Pattern of paediatric trauma seen in a teaching hospital

Abstract EN

During the ten year period between 1982-92, 882 ehildren below the age of 14 years old were admitted to the paediatric sur؛؛؛eal wards at King Fahd Uni-versity Hospital at Al-Khobar.

Of these there were 301 ehildren admitted with fractures and dislocation, 205 boys and 96 girls a ratio of 2.1:1.

The ages ranged from one day to 14 years old, the average age being 5.97 years old.

The children sustained 318 fractures and one dislocation.

The cause of injury in 195 (64.8 %) cases was falling outside the home, 78 (26 %) were the result of car accidents and 28(9.2 %) children were injured at home.

Forty-four (14.6 %) had as-sociated injuries and in this group more than 50 % had head injuries.

There were 170 upper limb and 138 lower limb injuries.

There were no deaths.

Our analysis indicate that simple falls and blunt trauma were the major causes of hospital admission, and that injuries due to road traffic accidents are on the rise.

We conclude that health and safety education should be made part of the school curriculum and parents should be taught through the media how to protect their children from motor vehiele accidents.

Even in the absence of specialised trauma centres, standard eare should be provided to patients with routine trauma.