Violence-related injuries in a pediatric emergency department.

BACKGROUND: Since the 1980s, violence has emerged as a leading public health concern in the United States. Recent studies have begun to address the impact of interpersonal violence specifically on young children. The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiology of violence-related injuries (VRI) in an urban pediatric emergency department (ED). METHODS: A six-month retrospective chart review was conducted. The records of 11,000 patients 17 years of age and younger who were seen in an urban pediatric ED were accessed for VRI. VRI were defined as purposefully inflicted with intent to harm. Patients discharged from the ED with VRI were compared to patients admitted with VRI. RESULTS: Three hundred seventeen (3%) of patients were categorized as having VRI during the six-month study period. Eighty-three percent were discharged, and 17% were admitted. The majority of injuries was the result of interpersonal conflict with a friend or acquaintance. Patients discharged were more likely to involve: younger children, female victims, and blunt instruments. Thirteen percent of discharged patients, however, involved potentially lethal weapons (knife or firearm). CONCLUSIONS: The vast majority of patients with VRI are discharged from the ED. Females and young children were frequently evaluated for VRI in the pediatric ED. Identification of these patients can be used to initiate service protocols directed at violence prevention.