Variability in pediatric utilization of trauma facilities in California: 1999 to 2005.

Study Objective: We identify geographic, system, and socioeconomic differences between injured children cared for within and outside of state-designated trauma centers.

Methods: This was a nonconcurrent observational study of a population-based sample from the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development Public Patient Discharge Database 1999 to 2005. Patients were 1 to 14 years of age, with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) diagnostic codes indicative of trauma.