Some aspects of paediatric trauma in Trinidad

ABSTRACT

A review is presented of 1,694 children in the first decade of life who were admitted, after trauma, to a general hospital over a 54-month period. Falls constituted the most frequent aetiological agent in the first three years of life, and motor vehicle accidents in the 4 to 6-year age group. The latter were much more likely to cause severe injury regardless of age. The head and neck was the region most commonly traumatised, and the extent of neurological injury was the major determinant of outcome. However, abdominal involvement frequently occurred in the more seriously injured. Implications for prevention and management are discussed (AU)