Demographics and Incident Location of Traumatic Injuries at a Single Level I Trauma Center

Abstract

Introduction: Traumatic injuries are preventable and understanding determinants of injury, such as socio-economic and environmental factors, is vital. This study evaluated traumatic injuries and identified areas of high trauma incidence. 
 Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of all patients 14 years or older who were admitted with a traumatic injury to a Level I trauma center between 2016 and 2017. Descriptive analyses were presented and maps of high injury areas were generated. 
 Results: The most frequent mechanisms of injury were falls (58.3%), motor vehicle crashes (22.3%), and motorcycle crashes (5.7%). Fall patients were more likely to be female (59.6%) and were the oldest age group (72.1 ± 17.2) compared to motor vehicle and motorcycle crash patients. Severe head (22.1%, P = 0.007) and extremity (35.7%, P = 0.001) injuries were most frequent among fall patients, however more motorcycle crash patients required mechanical ventilation (16.1%, P < 0.001) and experienced the longest intensive care unit length of stay (5.3 ± 6.8, P < 0.001) and mechanical ventilation days (6.6 ± 8.5, P < 0.036). Motorcycle crash patients also had the most number of deaths (7.5%, P < 0.001). The generated maps of all traumatic suggest that most injuries occur near our hospital and are located in several of the most population-dense zip codes. 
 Conclusions: Falls, motor vehicle crashes, and motorcycle crashes were the most common mechanisms of injury. The use of Geographic Information System aided in the identification of high injury incidence location.

Suicide versus homicide firearm injury patterns on trauma systems in a study of the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB)

“…Handguns rather than shotgun or semi-automatic have a better survival rate due to continually improving trauma care and single rather than multiple penetrating wounds but still incur a significant burden 22 , 49 , 52 . A study evaluating homicidal gunshot wounds at a single Level 1 trauma center in Kansas found handguns to be the most common weapon of choice in their patients 53 . Another study in a rural Midwest level 1 trauma center performed by Guetschow et al also observed handguns to be the most common weapon type for unintentional firearm related injuries 54 .…”

Suicide vs Homicide Firearm Injury Patterns, Weapons, and Mortality: A Study of the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB)

“…Handguns account for most of the rearm related injuries in this retrospective study. A study evaluating homicidal gunshot wounds at a single Level 1 trauma center in Kansas found handguns to be the most common weapon of choice in their patients [13]. Another study in a rural Midwest level 1 trauma center performed by Guetschow et al also observed handguns to be the most common weapon type for unintentional rearm related injuries [14].…”