Closing the knowledge-performance gap: an audit of medical management for severe paediatric trauma in Flanders (Belgium).

Aims: Considerable variability in (paediatric) trauma care has been reported. We wanted to audit current practice in Flanders (Belgium).

Methods: The PENTA network prospectively collected data on paediatric trauma patients in a representative sample of Flemish hospitals during 2005.

Paediatric trauma and trauma care in Flanders (Belgium). Methodology and first descriptive results of the PENTA registry.

Paediatric injury surveillance and prevention are definite priorities for the European, Belgian, and Flemish authorities. Current available data for Flanders (Belgium) are fragmentary and out-of-date. The PENTA registry (PaEdiatric Network around TraumA) was therefore set up to obtain recent population-based data on trauma and trauma care in children and youngsters in Flanders.