Demographic and geographical characteristics of pediatric trauma in Scotland

Jared M. Wohlgemut, Jonathan J. Morrison, Amy N. Apodaca, Gerry Egan, Paul D. Sponseller, Christopher P. Driver, Jan O. Jansen*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background Trauma systems reduce mortality and improve functional outcomes. The aim of this study was to analyse the demographic and geospatial characteristics of pediatric trauma patients in Scotland, and determine the level of destination healthcare facility which injured children are taken to, to determine the need for, and general feasibility, of developing a pediatric trauma system for Scotland. Methods Retrospective analysis of incidents involving children aged 1-14 attended to by the Scottish Ambulance Service between 1 November 2008 and 31 October 2010. A subgroup with physiological derangement was defined. Incident location postcode was used to determine incident location by health board region, rurality and social deprivation. Destination healthcare facility was classified into one of six categories. Results Of 10,759 incidents, 72.3% occurred in urban areas and 5.8% in remote areas. Incident location was associated with socioeconomic deprivation. Of the patients, 11.6% were taken to a pediatric hospital with pediatric intensive care facilities, 21.8% to a pediatric hospital without pediatric intensive care service, and 50.2% to an adult large general hospital without pediatric surgical service. Conclusions The majority of incidents involving children with injuries occurred in urban areas. Half were taken to a hospital without pediatric surgical service. There was no difference between children with normal and deranged physiology.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1593-1597
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Pediatric Surgery
Volume48
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Demographic
  • Emergency
  • Paediatric
  • Scotland
  • Surgery
  • Trauma
  • Trauma system

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