Multiple trauma has been defined as substantial injury to more than one organ system or life-threatening injury to a single organ system. The full impact of injury deaths in children and adolescents is reflected in the fact that injury surpasses all major disease groups as the leading cause of premature years of life lost in this country. A major consideration in dealing with injured children is the effect that injury may have on subsequent growth and development. The University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital is designated as a Level 1 trauma center caring for the most acutely injured children. Over 500 pediatric trauma patients are admitted on an annual basis.  Ninety percent of these children sustain blunt trauma, e.g. falls, pedestrian-motor vehicle crashes. The remaining 10% sustain penetrating injury, e.g. gunshot wounds or stab wounds.

The Pediatric Trauma Service at the University of Chicago Children's Hospital is an interdisciplinary program with special resources from throughout the institution that are dedicated to providing optimal care for the child who sustains a significant traumatic injury. Effective care of the injured child requires an inclusive approach which recognizes injury as a major pediatric health problem, identifies effective strategies for prevention, improves systems of care for children, and provides the most appropriate care available. As a Level 1 trauma center we have an emergency department specifically equipped for children, as well as a pediatric intensive care unit with appropriately trained  surgical and pediatric specialists available to care for the injured child.  In addition, the child protection service provides expert consultation on child abuse cases.  The University of Chicago Aeromedical Network (UCAN) provides helicopter and ground transport to the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital for patients within a 200-mile radius, covering Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and western Michigan.

Injury prevention is another responsibility of the pediatric trauma program.  A pediatric pedestrian safety study is currently identifying local environmental factors that contribute to childhood pedestrian injury events among those patients treated at our Pediatric Level 1 trauma center. This information will then be utilized to determine whether the environment can be modified to reduce the risk of childhood pedestrian injuries within our community.