Abstract

ZUIDGEEST, J; JONKHEIJM, A; VAN DIJK, M  and  VAN AS, A. Is the golden hour optimally used in South Africa for children presenting with polytrauma?. SAMJ, S. Afr. med. j. [online]. 2013, vol.103, n.3, pp.166-167. ISSN 2078-5135.

BACKGROUND: The major paediatric public health problem worldwide is injury or trauma. In 2004, 950 000 children died as a result of injury. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the logistics of medical care after paediatric polytrauma within the first hours after arrival into a trauma unit - the so-called Golden Hour. METHODS: Children presenting with polytrauma to the Trauma Unit at the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital between May 2011 and August 2011 were considered for inclusion in the study. RESULTS: Fifty-five children were included in the final analysis. The median duration of stay in the Trauma Unit was 205 minutes (interquartile range 135 - 274). CONCLUSION: Several factors were identified that unnecessarily prolonged the time that patients stayed in the trauma unit following arrival in hospital for polytrauma management.

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