Multicenter Study

. 2022 Feb;38(2):307-315.

doi: 10.1007/s00383-021-05050-6. Epub 2021 Dec 1.

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric trauma in Southern California

Eric O Yeates¹, Areg Grigorian^{1

2}, Morgan Schellenberg², Natthida Owattanapanich², Galinos Barmparas³, Daniel Margulies³, Catherine Juillard⁴, Kent Garber⁴, Henry Cryer⁴, Areti Tillou⁴, Sigrid Burruss⁵, Liz Penaloza-Villalobos⁵, Ann Lin⁵, Ryan Arthur Figueras⁵, Raul Coimbra^{5

6}, Megan Brenner⁷, Todd Costantini⁸, Jarrett Santorelli⁸, Terry Curry⁸, Diane Wintz⁹, Walter L Biffl¹⁰, Kathryn B Schaffer¹⁰, Thomas K Duncan¹¹, Casey Barbaro¹¹, Graal Diaz¹¹, Arianne Johnson¹², Justine Chinn¹, Ariana Naaseh¹, Amanda Leung¹, Christina Grabar¹, Jeffry Nahmias¹³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Surgery, University of California, Irvine (UCI), 333 The City Blvd West, Suite 1600, Orange, CA, 92868-3298, USA.
² Department of Surgery, University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA, USA.
³ Department of Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
⁴ Department of Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA.
⁵ Department of Surgery, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
⁶ Riverside University Health System Medical Center, Moreno Valley, CA, USA.
⁷ Department of Surgery, University of California, Riverside/Riverside University Health System, Moreno Valley, CA, USA.
⁸ Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego (UCSD), San Diego, CA, USA.
⁹ Department of Surgery, Sharp Memorial Hospital, San Diego, CA, USA.
¹⁰ Trauma Department, Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, La Jolla, CA, USA.
¹¹ Department of Surgery, Ventura County Medical Center, Ventura, CA, USA.
¹² Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, Cottage Health Research Institute, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
¹³ Department of Surgery, University of California, Irvine (UCI), 333 The City Blvd West, Suite 1600, Orange, CA, 92868-3298, USA. jnahmias@hs.uci.edu.

PMID: 34853885
PMCID: PMC8635318
DOI: 10.1007/s00383-021-05050-6

Multicenter Study

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric trauma in Southern California

Eric O Yeates et al. Pediatr Surg Int. 2022 Feb.

. 2022 Feb;38(2):307-315.

doi: 10.1007/s00383-021-05050-6. Epub 2021 Dec 1.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Surgery, University of California, Irvine (UCI), 333 The City Blvd West, Suite 1600, Orange, CA, 92868-3298, USA.
² Department of Surgery, University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA, USA.
³ Department of Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
⁴ Department of Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA.
⁵ Department of Surgery, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
⁶ Riverside University Health System Medical Center, Moreno Valley, CA, USA.
⁷ Department of Surgery, University of California, Riverside/Riverside University Health System, Moreno Valley, CA, USA.
⁸ Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego (UCSD), San Diego, CA, USA.
⁹ Department of Surgery, Sharp Memorial Hospital, San Diego, CA, USA.
¹⁰ Trauma Department, Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, La Jolla, CA, USA.
¹¹ Department of Surgery, Ventura County Medical Center, Ventura, CA, USA.
¹² Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, Cottage Health Research Institute, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
¹³ Department of Surgery, University of California, Irvine (UCI), 333 The City Blvd West, Suite 1600, Orange, CA, 92868-3298, USA. jnahmias@hs.uci.edu.

PMID: 34853885
PMCID: PMC8635318
DOI: 10.1007/s00383-021-05050-6

Abstract

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in increased penetrating trauma and decreased length of stay (LOS) amongst the adult trauma population, findings important for resource allocation. Studies regarding the pediatric trauma population are sparse and mostly single-center. This multicenter study examined pediatric trauma patients, hypothesizing increased penetrating trauma and decreased LOS after the 3/19/2020 stay-at-home (SAH) orders.

Methods: A multicenter retrospective analysis of trauma patients ≤ 17 years old presenting to 11 centers in California was performed. Demographic data, injury characteristics, and outcomes were collected. Patients were divided into three groups based on injury date: 3/19/2019-6/30/2019 (CONTROL), 1/1/2020-3/18/2020 (PRE), 3/19/2020-6/30/2020 (POST). POST was compared to PRE and CONTROL in separate analyses.

Results: 1677 patients were identified across all time periods (CONTROL: 631, PRE: 479, POST: 567). POST penetrating trauma rates were not significantly different compared to both PRE (11.3 vs. 9.0%, p = 0.219) and CONTROL (11.3 vs. 8.2%, p = 0.075), respectively. POST had a shorter mean LOS compared to PRE (2.4 vs. 3.3 days, p = 0.002) and CONTROL (2.4 vs. 3.4 days, p = 0.002). POST was also not significantly different than either group regarding intensive care unit (ICU) LOS, ventilator days, and mortality (all p > 0.05).

Conclusions: This multicenter retrospective study demonstrated no difference in penetrating trauma rates among pediatric patients after SAH orders but did identify a shorter LOS.

Keywords: COVID-19; Pandemic; Pediatric; Penetrating; Trauma.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

Figures

**Fig. 1**
Mechanism of injury of pediatric trauma patients by time period. Bar graph with time periods, separated by blunt and penetrating mechanism of injury, displayed on the x-axis and the number of patients displayed on the y-axis

See this image and copyright information in PMC

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Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric trauma in Southern California

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Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric trauma in Southern California

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

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