Trauma Visits to a Pediatric Emergency Department During the COVID-19 Quarantine and “Stay at Home” Period

• Published in: The American surgeon 2023-11, Vol.89 (11), p.4262-4270
• Main Authors: Sethuraman, Usha, Kannikeswaran, Nirupama, Singer, Adam, Krouse, Carolyn B, Cloutier, Dawn, Farooqi, Ahmad, Donoghue, Lydia, Stankovic, Curt
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0003-1348; 1555-9823
• DOI: 10.1177/00031348211047497

Background Impact of social distancing on pediatric injuries is unknown. Methods We retrospectively compared injury visits to a pediatric emergency department by individuals ≤21 years during “Stay at Home” (SHO) period to the same period in 2019 (non-SHO). Demographics, types, and outcomes of injuries were noted. Results Although, there was a 35.6% reduction in trauma-related emergency department visits during SHO period (1226 vs 1904), the proportion of injury visits increased (15.5% vs 8.1%, P < .001) and mean age was lower (5.8 yrs ±4.5 vs 8.4 yrs ± 5.2, P < .001). There were significant increases in visits related to child physical abuse (CPA), firearms, and dog bites. Further, significant increases in trauma alerts (P < .01), injury severity (P < .01), critical care admissions (P < .001), and deaths (P < .01) occurred during the SHO period. Conclusions Although overall trauma-related visits decreased during SHO, the proportion of these visits and their severity increased. Trauma visits related to child physical abuse, dog bites, and firearms increased. Further studies are required to assess the long-term impact of pandemic on pediatric trauma epidemiology.