Pediatric trauma management in low-resource emergency departments: from first contact to safe disposition – a narrative review
Outcomes associated with pediatric trauma in LMICs can be improved through context-adapted approaches that move beyond direct replication of high-resource protocols. We advocate for the adoption and validation of "Pediatric Trauma-Lite" models simplified, scalable pathways that empower frontline providers with knowledge of what can be done immediately, what can be safely improvised, and what requires urgent transfer. Global and national leadership must prioritize the development, implementation, and evaluation of these context-appropriate trauma systems.
Authors
- Olalekan John Okesanya (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3809-4271)
- Bethany Bucciarelli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3552-245X)
- Karim Fahmy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8752-5824)
- Mohammed Alsabri (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7278-2289)
- Eslam Abady (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-2087-3297)
- Panos Tamvakologos
- Mehreen Ghulam Rasool Maka
- Noor ul Ain Saleem
Institutions
- St. George's University (GD)
- University of Thessaly (GR)
- Tanta University (EG)
- CMH Lahore Medical College and Institute of Dentistry (PK)
- Dow University of Health Sciences (PK)
- University of Modern Sciences (YE)
- American University of the Caribbean (HT)
- St. Christopher's Hospital for Children (US)
- American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (SX)
Publication Details
- Journal
- International Journal of Emergency Medicine
- Published
- 2026-03-24
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-026-01189-y
- Primary Topic
- Trauma and Emergency Care Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00