The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric trauma presentations to the emergency department of a university hospital

Emergency departments are the medical units that patients primary present after traumatic injuries. The objectives of this study is to investigate whether the lifestyle changes in the COVID-19 pandemic era affects the emergency department presentations of pediatric patients with traumatic injuries. This retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study was done in the Emergency Department of Akdeniz University Hospital. In the study, the features of all pediatric patients' presentations to the emergency department related to traumatic injuries during the 52-week period before March 16, 2020, which was the date when face-to-face education was suspended after the first COVID-19 case was seen in Turkey, and the following 52 weeks were evaluated. Patients with nontraumatic symptoms and follow-up presentations (dressing, suture removal, injection, etc.) were excluded from the study. The data was obtained through the Hospital Information Management System (MiaMed®). Following the declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic and the first case in the country, there was a 46% decrease in the presentation of pediatric trauma patients to the emergency department. Considering the rates in periodic presentations, it was seen that presentations between the ages of 1 and 4 years, home injuries, falls and burns, hospitalizations, and costs per person increased. In contrast, motor vehicle accidents and sports injuries, and injuries in the schools, playgrounds and streets were decreased. It should be expected that these reductions, which occurred due to the implementation of distance education and curfews will increase after the pandemic. As a result, as much as it is important to create safe environments for children at home, it is also important to pay attention to the safety of children in the schools, playgrounds and streets. In order to reduce mortality and morbidity due to pediatric traumatic injuries, executive managers of all relevant institutions, including relevant ministries, should take measures to protect children from traumatic injuries and pediatrics trauma should be considered as an important public health problem.