was established at p < 0.05. DATA: Compared to their younger counterparts, children >15 years old were more likely to be male (82% vs. 90%, p = 0.02), African-American (71% vs 89%, p < 0.0001), and injured due to assault (76.9% vs 44.6%, p < 0.0001). Mortality rates for children <14 was 1.4 times the national average (10.7% vs. 7.5%) while the rate for children >15 was 3.9 times the national average (12.4% vs. 3.2%). CONCLUSION: Firearm injuries continue to be a prevalent public health concern greatly affecting African-American adolescent males. Prevention strategies and trauma related healthcare resource utilization should target this group in order to reduce the risk of injury and improve outcomes and case-fatality in our population.
Authors: Miriam Y Neufeld; Megan G Janeway; Su Yeon Lee; Matthew I Miller; Erin A Smith; Bindu Kalesan; Lisa Allee; Tracey Dechert; Sabrina E Sanchez Journal: Am J Surg Date: 2020-07-08 Impact factor: 2.565