Factors that predict the need for early surgeon presence in the setting of pediatric trauma

This retrospective study of 526 pediatric trauma patients identifies three key prehospital predictors for immediate surgeon presence: GCS ≤12, penetrating mechanism, and age-adjusted hypotension. The findings suggest these clinical variables outperform ISS alone for trauma activation decisions, with ISS ≥16 showing only 61% sensitivity for predicting need for urgent surgical intervention.