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Fall injuries in the pediatric population: safer and most cost-effective management.

AbstractBACKGROUND:
At our children's hospital, 30% of all trauma admissions are from falls. The aim of this study was to outline inefficiencies and unnecessary costs incurred in the care of these patients.
METHODS:
The charts of 127 children admitted for falls (height > or = 9 feet) from 1993 to 1996 were reviewed. Patient demographics, injuries, and treatment costs were recorded and analyzed.
RESULTS:
Fifty-seven children (45%) were evaluated at an outside facility before transfer. Of these, 73% had injuries requiring treatment at the pediatric center. Local hospital work-up resulted in an average treatment delay of 4.5 hours. Additionally, significant cost was incurred by duplication of radiographic studies, the majority of which were normal.
CONCLUSION:
Improved and more cost-effective care in pediatric falls can be ensured by immediate transfer of patients with significant injuries, omission of radiographs before transfer, and avoidance of multiple routine x-ray films, the majority of which are normal.
AuthorsS B Pillai, C A Bethel, G E Besner, D A Caniano, D R Cooney
JournalThe Journal of trauma (J Trauma) Vol. 48 Issue 6 Pg. 1048-50; discussion 1050-1 (Jun 2000) ISSN: 0022-5282 [Print] United States
PMID10866249 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
Topics
  • Accidental Falls (economics, statistics & numerical data)
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis (statistics & numerical data)
  • Craniocerebral Trauma (diagnostic imaging, economics)
  • Hospitals, Pediatric (statistics & numerical data)
  • Humans
  • Injury Severity Score
  • Patient Transfer (economics)
  • Radiography (economics)
  • Trauma Centers (statistics & numerical data)
  • Wounds and Injuries (economics, etiology, therapy)

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