[Different expectations regarding the prehospital care of injured children? : A comparison between pediatric surgeons and trauma surgeons].

Abstract

Introduction: The prehospital care of injured children is challenging. Immobilization and pharmacological pain management are in the foreground; however, the expectations of pediatric surgeons and trauma surgeons regarding emergency medical services and emergency physicians can vary. This study aims to identify similarities and differences.

Methods: In this study 186 members of the Pediatric Traumatology Section of the German Society for Trauma Surgery were surveyed on the necessity of 9 emergency medical interventions using 10 routine case studies.

Results: A total of 26 pediatric surgeons and 31 trauma surgeons provided their assessments. There were significant differences in assessment regarding the use of pharmacological pain management, the need for neurological assessment and reduction maneuvers with analgesia. There was high agreement regarding immobilization of the injured body region, the establishment of an intravenous approach and sterile closure of open fractures.

Discussion: Pediatric traumatologists with trauma surgery and pediatric surgery training have different priorities in their requirements for the prehospital care of injured children. Joint interdisciplinary recommendations for action should be formulated to provide widely accepted guidelines for emergency medical personnel, who often do not specialize in pediatric traumatology.