scholarly journals The cost and compensability of trauma patients

2009 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Curtis ◽  
Cara Dickson ◽  
Deborah Black ◽  
Thomas Nau
Keyword(s):  
Health Insurance ◽  
Injury Severity ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Direct Costs ◽  
Trauma Centre ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Workers Compensation ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Mechanism Of Injury ◽  
Insurance Cover

Injury in Australia was responsible for 400 000 hospitalisations in 2002. This study aimed to examine the direct costs of trauma patients in a Level 1 trauma centre and determine the compensability of those patients. Data on all admitted patients (206) filling trauma criteria were collected prospectively over a 3-month period (November 2006 to January 2007). A 10-question survey was completed on each patient to record mechanism of injury, third party private health insurance or workers compensation, and direct costs were also obtained. 30% of trauma admissions had an injury severity score (ISS)> 15 (n = 62; median ISS =9; range, 1?56). Median length of stay was 3 days (range, 1?126). Almost half (47%) of the patients were involved in road trauma, and 29% in falls. More than half (53.4%) were eligible for compensation (21.8% of patients had full hospital health insurance cover, 21.4% third party insurance and 9.2% workers compensation). The mechanism of injury with the highest median cost per patient was assault, followed by pedal cyclists, pedestrians then motor vehicle collisions.

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 ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Injury Severity ◽  
Trauma Registry ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Trauma Centre ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Highway Traffic ◽  
Motor Vehicle Collisions ◽  
Vehicle Collisions ◽  
Level I ◽  
Legislative Amendments

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.

scholarly journals Major trauma patients are not who you might think they are: a linked data study

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Brown ◽  
Hideo Tohira ◽  
Paul Bailey ◽  
Daniel Fatovich ◽  
Judith Finn
Keyword(s):  
Major Trauma ◽  
Injury Severity ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Categorical Variables ◽  
Common Mechanism ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Continuous Variables ◽  
Mechanism Of Injury ◽  
Young Males

IntroductionMajor trauma patients are often perceived as being young males injured by high energy transfer mechanisms. The aim of this study was to describe the demographics of major trauma patients who were transported to hospital by ambulance.MethodsThis is a retrospective cohort study of adult major trauma (injury severity score >15) patients transported to hospital by St John Western Australia emergency ambulance in metropolitan Perth, between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2016. To describe the cohort, median and interquartile range (IQR) were used for continuous variables and counts and percentages for categorical variables. Differences between mechanism of injury groups were assessed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Trauma deaths were defined as early (declared deceased within 24 hours) or late (declared deceased within 30 days). ResultsA total of 1625 patients were included. The median age was 51 years (IQR 30-75) and 1158 (71%) were male. Falls from standing were the most common mechanism of injury (n=460, 28%) followed by motor vehicle crashes (n=259, 16%). Falls from standing were responsible for the majority of early (n=45/175, 26%) and late deaths (n=69/158, 44%). A large number of early deaths also resulted from motorbike crashes (n=32/175, 18%) with a median age of 34 years (IQR 21-46, p<0.001). ConclusionMajor trauma is not only a disease of the young. More than half of the cohort was more than 51 years of age and the most common cause was a fall from standing. Pre-hospital care must evolve to address the needs of a changing trauma patient demographic.

Trauma Team Activation at a Level I Trauma Center in Southern California: Time of Day Matters

2019 ◽  
Vol 85 (10) ◽  
pp. 1142-1145
Author(s):  
Morgan Schellenberg ◽  
Kenji Inaba ◽  
Bryan E. Love ◽  
Zachary Warriner ◽  
Matthew J. Forestiere ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Injury Severity ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Penetrating Trauma ◽  
Trauma Team ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Operative Intervention ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Mechanism Of Injury ◽  
Trauma Team Activation ◽  
Level I

