EPIDEMIOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS ON POLYTRAUMA IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Polytrauma is a major public health problem and a leading cause of death and disability for children at any age. The study aim was to identify the factors which influence the lesion trauma model and can be a starting point in setting the strategy for approaching violent accidents in children and young people. Material and methods: The descriptive study was carried out on a group of 1532 patients with polytrauma, admitted in the Emergency Department (ED) of the "Sf. Ioan" Children's Emergency Clinical Hospital, Galati, Romania, during 2012 - 2016. The data were analyzed using the SPSS V.24 software. Results: Road traffic accidents encountered the highest incidence (54.9% - 841 cases). The mean age was 9.4 +/- 4.32 SD. An increased frequency of urban cases (53.46%) - and males (67.49%) were highlighted. The comparative analysis of the monthly incidence showed a significantly higher incidence during August (13.3%). The distribution of cases by days of week noted an increased incidence in Sunday (21.1%). Conclusions: Characteristics of the case that may be admitted more frequently in our ED were those of a 9-year-old child, most likely male, from rural area, with polytrauma due to a road traffic accident that o c-cuffed more frequently in summer at the weekend. Our study could be useful for a better medical and prevention management of polytrauma at pediatric age.