scholarly journals Did Amendments to the Ontario Highway Traffic Act in 2009-2010 Affect the Proportion of Alcohol-Related Motor Vehicle Collisions Seen at a Level I Trauma Centre over a 10-year Period?

CJEM ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 106-111
Author(s):  
Meghan Garnett ◽  
Tanya Charyk Stewart ◽  
Michael R Miller ◽  
Rodrick Lim ◽  
Kristine Van Aarsen ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectivesTo determine if changes to the Ontario Highway Traffic Act (OHTA) in 2009 and 2010 had an effect on the proportion of alcohol-related motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) presenting to a trauma centre over a 10-year period.MethodsA retrospective review of the trauma registry at a Level I trauma centre in southwestern Ontario was undertaken. The trauma registry is a database of all trauma patients with an injury severity score (ISS) ≥12 and/or who had trauma team activation. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Interrupted time series analyses with ARIMA modeling were performed on quarterly data from 2004-2013.ResultsA total of 377 drivers with a detectable serum ethanol concentration (SEC) were treated at our trauma centre over the 10-year period, representing 21% of all MVCs. The majority (330; 88%) were male. The median age was 31 years, median SEC was 35.3 mmol/L, and median ISS was 21. A total of 29 (7.7%) drinking drivers died from their injuries after arriving to hospital. There was no change in the proportion of drinking drivers after the 2009 amendment, but there was a significant decline in the average SEC of drinking drivers after changes to the law. There was no difference in the proportion of drinking drivers ≤21 years after introduction of the 2010 amendment for young and novice drivers.ConclusionsThere was a significance decline in the average SEC of all drinking drivers after the 2009 OHTA amendment, suggesting that legislative amendments may have an impact on drinking before driving behaviour.

2009 ◽  
Vol 249 (3) ◽  
pp. 488-495 ◽  
Author(s):  
John S. Sampalis ◽  
Robin Nathanson ◽  
Julie Vaillancourt ◽  
Andreas Nikolis ◽  
Moishe Liberman ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Tim Nutbeam ◽  
Rob Fenwick ◽  
Jason Smith ◽  
Omar Bouamra ◽  
Lee Wallis ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) are a common cause of major trauma and death. Following an MVC, up to 40% of patients will be trapped in their vehicle. Extrication methods are focused on the prevention of secondary spinal injury through movement minimisation and mitigation. This approach is time consuming and patients may have time-critical injuries. The purpose of this study is to describe the outcomes and injuries of those trapped following an MVC: this will help guide meaningful patient-focused interventions and future extrication strategies. Methods We undertook a retrospective database study using the Trauma Audit and Research Network database. Patients were included if they were admitted to an English hospital following an MVC from 2012 to 2018. Patients were excluded when their outcomes were not known or if they were secondary transfers. Results This analysis identified 426,135 cases of which 63,625 patients were included: 6983 trapped and 56,642 not trapped. Trapped patients had a higher mortality (8.9% vs 5.0%, p < 0.001). Spinal cord injuries were rare (0.71% of all extrications) but frequently (50.1%) associated with other severe injuries. Spinal cord injuries were more common in patients who were trapped (p < 0.001). Injury Severity Score (ISS) was higher in the trapped group 18 (IQR 10–29) vs 13 (IQR 9–22). Trapped patients had more deranged physiology with lower blood pressures, lower oxygen saturations and lower Glasgow Coma Scale, GCS (all p < 0.001). Trapped patients had more significant injuries of the head chest, abdomen and spine (all p < 0.001) and an increased rate of pelvic injures with significant blood loss, blood loss from other areas or tension pneumothorax (all p < 0.001). Conclusion Trapped patients are more likely to die than those who are not trapped. The frequency of spinal cord injuries is low, accounting for < 0.7% of all patients extricated. Patients who are trapped are more likely to have time-critical injuries requiring intervention. Extrication takes time and when considering the frequency, type and severity of injuries reported here, the benefit of movement minimisation may be outweighed by the additional time taken. Improved extrication strategies should be developed which are evidence-based and allow for the expedient management of other life-threatening injuries.


2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 385-390
Author(s):  
Marissa Di Napoli ◽  
William B. DeVoe ◽  
Stuart Leon ◽  
Bruce Crookes ◽  
Alicia Privette ◽  
...  

