Frequency and Etiology of Pediatric Trauma, Experience at Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract: Objectives: To determine etiology and spectrum of trauma in children and to make recommendations for its prevention. Materials and Methods: This Hospital based Retrospective observational study was conducted in Department of Pediatric Surgery King Edward Medical University / Mayo Hospital Lahore from March 2021 to February 2022. All patients presented in Pediatric Surgical emergency King Edward Medical University/ Mayo Hospital Lahore were included in this study. Data regarding age, gender, mechanism and severity of trauma and its management was analyzed and recorded on a prescribed Performa. Results: During the study period a total of 3850 patients having trauma were presented in pediatric surgical emergency. There were 2206 (57.3%) male patients and 1644 (42.7%) females with male to female ratio of 1.3:1. Majority of children affected were 8 to 10 years age. Burn trauma was noted in 2400 (62.3%) while 1450 (37.7%) patients have poly trauma due to different etiological factors. Regarding burn trauma, majority of patients 1620 (67.5%) were having scald burn injury. Pedestrians 260 (17.9%) hitting with motor vehicle was noted to be major mechanism of trauma. Conclusion: Motor vehicle collision is most common mechanism of pediatric trauma after pediatric burn injury. There is a need for parental education and strict implementation of traffic laws to prevent trauma at pediatric age group.