Pediatric blunt and penetrating trauma deaths in Ontario: a population-based study

PurposeThe purpose of the study was to describe the mechanisms of injury and causes of death in children dying in a modern, integrated trauma system.MethodRecords of all children (<16 years of age) who died in Ontario from 2001 through 2003 after blunt or penetrating trauma were obtained from the Chief Coroner. Demographics and the nature and causes of injury and the causes of death were recorded. Estimates of the mortality rate were determined using census data.ResultsThere were 234 injury deaths (222 blunt, 12 penetrating) over the 3 years. Thirty (13%) resulted from intentional injury. The median age was 10 (range, 0-15.9) years; 62% were male. Sixty-eight percent resulted from incidents involving motor vehicles (passenger, pedestrian, or cyclist). Most (74%) died at the scene; only 5% survived for more than 24 hours. Devastating craniocervical injury (Abbreviated Injury Scale 5 or 6) was present in 84% and was the only life-threatening injury in 40%. The annual mortality rate averaged 3.2 per 100,000 children.ConclusionsIn a modern, integrated trauma system, most pediatric injury deaths occur at the scene from severe head injuries. In this population, strategies to reduce the death rate from pediatric trauma must focus on primary and secondary injury prevention.