Trauma hazards in children: An update for the busy clinician

Abstract

Trauma and injury continue to be common in children and remain an important cause of mortality and morbidity. Legislation mandating the use of helmets for all cyclists appears to have been effective in reducing the incidence and severity of head and facial injuries, with no clear evidence of a reduction in cycling usage or activity. Straddle injuries, whilst uncommon and generally minor, require careful clinical assessment as they may be associated with urethral trauma. Quad bikes remain highly dangerous with continuing reports of deaths in child riders due to their inherent lack of stability: a ban on their use by children would seem the most effective solution. The popularity of mobile devices and toys, coupled with the development of higher voltage, lithium button batteries have seen a surge in the number of cases and subsequent complications from ingestion. The problems seen in children following ingestion of high-powered, rare earth magnets in the late 1990s and 2000s has now receded due to legislation introduced in 2012. Inhaled, typically organic foreign bodies remain a diagnostic challenge with rigid bronchoscopy still the most effective diagnostic and therapeutic modality. Corrosive ingestion, now seen much less commonly, continues to be a potentially devastating injury when occurring as a result of caustic soda. Recent publicity concerning the problem of childhood drowning highlights the need for constant parental vigilance, the limitations of pool fencing and the importance of community cardiopulmonary resuscitation training, together with repeated education of the risk of rips when swimming in the sea.

Growing Pains: Pediatric Trauma Epidemiology at the Puerto Rico Trauma Hospital from 2015 to 2019

“…Despite the dawn of technology and an increase in public awareness, trauma and injury continue to be common in children and remain an important cause of morbidity and mortality (Holland & Soundappan;. As evidenced in this study, children and young adults are not immune to injury.…”

Primary Teeth Bite Marks Analysis on Various Materials: A Possible Tool in Children Health Risk Analysis and Safety Assessment

“…The bite mark analysis on material other than bone and skin is not a new approach, but it is rarely used even in forensics [14,17,18,19]. For better understanding of the mechanism of bite mark creation, it is necessary to take into account the complex chewing mechanism and all temporomandibular joint movements.…”

Organization of trauma centres in Poland

“…The age-division of patients is related to the specificity of treatment of injuries in adults and the diversity resulting from childhood. Injuries and wounds are prevalent in children and remain a significant cause of mortality and morbidity [3].…”