Background Rib fractures are common after motor vehicle collisions. The hormonal changes associated with pregnancy decrease the stiffness and increase the laxity of cartilage and tendons. The effect of these changes on injury mechanics is not completely understood. Objectives To compare the incidences of chest wall injury following blunt thoracic trauma between pregnant and nonpregnant women. Methods The authors conducted a retrospective review of female patients seen at a level I trauma center from 2009 to 2017 after a motor vehicle collision. Patient characteristics were compared to determine if pregnancy affected the incidence of chest wall injury. Statistics were calculated with SPSS version 24 and are presented as mean (SD) or median (interquartile range). Results In total, 1618 patients were identified. The incidence of rib/sternal fracture was significantly lower in pregnant patients (7.9% vs 15.2%, P = .047), but the incidence of intrathoracic injury was similar between the groups. Pregnant and nonpregnant patients with rib/sternal fractures had similar Injury Severity Score results (21 [13-27] vs 17 [11-22], P = .36), but pregnant patients without fractures had significantly lower scores (1 [0-5] vs 4 [1-9], P &lt; .001). Conclusions Pregnant patients have a lower rate of rib fracture after a motor vehicle collision than nonpregnant patients. The difference in injury mechanics may be due to hormonal changes that increase elasticity and resistance to bony injury of the ribs. In pregnant trauma patients, intrathoracic injury without rib fracture should raise concerns about injury severity. A multicenter evaluation of these findings is needed.


2006 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 282-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke Y. Shen ◽  
Kendra N. Marcotte ◽  
Stephen D. Helmer ◽  
Mary H. Dudley ◽  
R. Stephen Smith

In the past, autopsy served as the gold standard to document diagnostic accuracy. Although a valuable contributor to medical education, information collected from autopsies is frequently delayed and poorly used. The purpose of this study was to determine the degree of concordance between clinical findings and autopsy results of trauma patients involved in fatal vehicular-related crashes. A 10-year retrospective review of trauma patients involved in fatal vehicular-related crashes who subsequently had an autopsy performed was conducted at an American College of Surgeons-verified Level I trauma center. The clinical record, trauma registry data, and autopsy results were reviewed. Degree of concordance was evaluated using the Goldman Type Errors Criteria. A total of 207 decedents were included (mean age, 41; 63% male; median Glascow Coma Scale score, 3; median Injury Severity Score, 37). The majority (69.6%) of decedents were injured in motor vehicle crashes. Total treatment time was <15 minutes in 29.0 per cent of cases, <6 hours in 59.4 per cent of cases, and <24 hours in 73.9 per cent of cases. Location of death was the emergency department (43.0%), the intensive care unit (49.8%), the operating room (5.4%), and the nursing floor (1.0%). There were no Goldman Class I or IV type errors, (i.e., no major or minor discrepancies, respectively, that may have altered therapy or survival of the patient). Following ATLS-based protocols results in appropriate identification of clinically significant injuries in patients involved in motor vehicular-related crashes. The routine use of autopsy results offers little additional information to a mature American College of Surgeons-verified Level I trauma program.


Author(s):  
Donald S. Burke ◽  
Martha W. Bidez ◽  
Kathryn M. Mergl

In 2008, motor vehicle collisions resulted in 968 child occupant fatalities and 193,000 seriously injured children, ages 14 years old and younger, according to the most recent data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) [1]. In fact, motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death for all children ages 3 to 14 years old living in the United States [1]. As children grow older they require size-appropriate restraint types to fit their body at each developmental level. For older children, booster seats are not a total solution for child safety as they are often dependent on the design of the vehicle seat belt system (2). Additionally, there is no federal standard that requires vehicle manufacturers to dynamically test the performance of child seats of any type in their vehicles.


Author(s):  
Mark D. Kligman ◽  
F. Barry Knotts ◽  
Nancy M. Fenn Buderer ◽  
Andrew J. Kerwin ◽  
Jane F. Rodgers

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuhiko Yamamoto ◽  
Yumiko Matsusue ◽  
Satoshi Horita ◽  
Kazuhiro Murakami ◽  
Yoshihiro Ueyama ◽  
...  

