Pediatric Trauma
- DOI:
- 10.1093/med/9780199918027.003.0019
Pediatric trauma is the leading cause of death in children 1 through 14 years old. This chapter includes key information focusing on initial evaluation, triage, and stabilization of children with blunt and penetrating trauma as well as burns (and the “rule of 9s”). The authors discuss specific injuries, including those to the head (traumatic brain injury), thorax, and abdomen; genitourinary area; and orthopedic/long-bone and nonaccidental trauma. Caring for injured children is best performed using advanced trauma life support protocols during the initial assessment. Protocol-driven examination, regardless of injury mechanism, ensures clinicians consider life-threatening injuries in an orderly fashion, starting with the primary survey and moving on to the secondary survey and definitive care. After injuries are identified, priorities shift toward involving the necessary specialists. Key mnemonics in trauma care are explained: the ABCDE initial evaluation, the AMPLE history, and the AVPU categorization of neurologic status.
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