The Impact of Alcohol Consumption on Mortality Among Patients with Complex Cervical Trauma

Abstract

Alcohol seems to be an important risk factor and a major cause of death for the patients with complex cervical trauma. The morbidity and mortality by complex cervical trauma is increasing all over the world, the most common mechanism of damage being a stab wound from violent attack, but also gunshot wounds, road traffic accidents or self-harm are noted. In addition to penetrating trauma, neck injuries can appear due to blunt trauma. We conducted a retrospective analysis on 289 deceased patients by complex cervical trauma. We aimed to focus on the relationship between alcohol blood level and cervical trauma mortality by various mechanisms. In our study, the alcohol blood level in deceased patients by complex cervical trauma is influenced by gender and socioeconomic background. Alcoholism was correlated with autolithic mechanism in 56.3% of the cases and aggression in 46.7%. Complex cervical trauma represents a pathology with multifaceted epidemiological, etiopathogenic and pathophysiological processes. Our results could bring new epidemiological data in order to improve public health policies, and from there to decrease alcohol related mortality on cervical trauma.