Trauma Characteristics of Primary-school-age Children in the Emergency Department | 2004, Volume 4, Issue 2

E. M. Sözüer¹, İbrahim İkizceli¹, L. Avşaroğulları², Y. Yürümez², Y. Yavuz², M. Yücel²

¹Erciyes Üniveristesi Tıp Fakültesi, Acil Tıp Anabilim Dalı, Kayseri
²Kocatepe Üniveristesi Tıp Fakültesi, Acil Tıp Anabilim Dalı, Afyon

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: School-age children may undergo injuries in various places such as school, street and home. The aim of this study is to investigate causes, types, monthly frequencies and results of injuries of primary school- age-children in our region and to recommend some precautions for preventing these injuries.
METHOD: In this retrospective study, emergency department records (patient log) and charts in the medical archives were reviewed. The charts of pediatric trauma patients admitted to our emergency department between June 1999 and May 2000 were evaluated.
RESULTS: There were 548 trauma patients between the ages of 6 and 13. Males underwent injury more than females (males: %67.5). The highest number of patients was admitted in July and in summer. The majority of causes were falls. Traffic accidents were the second most frequent cause. Head was the most frequently injured body region. The hospitalization rate was %34.5. Neurosurgery department admitted the highest number of patients.
CONCLUSION: Injuries are happened mostly in July, in summer. The most frequent causes are falls and traffic accidents. Children do not go to the school and spend their time at outside in this period; these are may be the causes of the accidents. Preventive cautions should decrease these accidents.