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).

DESIGN

Retrospective review.

SETTING

Paediatric intensive care unit (PICU), Sweden.

SUBJECTS

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

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

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.

CONCLUSION

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.