Background Prevention of mortality and severe injury following trauma requires unbiased epidemiological surveillance. The epidemiology of children or adolescents admitted to a Danish trauma centre is largely unknown in particular in relation to home- and leisure risk areas. To describe the epidemiology and severity of potential severely injured children and adolescents admitted to the level 1 trauma centre at Odense University Hospital, Denmark.

Methods A descriptive study including all children and adolescents aged 0–17 admitted to the level 1 trauma centre at Odense University Hospital, Denmark 2002–2011. Data was extracted from the multiple trauma register and medical records. The Abbreviated Injury Score (AIS) was calculated in each patient.

Results 950 children and adolescents were included. The median age was 13 (0–17) years. Boys accounted for 60.6% of the cases. Accidents accounted for 97.2%, violence 1.4%, and self-inflicted injuries 0.4%. More than ¾ of the injuries occurred either in traffic or at home. The occurrence was greatest in the summer (34.0%), during weekends (48.9%), and in the hours between 12.00 and 20.00 (59.2%). 58.5% of the injuries were due to traffic. Of these 39.7% were passengers in motor vehicles, 27.5 % drivers/passengers of a scooter/MC, 21.8 % bicyclists and 10.3 % pedestrians. The median ISS and MAIS was 4 (1–75) and 2 (1–6), respectively. Head/face injuries accounted for 36.5% and extremities for 30.9% of all injuries. 153 (16.1%) suffered from severe injuries (ISS > 15). Altogether, 49 (5.2%) died due to their injuries. The mortality among severely injured was 31.4%.

Conclusions Based on a local trauma register it was possible to describe the epidemiology and severity of potential severely injured children and adolescents admitted to a level trauma centre.