Chest trauma in children.

Abstract

Chest trauma in childhood is uncommon in clinical practice. The management and treatment principles of children with thoracic trauma were discussed with the data reported in the literature. Of the chest injury diagnosed in 1653 patients, 225 were children in the last 17-year period. There were 199 boys (88.44%) and 26 girls (11.55%). The most common causes were blunt injuries in 135 cases (60%), stab wounds in 67 cases (29.77%) and gunshot wounds in 22 cases (9.77%). Out of 225, 217 patients were treated conservatively and eight patients were treated surgically. There was no mortality and morbidity. The prevalence of chest trauma in children due to blunt injuries is high in Turkey. Extremity injury is thought to be the most commonly associated extra-thoracic injury. However, thoracic trauma in children can be managed conservatively in most of the cases.