[The injured child--diagnostic work-up in the emergency room]. / Das verletzte Kind--diagnostisches Vorgehen im Schockraum.

ABSTRACT

The diagnosis of an injured child in the emergency room requires interdisciplinary collaboration and should be performed in a level 1 or 2 trauma center, if possible. Here, the basic trauma team could be complemented with (pediatric) surgeons. In a pediatric trauma center, specially trained pediatric surgeons or trauma surgeons, anesthetists, and radiologists who are experienced in the treatment of children should be available. The initial emergency room treatment does not differ significantly from that of adults. Ionizing radiation is the greatest hazard for children in the diagnosis of trauma patients. The CT scan is responsible for most of the radiation. To reduce the risk of developing a malignancy, the most harmful consequence of radiation, differentiated use is necessary. This can be achieved by using the presented algorithms. However, the differentiated use of the CT should not result in additional risk to the child. If the child is in a critical condition and obviously has multiple life-threatening injuries, the use of a whole-body CT is justified, due to time saving and targeted therapy of the child.