Background: We aim to evaluate the epidemiology and pattern of pediatric traumatic deaths in our city in a developing middle eastern country, Iran, during the period 2011-2020, in light of the importance of pediatric trauma information and mortality.
Methods: Present study is a retrospective cross-sectional study including children and adolescents admitted to our tertiary trauma hospital between 2011 and 2020. Information from the clinical profiles of 16413 children was gathered and analyzed, including demographics, injury type and mechanism, referral method, and site of injuries.
Results: 151 (0.92%) deaths related to trauma were identified, 128 (84.7%) were boys and 23 (15.3%) were girls (P = 0.033). The mean age of children with and without mortality was 10.0 ± 6.1 and 11.0 ± 5.6 years, respectively (P = 0.07). 51 (33.8%) deaths were occurred in children 15-18 years old (P = 0.004).
The highest mortality was in summer with 48 people (31.8%) (P = 0.96). Car accidents with 130 (86%) cases were the most common mechanism (P < 0.001). The most common traumas leading to death were head and neck traumas, with 64 (42.4%) deaths. Regarding the transfer to the hospital, 123 (81.4%) deaths were referred by ambulance, while 28 (18.6%) deaths were referred by personal vehicle (P < 0.001).
Conclusion: Most trauma-related deaths in pediatric and adolescent children in our city, Iran, were boys between 15-18 years of age, had head and neck or chest trauma, referred by ambulance, and caused by traffic accidents on streets, mainly with the car. 0.92% of trauma led to mortality, and the most common cause was head and neck injuries. Traffic accidents, the leading cause of trauma, requires social, legal, and environmental interventions.