Pattern of pediatric trauma - An analysis of hospital data at Sheikh Zayed Hospital,Rahim Yar Khan

Objective: to identify the epidemiology,site of trauma,mechanism of trauma,hospital stay and outcome of trauma patients along with the role of pediatric trauma score in children. setting: department of pediatric surgery sheikh zayed medical college,rahim yar khan. duration with dates: ten (10) months (january -2012 to october-2012) study design: analytical type methods: one hundred and five patients including neonates,infants,children and young adults up to 12 years of age presenting in emergency department due to trauma and fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included in the study. a comprehensive proforma was prepared. results: out of 105 patients,77(73.3%) were male and 28(26.7%) were female. maximum number of patients 66(62.9%) were 5-12 years of age. five neonates suffered from birth trauma and 27(25.7%) were 1-5 years of age. most common cause of trauma was road side accident 43(41%). other causes of injury were falls 22(21%),fire arm injury 9(8.6%),blunt trauma abdomen 8(7.6%),dog bite 6(5.71%),beaten by stick 5(4.76%),bamboo injury 5(4.76%),burns 4(3.80%) and fight 3(2.91%). abdominal trauma was most common site of injury 33(31.4%) and explorative laparotomy was performed in 28(26.67%) cases. pediatric trauma score was 9-12 in 75(71.4%) cases. major surgery was performed in 37(35.2%) cases under general anesthesia and 76(72.4%) cases were cured without any morbidity. mortality rate was 7.62% (n=8). conclusion: the mechanisms and number vary with age,gender,race,parental education,social class and economic status. awareness of these variations can assist clinicians in the management of pediatric trauma victims. analysis of these variations can also help us to develop ways of preventing childhood injuries from occurring in the first place.