UMEM Educational Pearls

This study was the first look at the author's experiences with racial disparities in head and neck trauma in children.  It looked at community EDs, and found that white children were more likely to be diagnosed with concussion compared to black children. White children were more likely to be seen as a result of sports or motor vehicle accidents, while black children were more likely to be seen as a result of an assault.

This study revealed the need for further research into the cause of the disparities in care that they identified.

References

Examination of Racial Disparities in Adolescents Seen in the Emergency Department for Head, Neck, or Brain Injury

Wallace, Jessica et al.

Journal of Emergency Medicine, Volume 59, Issue 6, 783 - 794