Aetiology of paediatric facial trauma at a UK District General Hospital

摘要

Aim: This study aims to determine the types and causes of facial injury in children who present to a UK District General Hospital (DGH), to evaluate the relevant demographics of the subjects and to investigate whether the events were accurately clinically coded.Materials and methods: A retrospective review of all patients aged <1-17 years attending the emergency department (ED) in a DGH over the course of 1 month with a facial injury.Results: Eighty-four paediatric patients attended the ED with facial injuries during the month of September 2012. The male:female ratio was 2.36:1. Most injuries were due to a fall (49%). Six alleged assaults were recorded, but no other non-accidental injury was suspected. Lacerations were the most frequent injury seen (44%). Dental trauma accounted for 9% of injuries. Sixty-eight per cent of the subjects lived within the eight areas of Swindon that are among the most deprived 20% nationally. Eighteen per cent lived within the Penhill ward (electoral district), which has two areas among the most deprived 5% nationally. Ten per cent were referred on to specialist services within the hospital. Three children were referred to Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Only 25% of the visits to the ED were coded with sufficient detail.Conclusions: The aetiology of facial trauma in children should be accurately recorded to allow the planning of accident prevention campaigns that can be targeted at a local and national level. This relies partly on the coding information collected from EDs and so it is imperative that this is detailed and accurate.