Incidence and circumstances of pediatric fall-related injuries: Which fall variables matter?

Secure windows for child safety: a retrospective study of window falls in children, aiming to raise prevention awareness

PURPOSE

The aim of the study is to enhance understanding, raise awareness and inform prevention programmes regarding potential factors that lead to severe paediatric injuries caused by unintentional falls from windows.

METHODS

This is a retrospective review from a major Trauma Centre, covering the majority of North West England and North Wales and included children under the age of 16 that had sustained falls from windows and were hospitalised between April 2015 and June 2020.

RESULTS

Overall, 825 patients' records have been reviewed, 39% of which exhibited neurosurgical injuries (322 admissions). The most common cause of injury was falls (42%), out of which 19% was identified as falls from windows which was eventually the core focus of this review (25 patients). The records showed that 72% of the falls were not witnessed by another individual, suggesting that children were being left unattended. Average GCS recorded at presentation was 11.2 and 56% of cases were identified as severe major traumas. With a mean stay of 2.2 days in ICU, 1.6 days in HDU and 6 days in the neurosurgical clinic, average treatment costs per patient were £4,493, £651 and £4,156 respectively. Finally, 52% of patients were identified to require long-term physiotherapy/occupational therapy due to permanent disabilities, 20% long-term antiepileptic treatment for seizures and 44% long-term psychological services input.

CONCLUSION

This study presents our experience at a major tertiary trauma centre in the UK over a 5-year period, from a paediatric neurosurgical injuries perspective due to fall from windows. We aim to raise awareness and highlight the importance of establishing prevention programmes which would hopefully decrease the incidence of paediatric window falls.

Sofa and bed-related pediatric trauma injuries treated in United States emergency departments

INTRODUCTION

Children under the age of 5 years suffer from the highest rates of fall-related injuries. Caretakers often leave young children on sofas and beds, however, falling and rolling off these fixtures can lead to serious injury. We investigated the epidemiologic characteristics and trends of bed and sofa-related injuries among children aged <5 years treated in US emergency departments (EDs).

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System from 2007 through 2021 using sample weights to estimate national numbers and rates of bed and sofa-related injuries. Descriptive statistics and regression analyses were employed.

RESULTS

An estimated 3,414,007 children aged <5 years were treated for bed and sofa-related injuries in emergency departments (EDs) in the United States from 2007 through 2021, averaging 115.2 injuries per 10,000 persons annually. Closed head injuries (30%) and lacerations (24%) comprised the majority of injuries. The primary location of injury was the head (71%) and upper extremity (17%). Children <1 year of age accounted for most injuries, with a 67% increase in incidence within the age group between 2007 and 2021 (p < 0.001). Falling, jumping, and rolling off beds and sofas were the primary mechanisms of injury. The proportion of jumping injuries increased with age. Approximately 4% of all injuries required hospitalization. Children <1 year of age were 1.58 times more likely to be hospitalized after injury than all other age groups (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Beds and sofas can be associated with injury among young children, especially infants. The annual rate of bed and sofa-related injuries among infants <1 year old is increasing, which underscores the need for increased prevention efforts, including parental education and improved safety design, to decrease these injuries.