The ACS Committee on Trauma specifies prehospital criteria that trigger trauma team activation (TTA). The study aims to define the relationship between TTA and time of day, mechanism of injury, and need for operative intervention. All trauma patients presenting to LAC1USC (January 2008–July 2018) after triggering TTA were screened. Patients were excluded if time of ED arrival was undocumented. Demographics, injury data, and outcomes were analyzed. After exclusions (<1%), 54,826 patients were enrolled. The median age was 35 [IQR 23–53]. The median Injury Severity Score was 4 [1–10]. The most common mechanisms of injury were falls (n = 14,166; 31%), auto versus pedestrian collisions (n = 11,921; 26%), and motor vehicle collisions (n = 11,024; 24%). Penetrating trauma comprised 16 per cent (n = 8,686). The busiest hour for TTAs was 19:00 to 20:00, although penetrating trauma was most common between 23:00 and 01:00. Emergent surgical intervention in absolute numbers was most frequent between 20:00 and 01:00. As a proportion of the number of TTAs per hour, emergent operative intervention was most frequent between 23:00 and 06:00. In conclusion, the volume of TTAs and the triggering mechanism of injury vary significantly by time of day. The need for operative intervention is highest overnight. This information can be used to help increase hospital preparedness and allocate resources accordingly.

scholarly journals Assessing the need for resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) for management of non-compressible hemorrhage at a Canadian urban trauma centre

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Purssell ◽  
Sean Patrick ◽  
Joseph Haegert ◽  
Vesna Ivkov ◽  
John Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Injury Severity ◽  
Retrospective Chart Review ◽  
Balloon Occlusion ◽  
Trauma Centre ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Potential Candidate ◽  
Study Objective ◽  
Resuscitative Thoracotomy ◽  
Less Invasive ◽  
Endovascular Balloon Occlusion

Abstract Introduction Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) is a less invasive alternative to resuscitative thoracotomy (RT) for life threatening, infra-diaphragmatic, non-compressible hemorrhage from trauma. Existing evidence surrounding the efficacy of REBOA is conflicting; nevertheless, expert consensus suggests that REBOA should be considered in select trauma patients. There has been a paucity of studies that evaluate the potential utility of REBOA in the Canadian setting. The study objective was to evaluate the percentage of trauma patients presenting to a Level 1 Canadian trauma centre that would have met criteria for REBOA. Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients recorded in the British Columbia Trauma Registry who warranted a trauma team activation (TTA) at our institution. We identified REBOA candidates using pre-defined criteria based on published guidelines. Each TTA case was screened by a reviewer, and then each Potential Candidate was reviewed by a panel of trauma physicians for determination of final candidacy. Results Fourteen patients were classified as Likely REBOA Candidates (2.2% of TTAs, median age 46.1 years, 64.3% female). These patients had a median Injury Severity Score of 31.5 (IQR 26.8). The main sources of hemorrhage in these patients were from abdominal injuries (71.4%) and pelvic fractures (42.9%). Conclusion The percentage of patients who met criteria for REBOA is similar to that of RTs performed at our Canadian institution. While REBOA would be performed infrequently, it is a less-invasive alternative to RT, which could be a potentially life-saving procedure in a small group of the most severely injured trauma patients.

Perils of Rib Fractures

2008 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 310-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Om P. Sharma ◽  
Michael F. Oswanski ◽  
Shashank Jolly ◽  
Sherry K. Lauer ◽  
Rhonda Dressel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Blunt Chest Trauma ◽  
Chest Trauma ◽  
Injury Severity ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Rib Fractures ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Close Observation ◽  
Motorcycle Crashes ◽  
Level 1 Trauma Center

