Undertriage of Pediatric Major Trauma Patients in the United States. (August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Peng, Jin; Wheeler, Krista; Groner, Jonathan I.; Haley, Kathryn J.; Xiang, Henry
• Is Part Of: Clinical pediatrics. Volume 56:Number 9(2017)
• Page Start: 845
• Page End: 853
• Publication Date: 2017-08
• Subjects: undertriage -- pediatric major trauma -- access to pediatric trauma care; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; 618.920005
• DOI: 10.1177/0009922817709553
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-9228

Abstract

Although trauma undertriage has been widely discussed in the literature, undertriage in the pediatric trauma population remains understudied. Using the 2009-2013 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample, we assessed the national undertriage rate in pediatric major trauma patients (age ≤16 years and injury severity score [ISS] >15), and identified factors associated with pediatric trauma undertriage. Nationally, 21.7% of pediatric major trauma patients were undertriaged. Children living in rural areas were more likely to be undertriaged ( P = .02), as were those without insurance ( P = .00). Children with life-threatening injuries were less likely to be undertriaged ( P < .0001), as were those with chronic conditions ( P < .0001). Improving access to specialized pediatric trauma care through innovative service delivery models may reduce undertriage and improve outcomes for pediatric major trauma patients.