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Ann Thorac Surg 1994;58:14-18
© 1994 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

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Articles

Pediatric and adult thoracic trauma: Age-related impact on presentation and outcome

Departments of Surgery and Pediatrics, University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville, Florida USA

^_* Address reprint requests to Dr Peterson, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Florida, Health Science Center/Jacksonville, 653 W 8th St. Jacksonville, FL 32209.

To assess the impact of age on presentation and outcome, 2,415 cases involving blunt and penetrating thoracic trauma over an 8-year period were reviewed retrospectively from a single level I trauma center. Of the 2,073 patients alive on arrival, 79 were 12 years of age or less (children), 137 were 13 to 17 years of age (adolescent), 1,742 were 18 to 59 years of age (adults), and 115 were 60 years of age or more (elderly). Chi-square analysis was performed relative to presentation (blunt versus penetrating), need for thoracotomy, and hospital mortality. Although blunt thoracic trauma comprised [equation] of children (81%) and [equation] of the elderly (78%), penetrating thoracic trauma was more common for adolescents [equation] (58%) and adults [equation] (58%) (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in need for thoracotomy among the four age groups after blunt thoracic trauma. For penetrating trauma, however, there was a significantly higher incidence of thoracotomy in children as compared with the other three age groups (p < 0.05). In conclusion: (1) Blunt injuries comprised a greater proportion of thoracic trauma in children and the elderly. (2) In this series, children with penetrating thoracic trauma underwent thoracotomy more frequently. (3) Hospital mortality appeared to be increased for the elderly. (4) Analyses of pediatric thoracic trauma must separate children from adolescent age groups.

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