Trauma and the child.

Despite better prevention programs and emergency medical care, trauma continues to be the leading cause of death in children. Children present very special anatomic, physiologic, and psychological problems to the emergency room physician, and the spectrum of injury in these young patients may be significantly different from that seen in adult trauma victims. These factors make immediate diagnosis and early appropriate therapy for these young patients imperative to a successful outcome. A few unique forms of injury have been reviewed in this article and their diagnosis and management discussed.