Urban paediatric trauma due to stab wounds: an Israeli hospital experience.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the incidence and types of stab wounds to hospitalized children and adolescents.


METHODS
The sample consisted of patients, age 6-18 years, who were admitted to our hospital with sustained injury between 1991 and 2007.


RESULTS
In total, 83 patients were admitted as a result of penetrating (n = 51) and superficial (n = 32) injuries. Eighty-two were hospitalized, and one was declared dead upon arrival. Only 11 patients were hospitalized during the 1991-2000 period, and 71 during the 2001-2007 period. Ten patients were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU); 23 patients were operated (hospital mortality = 0). Evacuation time (time from injury to hospital) was 10 min (mean time; maximum 35 min).


CONCLUSIONS
This study found higher rates of hospitalization compared with those over a decade ago. These rates reflect not only changes in hospitalization trends and/or population growth in the hospital area but also an increase of urban violence. Israeli hospitalization system deals with paediatric trauma effectively, being well trained because of permanent terrorist activity.
Abu-Kishk
Ibrahim
I
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Assaf HaRofeh Medical Center affiliated to the Sakler Medical School, Tel-Aviv University, Zerifin, Israel.
Vaiman
Michael
M
Eshel
Gidon
G
Lotan
Gad
G
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014754:Violence / Q000639:trends; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*