Admission Patterns of an Urban Level I Trauma Center

Abstract

Because trauma admission and hospitalization patterns have profound effects on the organization and utilization of urban trauma-care systems, the objective of this study was to identify and analyze these patterns. As an example, admissions to an urban Level I trauma center were reviewed. Retrospective review of all 2029 trauma admissions to a Level I trauma center was conducted from 1993 to 1996. The result was that most trauma patients were young (40% < 30 years of age) and male (74%). Mechanisms of injury were motor vehicle accident (36%), fall (27%), gunshot (17%), stab (7%), assault (6%), and swimming or diving accident (3%). Half of the patients were directly admitted from the scene. Injury Severity Score, length of stay, and mortality were 14.1 +/- 0.3, 10.5 +/- 0.3 days, and 5.1%, respectively. Admissions tended to occur more frequently between 4:00 PM and midnight (46%), between Friday and Sunday (52%), and between July and October (41%). The following patterns were identified: admissions per year decreased (-21%) because of reduced penetrating trauma (-43%, P < .01); pediatric patients (< 15 years) had similar incidence of penetrating trauma as adults (ages 15-45). Length of stay for all mechanisms of injury was not statistically different; most mortalities occurred within the first day (33%, P < .01) or after 6 days (36%, P < .01); early mortality was mainly due to penetrating injury (74%, P < .01), whereas late mortality was related to blunt trauma (92%, P < .01). The conclusion was that admission and demographic patterns were identified, which may be useful in the utilization, modification, and future design of trauma systems.

The influence of foehn winds on the incidence of severe injuries in southern Bavaria – an analysis of the TraumaRegister DGU®

“…The data used by Pape-Köhler et al derived from a different time period from the same register which was used for this study. However, studies from the United States and Norway present similar results with an increased trauma incidence in summer [24,25].…”

Temporal variation in major trauma admissions

“…8 The majority of the international literature, mainly from North America, supports our SGU findings. Ovadia et al 25 and Carmody et al 26 found that more trauma admissions occurred in the evening and overnight than during the day while Laupland et al found that over 70% of major trauma admissions in Canada occurred between 6pm and 8am. 27 Some of the literature is in agreement with our BSUH findings.…”

Seasonal Variation of Trauma in Western Massachusetts: Fact or Folklore?

“…Studies have also reported that there is a high incidence of specific mechanisms of injury such as motor vehicle crashes (MVCs), falls, gunshot, stab, assault, and motorcycle crashes (MCCs). 10 11 Similarly, these are the most common mechanisms at our institution. However, there are no studies that have evaluated seasonal variation with specific mechanisms of injury.…”