Mechanism and severity of injury in trauma patients: A three-year report of the Isfahan trauma registry

Abstract

Background: Trauma is the sixth cause of death worldwide and the fifth main cause of significant disability and carries a great economic and social burden. Objectives: This study was carried out to investigate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of trauma and to assess the correlation between the cause of trauma and its severity in different body areas. Methods: Patients with all kinds of injuries referred to the Emergency Department (ED) of Al-Zahra University Hospital in Isfahan, Iran, who met the inclusion criteria, were recruited to this study from September 2019 to January 2023. Results: Among the 869 trauma patients admitted to the hospital during this period, 444 (51.1) were married. There was a statistically significant difference in the pattern of trauma between males and females (P = 0.003). There was also a significant relationship between the average age of people and different causes of injury (P <0.001). Individuals who suffered from falling from height (FFH) trauma had a significantly higher average age than those who experienced trauma due to different reasons. There was a statistically significant difference between the injury patterns to different parts of the body according to the cause of injury (P <0.001). The most common causes of trauma were road traffic crashes (RTCs) (60), FFH (18.4), and poisoning (12.7). Of the 520 victims with RTC injuries and 160 victims with FFH injuries, 39.4 and 52.5 respectively have an abbreviated injury scale (AIS) severity greater than 3, which was higher than other traumatic mechanisms. Conclusion: Falls and car accidents were identified as the primary causes of severe injuries with AIS > 3, according to our findings. These research endeavors will aid in devising improved methods to prevent occurrences and enhance healthcare approaches. To prevent and manage traumatic injuries, a multi-sectoral approach and collaboration between different stakeholders is needed.