Publication date: Jul 16, 2024
Trauma is the leading cause of paediatric mortality and morbidity. Stay-home regulations for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) reportedly changed trauma severity, yet data from Hong Kong were lacking. This study examined Hong Kong’s spectrum of paediatric trauma and addressed knowledge gaps concerning epidemiological changes during COVID-19. Children with traumatic injuries who attended a tertiary trauma centre from January 2010 to March 2022 were included in this retrospective, cross-sectional study. We analysed demographic and clinical data and conducted unadjusted bivariate analyses of injury patterns before and after the pandemic. In total, 725 children attended the Accident and Emergency Department due to trauma, 585 before and 140 during COVID-19. The male-to-female ratio was 1. 84:1. The 90-day trauma-related mortality was 0. 7%. The overall Injury Severity Score was 3. 52 +/- 5. 95. The paediatric trauma incidence was similar before and after social-distancing policies (both 5. 8 cases monthly). Gender, ISS distribution, intensive care unit stay length, and hospital stay length values were similar (p > 0. 05). Trauma call activation (8. 4% vs. 5. 7%, p = 0. 002) and road traffic accidents (10. 6% vs. 5. 7%, p = 0. 009) significantly decreased, yet younger-patient injuries (
Semantics
| Type | Source | Name |
|---|---|---|
| disease | MESH | emergency |
| disease | MESH | COVID-19 pandemic |
| disease | MESH | morbidity |
| disease | VO | monthly |
| disease | VO | Iss |