Objective: The exploration of epidemiological patterns of trauma in underage patients serves as a critical reference for the prevention and treatment of trauma in minors. Methods: Data from all cases at the trauma center of the First Hospital of Lanzhou University were collected for the period from November 1, 2020, to October 31, 2023. Cases involving underage trauma patients with complete and quality-controlled data were selected for retrospective analysis. The data analyzed included age, gender, time of trauma, cause of trauma, and major injured body parts. Results: A total of 4568 underage trauma patients were identified, comprising 3093 males and 1475 females, resulting in a male-to-female ratio of 2.10:1. Trauma incidents were most prevalent between April and October, with fewer occurrences in November and December. Daily trauma incidents peaked between 18:00 and 22:00, while fewer incidents were recorded from 00:00 to 08:00. Among children aged 0 to 6 years, the highest number of injuries was observed. Falls were the predominant cause of trauma, accounting for 52.78%. In terms of the main injured body parts, the limbs/skin were the most affected (60.22%), followed by the head/neck region (32.03%). A statistically significant disparity was observed in the association between distinct causes of trauma and major injured body parts (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Trauma among minors occurs more frequently in males than in females, with the highest incidence observed among preschool-aged children. Falls are the primary cause of these injuries. Strengthening fall prevention measures, particularly for preschool-aged children, along with enhancing their self-protective awareness and traffic safety consciousness, can effectively reduce the incidence of injuries among minors, thereby safeguarding their health and well-being.
References
[1]
(2023) Communiqué of the Seventh National Population Census (No. 5).
https://www.stats.gov.cn/english/PressRelease/202105/t20210510_1817190.html
[2]
WHO (2023) Ageing and Health.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health
[3]
Gong, S.C., An, S., Shin, I.S. and Jung, P.Y. (2023) Usefulness of Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Traumatic Pancreatic Injury in Children. Diagnostics, 13, Article 2044.
https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13122044
[4]
Rossiter, N. (2022) Levelling Up: Prioritisation of Global Health. European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology, 33, 559-563.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-022-03394-w
[5]
Cintean, R., Eickhoff, A., Zieger, J., Gebhard, F. and Schütze, K. (2022) Epidemiology, Patterns, and Mechanisms of Pediatric Trauma: A Review of 12,508 Patients. European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery, 49, 451-459.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-022-02088-6
[6]
Akande, M., Minneci, P.C., Deans, K.J., Xiang, H. and Cooper, J.N. (2018) Association of Medicaid Expansion under the Affordable Care Act with Outcomes and Access to Rehabilitation in Young Adult Trauma Patients. JAMA Surgery, 153, e181630. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamasurg.2018.1630
[7]
Cuthbert, R., Walters, S., Ferguson, D., Karam, E., Ward, J., Arshad, H., et al. (2022) Epidemiology of Pelvic and Acetabular Fractures across 12-Mo at a Level-1 Trauma Centre. World Journal of Orthopedics, 13, 744-752.
https://doi.org/10.5312/wjo.v13.i8.744
[8]
Smith, J.S. and Bartholomew, M.J. (1990) Trauma Index Revisited. Critical Care Medicine, 18, 174-180. https://doi.org/10.1097/00003246-199002000-00010
[9]
Auxéméry, Y. (2012) [Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a Consequence of the Interaction between an Individual Genetic Susceptibility, a Traumatogenic Event and a Social Context]. Encephale, 38, 373-380.
[10]
Bartels, L., Sachser, C. and Landolt, M.A. (2021) Age-related Similarities and Differences in Networks of Acute Trauma-Related Stress Symptoms in Younger and Older Preschool Children. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 12, Article ID: 1948788. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2021.1948788
[11]
Schreier, H., Ladakakos, C., Morabito, D., Chapman, L. and Knudson, M.M. (2005) Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in Children after Mild to Moderate Pediatric Trauma: A Longitudinal Examination of Symptom Prevalence, Correlates, and Parent-Child Symptom Reporting. The Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical Care, 58, 353-363. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.ta.0000152537.15672.b7
[12]
(2023) Lanzhou 7th National Census Bulletin.
https://tjj.lanzhou.gov.cn/art/2021/5/28/art_6379_1006797.html
[13]
Alomani, H., Fareed, A., Ibrahim, H., Shaltoot, A., Elhalawany, A., Alhajjaj, M., et al. (2021) Pediatric Trauma at a Single Center in the Qassim Region of Saudi Arabia. Annals of Saudi Medicine, 41, 165-170. https://doi.org/10.5144/0256-4947.2021.165
[14]
Jullien, S. (2021) Prevention of Unintentional Injuries in Children under Five Years. BMC Pediatrics, 21, Article No. 311. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-021-02517-2
[15]
Zhou, W., An, J., He, Y. and Zhang, Y. (2020) Analysis of Pediatric Maxillofacial Trauma in North China: Epidemiology, Pattern, and Management. Injury, 51, 1561-1567. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.injury.2020.04.053
[16]
Cleves, D., Gómez, C., Dávalos, D.M., García, X. and Astudillo, R.E. (2016) Pediatric trauma at a general hospital in Cali, Colombia. Journal of Pediatric Surgery, 51, 1341-1345. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2016.01.008
[17]
Carter, K.W. and Moulton, S.L. (2016) Pediatric Abdominal Injury Patterns Caused by “falls”: A Comparison between Nonaccidental and Accidental Trauma. Journal of Pediatric Surgery, 51, 326-328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2015.10.056
[18]
Lanitis, S., Kontovounisios, C., Zafeiriadou, P., Sgourakis, G., Karkoulias, K., Armoutides, V., et al. (2012) Epidemiology and Management of Trauma Patients in a Greek Multispecialty Hospital in the Absence of a Dedicated Trauma Center. European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery, 39, 369-374.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-012-0221-y
[19]
Haider, A.H., Saleem, T., Leow, J.J., Villegas, C.V., Kisat, M., Schneider, E.B., et al. (2012) Influence of the National Trauma Data Bank on the Study of Trauma Outcomes: Is It Time to Set Research Best Practices to Further Enhance Its Impact? Journal of the American College of Surgeons, 214, 756-768.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2011.12.013
[20]
Liu, J.Y., Hu, Q.L. and Ko, C.Y. (2018) Databases for Surgical Health Services Research: National Trauma Data Bank and Trauma Quality Improvement Program. Surgery, 164, 919-920. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surg.2017.12.030
[21]
Alao, D.O., Cevik, A.A., Eid, H.O., Jummani, Z. and Abu-Zidan, F.M. (2020) Trauma System Developments Reduce Mortality in Hospitalized Trauma Patients in Al-Ain City, United Arab Emirates, Despite Increased Severity of Injury. World Journal of Emergency Surgery, 15, Article No. 49. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13017-020-00327-y
