Author Description

Pediatric trauma continues to have a significant impact on the health and well-being of children in the United States. Trauma continues to be the leading cause of death in children 1 to 18 years of age and accounted for more than 14,000 deaths among all children 0 to 18 years of age. In 2008, there were more than 8.6 million nonfatal injuries among newborn to 18-year-olds, with an injury rate of greater than 1 in 10. There is little debate that a coordinated effort and pediatric-specific advances in pediatric trauma systems, prehospital care and hospital care, and injury prevention can have a positive impact on pediatric trauma outcomes in the United States. However, there are still gaps in access to centers that deliver pediatric-focused trauma care, especially in rural areas. Furthermore, there are differing views between different centers regarding the optimal approach to the initial evaluation and management of the pediatric trauma patient. This book is targeted to review critical aspects of the care of the pediatric trauma patient, highlighting the most common and critical injuries encountered in the acute care setting.