Do prehospital criteria optimally assign injured children to the appropriate level of trauma team activation and emergency department disposition at a level I pediatric trauma center?

Purpose: To examine the association of prehospital criteria with the appropriate level of trauma team activation (TTA) and emergency department (ED) disposition among injured children at a level I pediatric trauma center.

Methods: Injured children younger than 15 years and transported by emergency medical services (EMS) from the scene of injury between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2011 were identified using the institution's trauma registry. Logistic regression was used to study the main outcomes of interest, full TTA (FTTA) and ED disposition.