THORACIC TRAUMA IN CHILDREN

Thirty-seven children were admitted for the treatment of thoracic inju ries during a 15-year period. Two thirds suffered blunt trauma. Of the se children with blunt injuries, three quarters were male, with a medi an age of 6 years. Half of all victims of blunt trauma were between th e ages of 4 and 6 years, and most were involved in motor vehicle crash es. Thirteen children (35%) were victims of penetrating trauma. Sixty- nine percent were male. The median age was 13 years, with 9 of 13 pati ents in their teenage years. Injuries were evenly distributed between stab and gunshot wounds. Eight of the 37 patients (22%) required thora cotomy. Fourteen had associated intra-abdominal injuries. Twelve of th ese patients had injuries that required exploratory laparotomy and two were managed expectantly. There were 27 patients with lung injuries, three quarters of whom were managed with tube thoracostomy alone. Seve n children suffered injuries that resulted in their deaths. Six had be en struck by a motor vehicle. Four of these six died of closed head in juries. The overall mortality of patients with blunt trauma was 25%.