Major trauma with multiple injuries in Swedish children.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the demographics, mechanisms, pattern, and severity of injury, the prehospital and hospital care during the first 24 hours, and the outcome in the most severely injured children in a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU).


METHODS
Retrospective review.


METHODS
Paediatric intensive care unit (PICU), Sweden.


METHODS
45 children (0-16 years of age) with multiple injuries admitted to the PICU in Gothenburg from January 1990 to October 2000, inclusive.


METHODS
Mortality within 30 days after injury.


RESULTS
About 2/100000 children with multiple injuries were admitted to the PICU from the greater Gothenburg area each year from 1990-2000 inclusive. Injuries were more common in boys (n = 29, 64%). The mean age was 7 years (SD 5). Traffic related events (n = 29, 64%) and falls (n = 11, 24%) were the leading causes of injury. Thoracic and abdominal injuries were the most common (17% and 16% respectively). Three children died.


CONCLUSIONS
Major trauma with multiple injuries is rare in Swedish children. When they are cared for at a centre with the necessary facilities and trained personnel they have a good chance of survival.
Franzén
Lena
L
The Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University/Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Sweden. franzen.lena@swipnet.se
Ortenwall
Per
P
Backteman
Torsten
T
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D008297:Male; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D015996:Survival Rate; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices