Pediatric Trauma: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Injuries cause more than half of all childhood deaths, with blunt forces causing most injuries. As the leading cause of death and disability in children over one year of age in the United States and among older children worldwide, trauma care requires specialized knowledge of pediatric differences in behavior, anatomy, and physiology. This comprehensive resource addresses the critical reality that a large proportion of pediatric trauma care is provided by non-pediatric specialists in general hospitals. The book is organized into four essential sections: trauma systems for children (covering epidemiology and organization of care); general principles of resuscitation and supportive care (including management of burns and child abuse); specific injuries commonly seen in children (brain, truncal, skeletal, and vascular injuries); and other valuable resources such as firearm injury prevention, communication with families, rehabilitation, and long-term outcomes after trauma. Designed for all healthcare providers who treat injured children, this book provides evidence-based recommendations and contemporary practices within the field. The content has been thoroughly revised and updated from prior editions to reflect the most current approaches to pediatric trauma care, making it an invaluable resource for addressing the unique needs of injured children.