Rib fractures (RF) are noted in 4 to 12 per cent of trauma admissions. To define RF risks at a Level 1 trauma center, investigators conducted a 10-year (1995–2004) retrospective analysis of all trauma patients. Blunt chest trauma was seen in 13 per cent (1,475/11,533) of patients and RF in 808 patients (55% blunt chest trauma, 7% blunt trauma). RF were observed in 26 per cent of children (<18 years), 56 per cent of adults (18–64 years), and 65 per cent of elderly patients (≥65 years). RF were caused by motorcycle crashes (16%, 57/347), motor vehicle crashes (12%, 411/3493), pedestrian-auto collisions (8%, 31/404), and falls (5%, 227/5018). Mortality was 12 per cent (97/808; children 17%, 8/46; adults 9%, 46/522; elderly 18%, 43/240) and was linearly associated with a higher number of RF (5% 1–2 RF, 15% 3–5 RF, 34% ≥6 RF). Elderly patients had the highest mortality in each RF category. Patients with an injury severity score ≥15 had 20 per cent mortality versus 2.7 per cent with ISS <15 ( P < 0.0001). Increasing age and number of RF were inversely related to the percentage of patients discharged home. ISS, age, number of RF, and injury mechanism determine patients’ course and outcome. Patients with associated injuries, extremes of age, and ≥3 RF should be admitted for close observation.

Does Alcohol Intoxication Protect Patients from Severe Injury and Reduce Hospital Mortality? The Association of Alcohol Consumption with the Severity of Injury and Survival in Trauma Patients

2013 ◽  
Vol 79 (12) ◽  
pp. 1289-1294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chi-Hsun Hsieh ◽  
Li-Ting Su ◽  
Yu-Chun Wang ◽  
Chih-Yuan Fu ◽  
Hung-Chieh Lo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Hospital Stay ◽  
Brain Injuries ◽  
Injury Severity ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Length Of Hospital Stay ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Prolonged Hospital Stay ◽  
Severe Injuries ◽  
Prolonged Hospital

Alcohol-related motor vehicle collisions are a major cause of mortality in trauma patients. This prospective observational study investigated the influence of antecedent alcohol use on outcomes in trauma patients who survived to reach the hospital. From 2005 to 2011, all patients who were older than 18 years and were admitted as a result of motor vehicle crashes were included. Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was routinely measured for each patient on admission. Patients were divided into four groups based on their BAC level, which included nondrinking, BAC less than 100, BAC 100 to 200, and BAC 200 mg/dL or greater. Patient demographics, physical status and injury severity on admission, length of hospital stay, and outcome were compared between the groups. Odds ratios of having a severe injury, prolonged hospital stay, and mortality were estimated. Patients with a positive BAC had an increased risk of sustaining craniofacial and thoracoabdominal injuries. Odds ratios of having severe injuries (Injury Severity Score [ISS] 16 or greater) and a prolonged hospital stay were also increased. However, for those patients whose ISS was 16 or greater and who also had a brain injury, risk of fatality was significantly reduced if they were intoxicated (BAC 200 mg/dL or greater) before injury. Alcohol consumption does not protect patients from sustaining severe injuries nor does it shorten the length of hospital stay. However, there were potential survival benefits related to alcohol consumption for patients with brain injuries but not for those without brain injuries. Additional research is required to investigate the mechanism of this association further.

Correlation of Clinical Findings and Autopsy Results after Fatal Injury from Motor Vehicular-Related Crashes

2006 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 282-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke Y. Shen ◽  
Kendra N. Marcotte ◽  
Stephen D. Helmer ◽  
Mary H. Dudley ◽  
R. Stephen Smith
Keyword(s):  
Injury Severity ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Treatment Time ◽  
Clinical Findings ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Total Treatment Time ◽  
Glascow Coma Scale ◽  
American College Of Surgeons ◽  
Level I

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.

