To describe the demographics, mechanism, pattern, and severity of injury, prehospital and hospital care (first 24 hours) and the patient outcome in severely injured children in a NICU. This study was made to complete the study of Swedish children admitted to a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) due to major trauma in the same region and during the same period.

The medical records of 124 traumatized children (0–16 years of age), admitted to the NICU in Gothenburg 1992–2001, were retrospectively examined. The Injury Severity Score (ISS), Glasgow Paediatric Coma Scale (GSC), Revised Trauma Score (T-RTS/RTS), Paediatric Trauma Score (PTS), Trauma Score Injury Severity Score (TRISS) and Paediatric Risk of Mortality Score (PRISM) estimated the severity of injury.

About 7/100 000 children with severe injuries were admitted to the NICU each year from 1992–2001 inclusive. Epidemiology showed a similar pattern as in other OECD countries. Severity of injury was recorded as an ISS median of 17. Mortality rate in our series was 6%.

Major trauma with admission to a NICU is rare in Swedish children. With management in conjunction with a pediatric centre, these children have a good survival rate.