Cancer and Trauma Collide: Injury Patterns and Outcomes in the Pediatric Trauma Patient With Cancer

Abstract

Purpose

There is a lack of data regarding pediatric trauma patients with a cancer diagnosis. The purpose of our study is to analyze demographics, ED admissions, procedures, and characteristics pertaining to this population.

Methods

The NTDB database was queried from 2007 to 2022. This study collected 1,726,681 trauma admissions ≤18. Of these patients, 397 were identified with a cancer diagnosis and had received chemotherapy within 30 days of their trauma admission.

Results

The median age of trauma patients with cancer was 9 years old vs 12 years old for non-cancer patients (P = 0.14), but cancer patients had a longer length of stay compared to patients without a cancer diagnosis (4.3 +/− 10 vs 3 +/− 5.7, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

We conclude that pediatric trauma patients with a cancer diagnosis had a longer length of stay despite a similar injury severity score, were less likely to sustain spinal cord injuries, but more likely to receive transfusions when compared to non-cancer trauma patients. There is need for further research regarding traumatic injuries in this patient population.