The impact of Pediatric Trauma Score on burden of trauma in emergency room care.

Traumatic injuries are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity during childhood. A retrospective study was performed to evaluate the impact of Pediatric Trauma Score (PTS) on burden of trauma in emergency care. Children admitted to the emergency room were retrospectively evaluated for age, sex, mechanism of injury, physical examination findings, and PTS. The cost of trauma was obtained by medical records. A total of 146 patients (male/female: 93/53) were enrolled. The median age was 6 (interquartile range: 3-9.25). Mechanism of injury was falls (74%), motor vehicle crashes (9.6%), non-vehicular accidents (7.5%), struck by/against (6.2%), and cuts and gunshots (2.1%). The median PTS was 10. In the evaluation of trauma burden, radiologic investigations accounted for 41%, consultations for 23.5%, laboratory investigations for 15.6%, emergency surgical interventions for 12.1%, and medical interventions for 6.8% of total trauma cost in emergency care. PTS showed no impact on burden of trauma in emergency care (p > 0.05). Total trauma cost was increased 2.1-fold in male patients, 2.6-fold in head injuries and 4.4-fold in abdominal injuries (p < 0.05). Pediatric Trauma Score had no effect on the burden of pediatric trauma in emergency care. The total cost of trauma was primarily affected by head injury and abdominal trauma. Higher costs may be related with routine radiological investigations in head and abdominal injuries.