CRC PEDI TRAUMA PDF

Preface

Injuries cause more than half of all deaths among children in the United States. The spectrum of causes varies with age, but blunt forces cause the overwhelming majority of injuries. Children are not just small adults. They differ in many ways from adults. Many of the differences in behavior, risk exposure, anatomy, and physiology have a direct bearing on trauma care. In recent years, this reality has been widely accepted in the field. The Committee on Trauma of the American College of Surgeons has specifically addressed the needs of injured children in its resources document and in the curriculum of its Advanced Trauma Life Support^® course. The Committee on Trauma recommends at least six hours of pediatric trauma–related continuing medical education for all surgeons providing pediatric trauma care, and many states have established specific requirements for hospitals receiving injured children. Across the United States, children's hospitals, pediatric surgeons, and pediatric emergency physicians have focused on the needs of injured children and established pediatricspecific benchmarks in the management of solid organ injuries, neurotrauma, fractures, and numerous other types of trauma.

But there is a problem. There are just not enough children's hospitals or pediatric trauma specialists to meet the needs of all injured children in the United States. Much, if not most, pediatric trauma care is provided in general hospitals by nonpediatric specialists. This book is intended for all physicians and surgeons who treat children with life- and limb-threatening injuries. The primary target audience includes general surgeons, trauma surgeons, and emergency physicians experienced in trauma care who want to expand their knowledge of pediatric trauma. The content relates primarily to direct patient care, excluding such topics as prevention, organ procurement, and medical legal and legislative issues. The emphasis is on injuries caused by blunt and penetrating mechanical forces to the exclusion of burns and scald injuries and drowning.

The book is divided into four sections. The first deals with trauma systems for children, including epidemiology and preparations for pediatric trauma care. Section two covers general principles of resuscitation and supportive care relevant to all pediatric trauma patients. Section three covers the management of specific injuries. Section four deals with rehabilitation and long-term outcomes and how to effectively communicate with families, particularly when the outcome is not good.

I would like to thank Geoff Greenwood and Taylor & Francis for encouraging and supporting us in this project. I would also like to thank the authors, who were selected because of their expertise, for their efforts, and my administrative assistant Laura Barrera for her help in editing the book. I would also like to thank my coeditors, Steven Stylianos, David Tuggle, Arthur Cooper, and Tres Scherer, for their efforts, particularly in recruiting expert authors for each of the chapters.