A retrospective evaluation of children who suffered from road traffic i̇njuries between 2015-2020, followed at the Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Dokuz Eylül University

Introduction: With each passing year, the number of individuals injured in road traffic increases in proportion to the number of vehicles and population growth in our country. This study aimed to reduce morbidity and mortality by determining the distribution, characteristics, and risk factors of road traffic injuries in children. Materials and Methods: Children who applied to the Dokuz Eylül University Pediatric Emergency Department between 1 January 2015, and 31 December 2020, due to the road traffic injuries, were retrospectively analyzed. 1227 cases with complete data were included in the study. Descriptive information about the children, their families, and the event, the characteristics of the injury, the follow-up period of the cases at the ward, and the results were recorded in the Data Registration Form. Data were evaluated in a computer environment by frequency, percentage distribution, mean, median, and comparative analysis. Results: Of cases included in the study, 66.1% were male, and 33.9% were female. 35.7% of the injured are between the ages of 5-9. Most injuries occurred in June and July. The peak admission hours were between 16.00 and 20.00. 45.6% of them were pedestrians. The most frequently injured area was recorded as the head and neck. According to the Injury Severity Score, severe injury rates were 18.5%; it was found 3% according to the Glasgow Coma Scale. In in-vehicle injuries, 12% of the cases had seat belts; 5.5% of children were using child safety seats. 1.5% of the children wore protective clothing, and 26.7% wore a helmet on bicycles and motorcycles. 33.7% (n =414) of the cases were followed-up in the ward. Hospitalizations were mostly made to the Pediatric Emergency Department and the Department of Pediatric Surgery, and 9.7% of the injured children had to undergo surgery. Most of the surgeries (64.7%) were performed at the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology. 4.6% of the cases were followed-up at the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Disability developed in 2% of the injured children. Three children died due to hemorrhagic shock, and four children died due to intracranial hemorrhage. Conclusion: Road traffic injury is an important cause of morbidity, mortality, and disability. Injuries can be prevented by increasing awareness about risk factors and protective measures taken in the light of the data obtained. Individual counseling and education that are given to families are the most important factors in preventing injuries.