Patterns, Severity, and Outcomes of Pediatric Forensic Cases Presenting to Emergency Departments: A One-Year Retrospective Study

Objective: Pediatric forensic cases constitute an important public health problem and are frequently encountered in emergency departments. Due to their developmental vulnerability, children are at higher risk of trauma and violence and these cases require appropriate medical management and accurate forensic documentation. This study aimed to evaluate the demographic, clinical and epidemiological characteristics of pediatric forensic cases presenting to emergency departments and to identify injury patterns and medicolegal outcomes.Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included forensic cases aged 0–18 years admitted to the pediatric and adult emergency departments of a university hospital for a year. Data were obtained from the hospital information system and included demographic characteristics, type and timing of forensic events, injured body regions and internal organs, fractures, consultation requirements, hospitalization, surgical intervention and forensic outcomes. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software.Results: A total of 422 pediatric forensic cases were evaluated. The mean age was 9.87 ± 5.26 years and 67.8% of patients were male children. Adolescents constituted the largest age group (43.8%). Admissions were most frequent during summer (33.2%). The most common events were traffic accidents (24.4%), blunt trauma (15.2%) and sharp object injuries (14.7%). The head, neck and face were the most frequently affected regions (33.6%). Internal organ injuries were present in 15.2% of cases, with brain injuries being the most common. Fractures were detected in 26.3% of patients. Life-threatening injuries were identified in 19.9% of cases and mortality occurred in 1.7%. Hospitalization was required in 33.9% of patients, most commonly in intensive care units and pediatric surgery services.Conclusion: Pediatric forensic cases remain a significant burden in emergency departments, particularly among adolescent males. Trauma-related incidents predominate and often result in severe injuries. Preventive strategies, increased awareness, and standardized forensic evaluation protocols are essential to improve both clinical care and legal reporting in pediatric emergencies.