RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Epidemiology of pediatric trauma in Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
JF Saudi Medical Journal
JO Saudi Med J
FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City
SP 808
OP 814
DO 10.15537/smj.2023.44.8.20230292
VO 44
IS 8
A1 Mansour M. Almalki
A1 Mohammed E. Almalki
A1 Nedaa Alsulaimani
A1 Shahad Tariq
A1 Taif Alqahtani
A1 Fawaz Baalaraj
A1 Mohammed Ageel
YR 2023
UL http://smj.org.sa/content/44/8/808.abstract
AB Objectives: To explore the epidemiology and patterns of pediatric trauma in addition to length of hospital stay and outcome.Methods: A single-center retrospective study of 605 patients aged 14 years and younger was carried out from January to December 2022. The study included all patients who experienced intentional or unintentional trauma aged 14 years or below in 2022 and excluded trauma that did not prompt an emergency room visit.Results: Most pediatric trauma cases involved boys (69.1%, n=418), and girls comprised only 30.9% (n=187). Trauma was most common in children one to 5 years old (41.5%, n=251). Falling from a height was the most common mode of injury in both girls and boys (n=253, 41.8%). The most common body parts involved were the extremities (n=357, 59%), followed by the head (n=210, 34.7%). Most children were transferred to hospital via emergency medical services (n=234, 38.7%). In most cases, the child was admitted to the surgical ward (n=458, 75.7%), while others were managed in the emergency department without admission (n=93, 15.4%). Most patients were stable after receiving standard care (n=558, 92.2%).Conclusion: To reduce health care expenses and improve public health outcomes, prioritizing preventive measures is crucial. This includes increasing public awareness, implementing safety protocols, and enacting government regulations to prevent avoidable injuries.