PAEDIATRIC TRAUMA IN THE SUDAN
Abubakr Elawad*, Omer Elamin, Ibrahim Salih Elkheir, Isam Ahmed Abd Elgalil and Faisal Nugud
ABSTRACT
Background: Although major trauma is rather uncommon in children, it is the leading cause of mortality and disability beyond infancy. The spectrum of causes varies with age, but blunt trauma causes the most serious injuries. The purpose of this study was to analyze the patterns of pediatric trauma in Sudan. Patients and Methods: This was a prospective descriptive cross-sectional study involving pediatric trauma patients aged 18 years and below and treated in the main paediatric surgery centers in Khartoum and Gezira states over 14-months period. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Collected data was then analyzed using SPSS software. Results: A total of 278 patients were seen over 14-months period. The majority of them were in the age group between 5 and 10 years (mean 7.32 ± 3.757). Male patients represent 65.34%. The mechanisms of injury identified in this study in descending frequency were: falls (25.4%), road traffic accidents (23.3%), burns (18.6%) and assaults (5.1%). Head injuries were the most common type of isolated injuries encountered (17%) followed by abdominal (11%) and limb injuries (11%). Fifty two percent required different major surgical procedures. There was no statistical significant association between the patterns of injury and the gender or age, except for limb injury. Conclusion: Trauma was a principal challenge represents a continuous threat to the lives of children in our country. Males were affected nearly twice as compared to females. Falls, road traffic accidents and burns were the most common aetiologies of childhood trauma in Sudan. The most common type of injuries identified in this study were head injuries followed by limb and abdominal injuries.
Keywords: Trauma, patterns, Outcome.
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