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Abstract
A prospective epidemiological study was undertaken to determine the workload and patient
characteristics for a putative trauma centre in a large defined area. One thousand
and eighty-eight patients were included: 430 brought in dead, 309 hospital deaths
and 349 survivors. Types of injury were: blunt 76 per cent, penetrating 3.6 per cent,
burns 5.8 per cent, other 14 per cent. The incidence of blunt injury was ![Math Eq]()
for patients arriving alive at hospital and accounted for 0.08 per cent of new A
& E attendances. Eight per cent of blunt injury patients were children, 68 per cent
were adults and 24 per cent elderly. Major causes of injury were: road accidents 67
per cent and falls 26 per cent. In patients arriving alive after blunt injuries, those
who subsequently died were significantly older, more severely injured and more physiologically
impaired. Hospital mortality was 45 per cent for blunt, 43 per cent for penetrating
injuries, and 67 per cent for burns. TRISS methodology indicated 53 per cent of hospital
deaths from blunt injuries were unexpected. Practically, it is questionable whether
the incidence of major injuries is sufficient to provide the volume of patients necessary
to sustain a Level I Trauma Centre. Nevertheless, concentration of injury service
is essential, since no hospital receives sufficient patients to develop and maintain
expertise.
for patients arriving alive at hospital and accounted for 0.08 per cent of new A
& E attendances. Eight per cent of blunt injury patients were children, 68 per cent
were adults and 24 per cent elderly. Major causes of injury were: road accidents 67
per cent and falls 26 per cent. In patients arriving alive after blunt injuries, those
who subsequently died were significantly older, more severely injured and more physiologically
impaired. Hospital mortality was 45 per cent for blunt, 43 per cent for penetrating
injuries, and 67 per cent for burns. TRISS methodology indicated 53 per cent of hospital
deaths from blunt injuries were unexpected. Practically, it is questionable whether
the incidence of major injuries is sufficient to provide the volume of patients necessary
to sustain a Level I Trauma Centre. Nevertheless, concentration of injury service
is essential, since no hospital receives sufficient patients to develop and maintain
expertise.To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
August 8,
1994
Identification
Copyright
© 1995 Published by Elsevier Inc.
