MECHANISMS OF INJURY

Mechanisms Of Injury

Mechanisms of Injury

Question 1: Mechanisms Of Injury

Falls among children are one of the priorities in the National Injury Prevention Action Plan: Priorities for 2001-2003 (Bordeaux, 1998, pp.56-70). Falls are a frequent cause of injury morbidity in children. For example, the Victorian Injury Surveillance and Applied Research System (VISAR) reported that falls represented 41% of hospital separations and 42% of emergency visits for injury to children aged 0-14 years at participating hospitals (Ashby and Corbo 2000). The direct cost of falls in children to the health care system in Australia has been estimated to be more than $130 million, of which $28 million was the cost of hospital inpatient care (Bordeaux, 1998, pp.56-70).

The total 225 deaths due to accidental falls among children yielded an average of about 11 casesper year (range 2-16, SD±3.3) for the period 1979-1998. Two-thirds of the deaths (n=148, 65.8%) occurred in males. The age-standardised rate for children aged 0-14 years averaged overthe 20-year period was 0.6 per 100,000 populations. For males, the average rate was 0.4 per100, 000 populations, whereas the rate for females was 0.2 per 100,000 population. In 1998, ther ewere three childhood deaths due to accidental falls in Australia. Two of these were males. Small numbers complicate interpretation of the data, but following Figure indicates that male rates were higher than the rates for females aged 0-14 years over the time period reported. Also, age adjusted rates of fall-related deaths appeared to be declining for both sexes during the period 1979-1998.

Question 2: Children Commonly Injured Solid Organs

Head injuries occur commonly in childhood in Australia. Most head injuries are mild and not associated with brain injury or long-term complications. Very rarely, children with more significant injuries may develop serious complications (eg, brain injury or bleeding around the brain).

The parent(s) of a child with a head injury should work with their child's healthcare provider to determine if the child needs to be evaluated, how to monitor for signs or symptoms of worsening, and develop a plan for minimizing the risk of future injuries(Ashby, 2000, pp.120-140).

Question 3: Signs and Symptoms of Traumatic injuries

Traumatic injuries are the leading cause of death in Australia for people ages 1-34. Head injuries are among the most frequent and serious causes of neurological impairment or death for adolescents and young adults, ages 15 to 24, and the elderly, 65 years and older (CDC, 2003). Approximately ...