PURPOSE: There is a lack of national data describing the demographics and nature of pediatric renal trauma.
We used the National Trauma Data Bank to analyze mechanisms and grades of injury, demographics and treatment characteristics of pediatric renal trauma cases.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Renal injuries were identified by Abbreviated Injury Scale codes and converted to American Association for the Surgery of Trauma renal injury grades. Patients were stratified by age (0 to 1, 2 to 4, 5 to 14 and 15 to 18 years) for more specific analyses of mechanisms and grades of injury. Data reviewed included mechanisms and grades of renal injury, demographics, and setting and type of treatment.
RESULTS: A total of 2,213 pediatric renal injuries were converted to American Association for the Surgery of Trauma grade. Mean ± SD age at injury was 13.7 ± 4.4 years, with 2,089 patients (94%) being 5 to 18 years old. Of the injuries 79% were grade I, II or III. Penetrating injury accounted for less than 10% of all pediatric renal injuries. A majority of patients (57%) were admitted to university hospitals with a dedicated trauma service (73%) and only 12% of patients were admitted to a pediatric hospital. A total of 122 nephrectomies (5.5%) were performed.
CONCLUSIONS: Most renal trauma in children is low grade, is blunt in nature and occurs after age 5 years. The majority of these cases are managed at adult hospitals. Although most patients are treated conservatively, the rate of nephrectomy is 3 times higher at adult hospitals than at pediatric centers.
Written by:
Grimsby GM, Voelzke B, Hotaling J, Sorensen MD, Koyle M, Jacobs MA. Are you the author?
Division of Pediatric Urology, Department of Urology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas; Department of Urology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington; Center for Reconstructive Urology and Men's Health, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah; Department of Urology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington; Division of Urology, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Seattle, Washington; University of Toronto, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Reference: J Urol. 2014 Nov;192(5):1498-502.
doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2014.05.103
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 24907442