Clinical features and treatment of thoracic trauma in children. Eleven years of experience in a single center

Abstract

AIM: This study aims to evaluate the characteristics of thoracic trauma in children.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: Thoracic trauma cases treated in our clinic between February 2011 and January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS: 31.5% (n=136) of 432 cases with thoracic trauma had isolated thoracic trauma. Mean age was 8.7±4 years, 74.3% were boys (n=321) and 25.7% were girls (n=111). In patients with thoracic trauma in children; blunt injuries were 84%, penetrating-stab wounds were 12%, and gunshot wounds were 4%, while the rate of penetrating trauma over the age of 15 was 24.8%. The most common causes were motor vehicle accidents (42.4%) and falls from height (23.9%). The most common pathologies; pulmonary contusion (71.7%), pneumothorax (48.7%), rib fracture (18%), and pulmonary laceration (12%). Tube thoracostomy was performed in 51 (46.4%) of 110 cases with pneumothorax.

Thoracotomy was performed in 2 cases with penetrating gunshot wounds, and tube thoracostomy was performed in 2 cases with hemothorax. The mean hospital stay was 7 days, and1 case with severe cranial trauma died.

CONCLUSION: Chest wall, pulmonary, mediastinal, and diaphragmatic structures can be damaged in chest trauma.

However, it should be kept in mind that every chest trauma patient may also have polytrauma, and accompanying injuries should be carefully examined.