Chest trauma in children

Abstract

Objectives: Chest trauma in childhood is uncommon in clinical practice. The management and treatment principles of children with thoracic trauma were discussed with the data reported in the literature.

Methods: Of the chest injury diagnosed in 1653 patients, 225 were children in the last 17-year period. There were 199 boys (88.44%) and 26 girls (11.55%). The most common causes were blunt injuries in 135 cases (60%), stab wounds in 67 cases (29.77%) and gunshot wounds in 22 cases (9.77%).

Results: Out of 225, 217 patients were treated conservatively and eight patients were treated surgically. There was no mortality and morbidity.

Conclusions: The prevalence of chest trauma in children due to blunt injuries is high in Turkey. Extremity injury is thought to be the most commonly associated extra-thoracic injury. However, thoracic trauma in children can be managed conservatively in most of the cases.