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Published in: European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery 3/2019

01-06-2019 | Original Article

Trauma patients centralization for the mechanism of trauma: old questions without answers

Authors: S. Magnone, A. Ghirardi, M. Ceresoli, L. Ansaloni

Published in: European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery | Issue 3/2019

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Abstract

Introduction

Centralization of trauma patients has become the standard of care. Unfortunately, overtriage can overcome the capability of Trauma Centres. This study aims to analyse the association of different mechanisms of injury with severe or major trauma defined as Injury Severity Score (ISS) greater than 15 and an estimation of overtriage upon our Trauma Centre.

Methods

A retrospective review of our prospective database was undertaken from March 2014 to August 2016. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between covariates (gender, age, and mechanisms of injury) and the risk of major trauma.

Results

The trauma team (TT) treated 1575 patients: among the 1359 (86%) were triaged only because of dynamics or mechanism of trauma. Overtriage according to an ISS < 15, was 74.6% on all trauma team activation (TTA) and 83.2% among the TTA prompted by the mechanism of injury. Patients aged 56–70 years had an 87% higher risk of having a major trauma than younger patients (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.29–2.71) while for patients aged more than 71 years OR was 3.45, 95% CI 2.31–5.15. Car head-on collision (OR 2.50, 95% CI 1.27–4.92), intentional falls (OR 5.61, 95% CI 2.43–12.97), motorbike crash (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.06–2.65) and pedestrian impact (OR 2.68, 95% CI 1.51–4.74) were significantly associated with a higher risk of major trauma in a multivariate analysis.

Conclusions

Significant association with major trauma was demonstrated in the multivariate analysis of different mechanisms of trauma in patients triaged only for dynamics. A revision of our field triage protocol with a prospective validation is needed to improve overtriage that is above the suggested limits.
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Metadata
Title
Trauma patients centralization for the mechanism of trauma: old questions without answers
Authors
S. Magnone
A. Ghirardi
M. Ceresoli
L. Ansaloni
Publication date
01-06-2019
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery / Issue 3/2019
Print ISSN: 1863-9933
Electronic ISSN: 1863-9941
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-017-0873-8

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