Quality Indicators of pediatric polytrauma care

Background: Polytrauma is still the major cause of death in children all over the world. Initial evaluation and management should be approached by teamwork that includes pediatric physicians, pediatric intensive care physicians, and trauma surgeons. Trauma care provides injured children with life-and limb-saving treatment, but it is unclear if the proper tools have been developed to measure the quality of care delivered. Objective: To review quality indicators for evaluating care delivered to pediatric polytrauma patients aged ≤ 12 years and illustrate various complaints, shortages, suggestions, and possible solutions in the management of children at Aljalla Trauma Hospital–Benghazi/Libya. Methods: This study was conducted during a period of the Benghazi War (From July 2015 to July 2016). A retrospective records review of 228 children admitted as PPPs was done. All types of injury were included with a focus on the hospital stage of PPPs management. A questionnaire form for evaluation of the quality indicators of emergency management of pediatric polytrauma patients was prepared and filled out by the staff in charge. Results: The questionnaire has been answered by 93 of the staff who work in an adult emergency room, adult intensive care unit, and trauma surgeons. Our results enhance the findings of epidemiological studies for musculoskeletal injuries in PPPs and positively confirm the need to establish educational courses and continuous evaluation of performance for personage included in pediatric polytrauma patients management. Conclusion: Trauma centers may not have the resources to care for all the injured children within their referral region at any given time, and pediatric trauma centers should serve as referral points in major urban areas.