Epidemiological study of trauma in children aged 0 to 14: Analysis based on data from 4450 children in a Level I trauma center in northwestern China

Abstract

Research on the epidemiological characteristics of pediatric trauma in specific regions is limited, making it necessary to conduct corresponding investigations. This study aims to understand the epidemiological characteristics of trauma patients aged 0 to 14 years, providing a reference for the prevention and enhancement of pediatric trauma care. The study analyzed the basic information of 4450 trauma patients aged 0 to 14 years who received treatment at a Level 1 trauma center in Northwest China from June 1, 2022, to May 31, 2024. The results showed that 2935 patients were male and 1515 were female, with a gender ratio of 1.94:1. The patients' ages ranged from 1 month to 14 years, with an average age of 7.52 ± 3.93 years. Among the trauma patients, the number of patients in the 7 to 14 age group was significantly higher than in the 0 to 6 age group, likely due to increased social and physical activities in this age range. The study also found that the main causes of trauma were falls and traffic accidents, with the extremities and skin being the most commonly injured areas. Trauma incidents were notably more frequent between 18:00 and 24:00, with clear seasonal variations. These findings provide valuable insights for the prevention and intervention of pediatric trauma, and future research should further explore the various factors influencing trauma to develop more effective prevention and treatment strategies.

Keywords: disease analysis; epidemiology; pediatric trauma; trauma and injury; trauma center.

Figure 1.

Time distribution of trauma.

Figure 2.

Length of stay (LOS) of trauma patients.