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Original ArticleOpen Access
Pediatric Injuries in Emergency Room, Ramathibodi Hospital
Plitponkarnpim A 
,
Ruangkanchanasetr S ,
Thanjira S
,
Ruangkanchanasetr S ,
Thanjira S The purposes of this study were to analyze the epidemiological data of child injuries from
the computerized data system of the emergency room at Ramathibodi Hospital from June 1995
to May 1996 and assess the accuracy of triage system for child injury cases. Among 14,427
pediatric patients, 1,023 patients (7%) were injured. Most were under 5 years of age (48%), and
most were male. Twenty-five per cent of cases were triaged as true emergency cases. Twelve per
cent were disposed on an admission or referral by physicians. The negative predictive value
of triage system to classify as a non-urgent was 91 per cent. Common causes of injury included
falls (38%), inanimate force (19%), transportation (14%), and animal bite (12%). Older age
group had significantly more severe injuries than younger (p = 0.002). However, only the transportation
injuries were significantly more severe than other types (p = 0.003). The present
ER-based injury surveillance system is useful to describe the basic epidemiology of pediatric
injuries and to evaluate the triage system. However, for injury prevention purposes, the injury surveillance
system should include more data of injury circumstances, associated environment and
products.
Key word Pediatric Injuries, Ramathibodi Hospital
the computerized data system of the emergency room at Ramathibodi Hospital from June 1995
to May 1996 and assess the accuracy of triage system for child injury cases. Among 14,427
pediatric patients, 1,023 patients (7%) were injured. Most were under 5 years of age (48%), and
most were male. Twenty-five per cent of cases were triaged as true emergency cases. Twelve per
cent were disposed on an admission or referral by physicians. The negative predictive value
of triage system to classify as a non-urgent was 91 per cent. Common causes of injury included
falls (38%), inanimate force (19%), transportation (14%), and animal bite (12%). Older age
group had significantly more severe injuries than younger (p = 0.002). However, only the transportation
injuries were significantly more severe than other types (p = 0.003). The present
ER-based injury surveillance system is useful to describe the basic epidemiology of pediatric
injuries and to evaluate the triage system. However, for injury prevention purposes, the injury surveillance
system should include more data of injury circumstances, associated environment and
products.
Key word Pediatric Injuries, Ramathibodi Hospital
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