Thoracic trauma in children; A retrospective study for causes, diagnosis and treatments

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate pediatric patients subjected to thoracic trauma in terms of prognosis, diagnosis and treatment. Although studieson trauma in adults are aplenty, those on the pediatric population are rarely available.Material and Methods: 261 patients who were exposed to thoracic trauma for any reason in the last 24 hours of hospital admissionwere included. The patients’ demographic data, etiology, treatments and results were retrospectively evaluated.Results: Our sample consisted of 85 girls and 176 boys with a mean age of 9.73±5.71 (range: 1-18 years). 228 of the patients (87%)had blunt trauma, 26 (10%) had penetrating trauma, and 7 (3%) had both penetrating and blunt trauma. Rate of penetrating traumawas about 4 times higher in boys. Traffic accidents were the most common reason for traumas. The most commonly fracturedribs were the 6th-9th ribs. 75 patients (28.7%) required tube thoracostomy, and 12 required open surgery. Rigid bronchoscopy wasperformed in 12 patients.Conclusion: None of the 33 patients with penetrating trauma died, contrary to the information in the literature. We found boysto be exposed to trauma more than girls (B/G: 2.07/1), albeit at different rates compared to the findings of other research. Thedevelopment of rib fractures was found to be a predisposing factor for hemothorax. Hemothorax was observed in the 6th-9th ribsand in ≥4 rib fractures.