Helicopter Transport of Trauma Patients Improves Survival Irrespective of Transport Time

2020 ◽  
pp. 000313482094356
Author(s):  
Andrew M. Schneider ◽  
Joseph A. Ewing ◽  
John D. Cull
Keyword(s):  
Injury Severity ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Mechanism Of Injury ◽  
Transport Time ◽  
Level 1 ◽  
Student’S T ◽  
Level 1 Trauma Center ◽  
Student’S T Test ◽  
Transportation Type

Objectives Helicopter transport of trauma patients remains controversial. We examined the survival rates of patients undergoing helicopter versus ground transport to a Level 1 trauma center. Methods Retrospective analysis was performed on trauma patients treated between 2014 and 2017. Student’s t-test was used to compare air versus ground transport times. A logistic regression was then used to examine the association of transportation type on survival controlling for demographics, mechanism of injury, transport time, field intubation, and injury severity. Results Of 3967 patients identified, 69.6% (2762) were male, and the average age was 40 years. Most patients suffered blunt injuries (86.8%, 3445), while the remaining had penetrating injuries (11.6%, 459) or burns (1.6%, 63). The majority of patients were transferred by ground (3449) with only 13% (518) transferred by air. Patients transported by air had increased Injury Severity Score (ISS) with a median of 17 (IQR 9-24) versus 9 (IQR 5-14), increased length of stay (LOS) at 6 days versus 3 ( P < .001), and increased mortality at 12.6% vs 6.5% ( P < .001). Patients transported by air arrived 16.6 ± 6.7 minutes faster compared with ground for the zip codes examined. When adjusting for the mechanism of injury, ISS, age, gender, intubation status, and transport time, air transport was associated with an increased likelihood of survival (odds ratio [OR] = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.06-2.40). Conclusion In our analysis of 3967 patients, those transported by air had a significant improvement in the likelihood of survival compared with those transported by ground even when adjusting for both ISS and time.

scholarly journals Does Mode of Transport Confer a Mortality Benefit in Trauma Patients? Characteristics and Outcomes at an Ontario Lead Trauma Hospital

CJEM ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 363-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian M. Buchanan ◽  
Angela Coates ◽  
Niv Sne
Keyword(s):  
Injury Severity ◽  
Trauma Centre ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Mortality Benefit ◽  
Rotor Wing ◽  
Observational Cohort ◽  
Level I ◽  
Mode Of Transport ◽  
Evidence Based Guidelines ◽  
The Relationship

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.

scholarly journals 1213 Cycling-related Trauma Admissions to the Major Trauma Centre in the Cycling Capital of the United Kingdom

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Z Arshad ◽  
M majeed ◽  
A Thahir ◽  
F Anwar ◽  
J Rawal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Major Trauma ◽  
Injury Severity ◽  
Trauma Centre ◽  
Vehicle Group ◽  
Mechanism Of Injury ◽  
Helmet Use ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Body Regions ◽  
Major Trauma Centre

Abstract Aim The number of cyclists travelling on roads in the United Kingdom (UK) is increasing. The government has recently introduced initiatives to promote cycling uptake and so these numbers are likely to increase. This study aims to characterise cycling related injuries presenting to a major trauma centre located within a region with the highest rates of cycling in the UK. Method A retrospective review of cycling related trauma admissions occurring between January 2012 and June 2020 was performed. All patients were split into three groups based on the mechanism of injury. Our institution’s electronic patient record system was used to collect data including age, gender, mechanism of injury, Glasgow coma scale score on arrival, incident date and time, injured body regions, 30-day mortality, helmet use, and length of stay. Results A total of 606 cycling related trauma cases were identified, with 52 being excluded due to incomplete data. The ‘cyclist v vehicle’ group was associated with a significantly higher Injury Severity score (ISS), lower GCS and longer hospital stay than the other two groups. Helmet wearers were significantly older than non-wearers and helmet use was associated with a significantly reduced risk of head injury, lower ISS and higher GCS. Conclusions With a likely increase in future cycling uptake, it is crucial that effective interventions are put in place to improve the safety of cyclists. A multi-faceted strategy involving driver and cyclist education, road infrastructure changes and helmet promotion campaigns targeting the younger generation could be employed.

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