Shaylan K Govind1, Neil H Merritt2. 1. Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada. Electronic address: sgovind2017@meds.uwo.ca. 2. Trauma Program, London Health Sciences Centre and Children's Hospital, London, ON, Canada; Department of Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada; Department of Paediatrics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada. Electronic address: neil.merritt@lhsc.on.ca.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The objective of our study was to identify the most common mechanisms of injury leading to death in our pediatric population. METHODS: A retrospective cohort of fatally injured children 0-17 years old treated at our trauma center during 2000-2015. RESULTS: The mortality rate in our population was 8% (n = 103). Fifty-five percent were male. The majority (76%) of fatal injuries were blunt. Overall, motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) were the most common mechanism of injury (61%), followed by assault/abuse (9%). Of the deaths caused by MVCs, 37 (59%) were occupants, 11 (17%) were pedestrians, and 6 (10%) were cyclists. In the infant sub-population, assault/abuse was the most common mechanism of injury. CONCLUSION: MVCs were the leading cause of death in this population. In the infant subpopulation (<1 year), abusive head trauma emerged as the leading mechanism. Injury prevention programming should target abusive head trauma in infants and teen road safety.
BACKGROUND: The objective of our study was to identify the most common mechanisms of injury leading to death in our pediatric population. METHODS: A retrospective cohort of fatally injured children 0-17 years old treated at our trauma center during 2000-2015. RESULTS: The mortality rate in our population was 8% (n = 103). Fifty-five percent were male. The majority (76%) of fatal injuries were blunt. Overall, motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) were the most common mechanism of injury (61%), followed by assault/abuse (9%). Of the deaths caused by MVCs, 37 (59%) were occupants, 11 (17%) were pedestrians, and 6 (10%) were cyclists. In the infant sub-population, assault/abuse was the most common mechanism of injury. CONCLUSION: MVCs were the leading cause of death in this population. In the infant subpopulation (<1 year), abusive head trauma emerged as the leading mechanism. Injury prevention programming should target abusive head trauma in infants and teen road safety.
Authors: Agnieszka Genowska; Jacek Jamiołkowski; Krystyna Szafraniec; Justyna Fryc; Andrzej Pająk Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-05-22 Impact factor: 3.390