Taylor Goldman1, Sathyaprasad Burjonrappa1,2. 1. Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Florida, USA. 2. Rutgers State University of New Jersey, 1 Robert Wood Johnson Place, MEB 504, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901 New Jersey, USA.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Pediatric nonaccidental trauma (NAT) is difficult to diagnose. Several isolated injuries in NAT could happen in the setting of accidental trauma (AT), and having a high index of suspicion is important to correctly identify abuse. NAT has a significant mortality rate if the sentinel event is not adequately diagnosed, and the infant is not separated from the perpetrator. Level 1 pediatric trauma centers (PTC) see a significant number of NAT. We evaluated the injury patterns of NAT admissions at our level 1 PTC. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of all cases of NAT for children under the age of two admitted at an ACS level 1 pediatric trauma center between the years of 2016 and 2018. Charts were queried for demographic data, injury patterns, mortality, and disposition. Correlation between disposition status and injury patterns was performed. The Fisher Exact test and student t-test were used to study the significance of differences in categorical and continuous data, respectively. RESULTS: 32/91 (35%) trauma patients under the age of two years were diagnosed as NAT in the three-year study period. 21/32 (39%) male and 11/26 (42%) female admissions were confirmed NAT (p = NS). 20 were under 1 year of age, and 12 were aged between 1 and 2 years (p = NS). 13 (41%) were Caucasian, 6 (19%) were Hispanic/Latino, 11 (34%) were Black, and 2(6%) were of unknown ethnicity (p = NS). Facial, torso, lower extremity, retinal, and internal organ injury were significantly more common with NAT. Medicaid coverage was noted in 31/32 (97%) NAT patients. 20/32 (62.5%) patients were legally displaced as a result of the NAT. CONCLUSION: 1/3rd of all admissions at a pediatric level 1 trauma center were identified as NAT. A high index of suspicion is necessary to not miss NAT, as injury patterns are variable. Nearly 1/3rd of all victims go back to the same environment where they sustained NAT increasing their susceptibility to future NAT.
INTRODUCTION: Pediatric nonaccidental trauma (NAT) is difficult to diagnose. Several isolated injuries in NAT could happen in the setting of accidental trauma (AT), and having a high index of suspicion is important to correctly identify abuse. NAT has a significant mortality rate if the sentinel event is not adequately diagnosed, and the infant is not separated from the perpetrator. Level 1 pediatric trauma centers (PTC) see a significant number of NAT. We evaluated the injury patterns of NAT admissions at our level 1 PTC. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of all cases of NAT for children under the age of two admitted at an ACS level 1 pediatric trauma center between the years of 2016 and 2018. Charts were queried for demographic data, injury patterns, mortality, and disposition. Correlation between disposition status and injury patterns was performed. The Fisher Exact test and student t-test were used to study the significance of differences in categorical and continuous data, respectively. RESULTS: 32/91 (35%) trauma patients under the age of two years were diagnosed as NAT in the three-year study period. 21/32 (39%) male and 11/26 (42%) female admissions were confirmed NAT (p = NS). 20 were under 1 year of age, and 12 were aged between 1 and 2 years (p = NS). 13 (41%) were Caucasian, 6 (19%) were Hispanic/Latino, 11 (34%) were Black, and 2(6%) were of unknown ethnicity (p = NS). Facial, torso, lower extremity, retinal, and internal organ injury were significantly more common with NAT. Medicaid coverage was noted in 31/32 (97%) NAT patients. 20/32 (62.5%) patients were legally displaced as a result of the NAT. CONCLUSION: 1/3rd of all admissions at a pediatric level 1 trauma center were identified as NAT. A high index of suspicion is necessary to not miss NAT, as injury patterns are variable. Nearly 1/3rd of all victims go back to the same environment where they sustained NAT increasing their susceptibility to future NAT.
Authors: Yangyang R Yu; Annalyn S DeMello; Christopher S Greeley; Charles S Cox; Bindi J Naik-Mathuria; David E Wesson Journal: J Pediatr Surg Date: 2018-02-10 Impact factor: 2.545
Authors: Emalee G Flaherty; Jeannette M Perez-Rossello; Michael A Levine; William L Hennrikus Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2014-01-27 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: Tessa Sieswerda-Hoogendoorn; Stephen Boos; Betty Spivack; Rob A C Bilo; Rick R van Rijn Journal: Eur J Pediatr Date: 2011-10-28 Impact factor: 3.183
Authors: Ashley P Marek; Rachel M Nygaard; Ellie M Cohen; Stephanie F Polites; Anne-Marie E Sirany; Sarah E Wildenberg; Terri A Elsbernd; Sherrie Murphy; D Dean Potter; Martin D Zielinski; Chad J Richardson Journal: BMC Res Notes Date: 2018-07-28
Authors: Jonathan Thackeray; Peter C Minneci; Jennifer N Cooper; Jonathan I Groner; Katherine J Deans Journal: BMC Pediatr Date: 2016-01-16 Impact factor: 2.125