Michael R. Rasmussen, BA, Harlem Hospital, 506 Lenox Avenue, New York, NY 10037, 917 539 6862, mikerass2002@yahoo.com and Nadine R. Levick, MD, MPH, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Columbia University, New York, Harlem Hospital center, 506 Lenox Avenue, New York, NY 10037.

Purpose: Falls are a leading injury mechanism for traumatic brain injuries in children ages 0-14 years. This study compares national and New York State trends in fatal and nonfatal unintentional fall injury and traumatic brain injury for children ages 0-14 years.

Methods: ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes were used to extract unintentional fall mortality and morbidity data from the CDC WISQARS database. Data were also accessed from the New York State Department of Health TBI registry.

Results: From 1981 to 2000, the national age-adjusted pediatric death rate due to unintentional falls in children ages 0-14 decreased 71% from 0.45 to 0.13 per 100,000, while New York State decreased 81% from 0.78 to 0.15 per 100,000. In the year 2000, falls caused 34.1% of all nonfatal unintentional injuries nationally in children ages 0-14 years at a rate of 3,923 per 100,000. In New York State, falls are the primary cause of hospitalized TBI in this same age group, causing 70% of TBI in children ages 0-4 years and 30% of TBI in children ages 5-14 years.

Conclusions: Unintentional falls are the leading cause of pediatric nonfatal injury and emergency department visits, and remain a major public health concern. In contrast with the nation, falls, not motor vehicle crashes, are the leading cause of hospitalized TBI in New York State. Differences in risk factors in New York State as opposed to the rest of the nation may explain this finding.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to

• Understand both the national and New York State trends in pediatric unintentional falls and traumatic brain injury.
• Discuss the significance of falls and traumatic brain injuries as serious public health concerns.

Keywords: Traumatic Brain Injury, Children

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.