Thoracic Injuries in Pediatric Polytraumatized Patients: Epidemiology, Treatment and Outcome.

Abstract Purpose : The purpose of the present study was to assess the influence and contribution, epidemiology, treatment and outcome of thoracic injuries in a cohort of pediatric and adolescent polytraumatized patients. Material and Methods : All pediatric and adolescent (age Results : The logistic regression found the following variables decreasing the odds for a “bad outcome”: lack of a hemodynamically unstable condition (p = 0.009) and the absence of a pathological pupillary response (p Conclusions : The present study suggests that the severity of concomitant chest injuries in polytraumatized pediatric and adolescent patients contributes substantially to morbidity and mortality. Due to the anatomic features of the immature pediatric bones, careful attention should be drawn to possible severe chest injuries even in the absence of rib fractures. Level of evidence : A retrospective study (level – IV study)