An evaluation of the pediatric medico-legal admissions to a tertiary hospital emergency department

BACKGROUND This study aimed to determine the demographic and epidemiological characteristics and to investigate the outcomes of pediatric medico-legal cases who admitted to the emergency department. It was also aimed to contribute to the national survey. METHODS Medico-legal charts of the pediatric cases were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were allocated into two groups as traumatic (Group 1) and non-traumatic (Group 2). Age, sex, presenting complaint and frequencies, local or multiple trauma frequencies, and localizations (based on the Abbreviated Injury Scale) and also admission, discharge and mortality rates were ascertained. Data were evaluated by descriptive methods, Kolmogorov-Smirnov and chi-square tests. Values of p<0.05 were accepted as significant. RESULTS There were a total of 486 eligible patients. The mean age was 8.91 +/- 5.08 years (95% confidence interval [CI]). The majority (66.3%) were male. The group aged 5-9 years was larger (33.3%) than the others (in Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, p=0.000). Summer was the most common season for admissions. There were 153 patients in Group 1, and the most common complaint was accidental drug intake (13.8%). In Group 2, the most common reason for admission was motor vehicle accident (32.5%). CONCLUSION Motor vehicle and home accidents in childhood are preventable health problems. To ensure a safe environment, continuous health education programs on injury and prevention for parents and children and legal controls will be effective in injury control.