PEDIATRIC ROAD TRAFFIC INJURIES AND THEIR CONSEQUENCES

Abstract

Pediatric road traffic injuries remain one of the leading causes of mortality and long-term disability worldwide. The high-energy mechanisms involved in road traffic accidents (RTAs) result in a predominance of combined and multiple injuries affecting vital organs and systems. This study analyzes the structural and clinical characteristics of injuries sustained by children involved in RTAs, based on hospital clinical data and forensic autopsy findings. Traumatic brain injury, thoracic and abdominal trauma, and complex polytrauma were identified as the most frequent and prognostically significant injury patterns. Fatal outcomes were primarily associated with massive hemorrhage due to severe damage to parenchymal organs and critical thoracic structures. Anatomical and physiological features of the pediatric body contribute to extensive internal organ damage even in the absence of pronounced skeletal injuries. The findings emphasize the importance of early recognition of leading injuries, rapid diagnostic assessment, and timely surgical and intensive care interventions to reduce mortality in pediatric road traffic trauma.