Penetrating chest injuries in children: a review of 94 cases.

Ninety-four children with penetrating chest injuries were treated at Dicle University School of Medicine during a 6-year period. The mean age was 11.51 +/- 3.31 years, and the male:female ratio was 5.25:1. Forty-five had stab wounds, 27 had high-velocity gunshot wounds, 13 had low-velocity gunshot wounds, seven had a bomb (shrapnel) injury, one had a shotgun wound, and one had a horse bite. Sixty patients had isolated thoracic injuries, and 34 had associated injuries. The most common thoracic injury was hemothorax (28), followed by hemopneumothorax (25). Tube thoracostomy alone was sufficient in 79.8% of the patients (75 of 94). Thoracotomy was performed in 4.25% (4 of 94). In two of the five observed patients, delayed hemothorax developed. The mean duration of hospitalization was 5.13 +/- 1.93 days. The mean Injury Severity Score was 14.71 +/- 8.62. Prophylactic antibiotics were used in all patients. The morbidity rate was 8.51% (8 of 94). Only one death occurred after cervical tracheal repair. The study suggests that the majority of penetrating chest injuries in children can be treated successfully by tube thoracostomy alone or in conjunction with expectant observation.