Epidemiology of adolescent trauma in England: a review of TARN data 2008–2017

Objectives Trauma contributes significantly to adolescent morbidity and mortality. We aimed to ascertain the epidemiology of adolescent trauma to inform prevention strategies. Methods Data were abstracted from TARN (Trauma Audit Research Network) from English sites over a 10-year period (2008–2017). Adolescents were defined as 10–24 completed years. Descriptive statistical analysis was used in this study. Results There were 40 680 recorded cases of adolescent trauma. The majority were male (77.3%) and aged 16–24 years old (80.5%). There was a 2.6-fold increase during the study time frame (p Conclusions RTCs and intentional injuries are leading aetiologies. Healthcare professionals and policy-makers need to prioritise national preventative public health measures and early interventions to reduce the incidence of trauma in this vulnerable age group.