Children hospitalized for accidental injuries: Israeli experiences

Of the total 411 cases of accidents occurring in the State of Israel during 1999, the 314 which were hospitalized at the Edith Wolfson Medical Center, constituting 7.2% of the total pediatric hospitalizations in that regional hospital, were analyzed and summarized. Mean age of the children was 6.6±4.4, and ratio of boys to girls was 65:35. Accidents were classified by location of occurrence: home (52.3%); road (19.3%); sports (17.4%); and school (11.6%). Grades of severity were as follows: light (children were discharged without handicaps) (13.2%); moderate (children had undergone surgical intervention with prolonged or permanent disability) (74%); severe (children were treated in intensive care units and had permanent irreversible handicaps) (12.9%). Loss of conscientiousness occurred in 13.3% of cases. Affected body parts included: limbs (52.7%); head and face (32.7%); spine (7%); and multisystem injury (14.6%). Mean duration of hospitalization was 3.1 (±2.6 days). Accidental injuries most often occurred in the afternoon and in the absence of parental supervision. These findings generate conclusions for preventive interventions.