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. 2012;130(1):27-31.
doi: 10.1590/s1516-31802012000100005.

Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of injuries among adolescents attended at an emergency service in the city of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo

Luiz Antonio Del Ciampo  1 , Ivan Savioli Ferraz, Maria Tazima, Letícia Graziela Bachette, Karla Ishikawa, Rodrigo Paixão
Affiliations

Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of injuries among adolescents attended at an emergency service in the city of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo

Luiz Antonio Del Ciampo et al. Sao Paulo Med J. 2012.

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Context and objective: Injuries are an important cause of morbidity during adolescence, but can be avoided through learning about some of their characteristics. This study aimed to identify the most frequent injuries among adolescents attended at an emergency service.

Design and setting: Retrospective descriptive study on adolescents attended at the emergency service of the Teaching Health Center, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP), between January 1, 2009, and September 30, 2009.

Methods: Age, sex, type of injury, site, day and time of occurrence, part of body involved, care received, whether the adolescent was accompanied at the time of injury and whether any type of counseling regarding injury prevention had been given were analyzed.

Results: Among 180 adolescents attended, 106 (58.8%) were boys and 74 (41.1%) were girls. Their ages were: 10 to 12 (66/36.6%), 12 to 14 (60/33.3%) and 14 to 16 years (54/30%). The injuries had occurred in public places (47.7%) and at home (21.1%). The main types were bruises (45.1%) and falls (39.2%), involving upper limbs (46.1%), lower limbs (31%) and head/neck (13.1%). The injuries occurred in the afternoon (44.4%) and morning (30%), on Mondays (17.7%) and Thursdays (16.6%). Radiological examinations were performed on 53.8%. At the time of injury, 76.1% of the adolescents were accompanied. Some type of counseling about injury prevention had been received by 39.4%.

Conclusions: Although the injuries were of low severity, preventive attitudes need to be incorporated in order to reduce the risks and provide greater safety for adolescents.

CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO:: Lesões são importante causa de morbidade na adolescência, mas podem ser evitadas mediante o conhecimento de algumas de suas características. Este estudo visa identificar as lesões mais frequentes entre adolescentes atendidos em um serviço de pronto-atendimento.

TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL:: Estudo retrospectivo e descritivo sobre adolescentes atendidos no Pronto-Atendimento do Centro de Saúde Escola da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP), entre 01/01/2009 e 30/9/2009.

MÉTODOS:: Analisou-se idade, sexo, tipo de lesão, local, dia e período do ocorrido, parte do corpo acometida, cuidados recebidos, se o adolescente estava acompanhado no momento da lesão e se havia recebido alguma orientação quanto à prevenção de acidentes.

RESULTADOS:: Dos 180 adolescentes 106 (58,8%) eram rapazes e 74 (41,1%) moças, com idades entre 10 a 12 anos (66/36,6%), 12 a 14 anos (60/33,3%) e 14 a 16 anos (54/30%). 47,7% das lesões aconteceram em locais públicos e 21,1%, em casa. Os principais foram contusões (45,1%) e quedas (39,2%), acometendo membros superiores (46,1%), membros inferiores (31%) e cabeça/pescoço (13,1%). As lesões ocorreram nos períodos da tarde (44,4%) e manhã (30%) e às segundas-feiras (17,7%) e quintas-feiras (16,6%). Foram realizados exames radiológicos em 53,8% dos pacientes. No momento da lesão 76,1% dos adolescentes estavam acompanhados. 39,4% haviam recebido algum tipo de orientação sobre prevenção de lesões.

CONCLUSÕES:: Embora as lesões tenham sido de baixa gravidade, é necessário incorporar atitudes preventivas de modo a diminuir os riscos e proporcionar maior segurança aos adolescentes.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None

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