Mental illness is an independent risk factor for unintentional injury and injury recidivism. Individuals with mental illness also have a different pattern of injury and hospitalization. They tended to suffer from different mechanisms of injury, stayed in the hospital longer, and were more likely to be discharged to a skilled nursing facility. Recognition of mental illness as a risk factor for injury may prompt re-examination of resource allocation for mental health and injury prevention and highlights the mentally ill as a prime target population for unintentional injury prevention efforts.

PmO2 is a responsive, reliable and continuous monitor of changes in base deficit. Initial low values for either PmO2 or StO2 were associated with post-injury complications. PmO2 monitoring may be useful in identifying patients in the state of occult underresuscitation who remain at risk for developing infection and MOF.