Does the Mechanism Matter? Comparing Thrombelastography Between Blunt and Penetrating Pediatric Trauma Patients

Comparative study of 118 pediatric trauma patients demonstrates that coagulopathy patterns on thrombelastography are similar between blunt solid organ injuries and penetrating trauma, suggesting mechanism is less important than presence of shock. Patients in shock showed significantly decreased alpha-angles and maximum amplitude, indicating shock state drives coagulation abnormalities regardless of injury mechanism.