Maxillofacial fractures of pedestrians injured in a motor vehicle accident were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were 38 males and 26 females, and their age was distributed almost evenly from 1 to 91 years old (average 45.9 ± 24.8 years old). Motor vehicle collisions were with an automobile in 46 patients (71.9%), a motorcycle in 17 (26.6%), and a train in 1 (1.6%). The midface was involved in 32 patients (50.0%), the mandible in 19 (29.7%), and both the mandible and the midface in 13 (20.3%). Fractures were frequently observed in the zygoma and alveolus in the midface and in the condyle, symphysis, and body in the mandible. The facial injury severity scale (FISS) rating ranged from 1 to 9 (average 2.30 ± 1.79). Injuries to other sites of the body occurred in 29 patients (45.3%). Observation was most frequently chosen in 26 patients (40.6%), followed by open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) in 18 (28.1%), and maxillomandibular fixation (MMF) in 8 (12.5%). The FISS rating was higher in patients treated with ORIF and MMF. Injuries to other sites of the body were observed at a higher rate in patients who collided with an automobile and were also treated by ORIF.


CJEM ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 363-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian M. Buchanan ◽  
Angela Coates ◽  
Niv Sne

AbstractObjectivesEvidence-based guidelines regarding the optimal mode of transport for trauma patients from scene to trauma centre are lacking. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between trauma patient outcomes and mode of transport at a single Ontario Level I Trauma Centre, and specifically to investigate if the mode of transport confers a mortality benefit.MethodsA historical, observational cohort study was undertaken to compare rotor-wing and ground transported patients. Captured data included demographics, injury severity, temporal and mortality variables. TRISS-L analysis was performed to examine mortality outcomes.Results387 rotor-wing transport and 2,759 ground transport patients were analyzed over an 18-year period. Rotor-wing patients were younger, had a higher Injury Severity Score, and had longer prehospital transport times. Mechanism of injury was similarly distributed between groups. After controlling for heterogeneity with TRISS-L analysis, the mortality of rotor-wing patients was found to be lower than predicted mortality, whereas the converse was found with ground patients.ConclusionRotor-wing and ground transported trauma patients represent heterogeneous populations. Accounting for these differences, rotor-wing patients were found to outperform their predicted mortality, whereas ground patients underperformed predictions.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Nutbeam ◽  
Rob Fenwick ◽  
Jason Smith ◽  
Omar Bouamra ◽  
Lee Wallis ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) are a common cause of major trauma and death. Following an MVC, up to 40% of patients will be trapped in their vehicle. Extrication methods are focused on the prevention of secondary spinal injury through movement minimisation and mitigation. This approach is time consuming and patients may have time-critical injuries. Understanding the outcomes and injuries of those trapped following an MVC will help guide meaningful patient-focused interventions and future extrication strategies.Methods We undertook a retrospective database study using the Trauma Audit and Research Network database. Patients who were admitted to an English hospital following an MVC from 2012-2018. Patients were excluded when their outcomes were not known or if they were secondary transfers.Results This analysis identified 426,135 cases of which 63,625 patients were included: 6983 trapped and 56,642 not trapped. Trapped patients had a higher mortality (8.9% vs 5.0%, p<0.001). Spinal cord injuries were rare (0.29% of all extrications) but frequently (50.1%) associated with other severe injuries. Spinal cord injuries were more common in patients who were not trapped (p<0.001). Injury Severity Score (ISS) was higher in the trapped group 18 (IQR 10-29) vs 13 (IQR 9-22). Trapped patients had more deranged physiology with lower blood pressures, lower oxygen saturations and lower Glasgow comas Scale, GCS (all p<0.001). Trapped patients had more significant injuries of the head chest, abdomen and spine (all p<0.001) and an increased rate of pelvic injures with significant blood loss, blood loss from other areas or tension pneumothorax (all p<0.001). Conclusion Trapped patients are more likely to die than those who are not trapped. The frequency of spinal cord injuries is low, accounting for <0.3% of all patients extricated. Patients who are trapped are more likely to have time-critical injuries requiring intervention. Extrication takes time and when considering the frequency, type and severity of injuries reported here, the benefit of movement minimisation may be outweighed by the additional time taken. Improved extrication strategies should be developed which are evidence-based and allow for the expedient management of other life-threatening injuries.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document