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The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on traumatic injuries in children: a longitudinal observational study

Authors

Arian Zaboli
zaboliarian@gmail.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4204-8884
Innovation, Research and Teaching Service (SABES-ASDAA), Teaching Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical Private University (PMU), Bolzano, Italy.
Mara Molaro
Pediatrics Department, Hospital of Merano-Meran (ASDAA-SABES), Merano, Italy; Lehrkrankenhaus der Paracelsus Medizinischen Privatuniversität, Salzburg, Austria.
Gianni Turcato
Department of Internal Medicine, Intermediate Care Unit, Hospital Alto Vicentino (AULSS-7), Santorso, Italy.
Serena Sibilio
Institute of Nursing Science, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Gloria Brigiari
https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7274-4373
Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padua, Italy.
Gaia Weissmann
Pediatrics Department, Hospital of Merano-Meran (ASDAA-SABES), Merano, Italy.
Paola Cogo
Department of Medicine, University Hospital of Udine, Udine, Italy.
Olaf Schmidt
Lehrkrankenhaus der Paracelsus Medizinischen Privatuniversität, Salzburg, Austria; Department of Orthopedic and Traumathology, Hospital of Merano-Meran (SABES-ASDAA), Merano-Meran, Italy.
Francesco Brigo
Innovation, Research and Teaching Service (SABES-ASDAA), Teaching Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical Private University (PMU), Bolzano, Italy.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected pediatric emergency department (ED) visits for traumatic injuries. This retrospective study analyzed data from Merano Hospital, Italy, spanning January 2018 to October 2022, focusing on standardized ED visits per 1000 orthopedic attendances. Findings indicated a significant decline in ED visits at the pandemic’s onset (March 2020), followed by a gradual increase until April 2022, when emergency measures ended. Fracture and orthopedic procedure rates remained stable, while dislocations saw a temporary increase, then declined significantly. Overall, the pandemic’s influence on pediatric trauma was minimal, with ED visits and injury patterns returning to pre-pandemic levels. These findings suggest that pandemic-related restrictions, including reduced outdoor activities and fewer traffic accidents, may have temporarily modified injury risk factors.

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How to Cite

Zaboli, A., Molaro, M., Turcato, G., Sibilio, S., Brigiari, G., Weissmann, G., Cogo, P., Schmidt, O., & Brigo, F. (2025). The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on traumatic injuries in children: a longitudinal observational study. Emergency Care Journal. https://doi.org/10.4081/ecj.2025.12965
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