Citation

Cales RH. Ann. Emerg. Med. 1984; 13(1): 1-10.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1984, American College of Emergency Physicians, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

6689851

Abstract

One hundred eighteen deaths from motor vehicle accidents were reviewed retrospectively to evaluate the effect of implementation of a regional trauma system. Fifty-eight deaths occurring prior to implementation and 60 occurring after were reviewed by teams of four physicians. Following implementation the proportion of potentially salvageable deaths dropped from 34% (20/58) to 15% (9/60) (P less than .02). Seven of the nine potentially salvageable deaths occurred in 13 patients treated in non-trauma facilities (54%), while only two potentially salvageable deaths occurred in 47 patients treated in trauma facilities (4%) (P less than .0002). The median age of patients dying of trauma rose from 22 to 27 years (P less than .04); the median Injury Severity Score rose from 42.5 to 52.0 (P less than .03). The 1981 death rate for vehicular trauma dropped to 13.93 per 100,000 population compared to a projected rate of 15.72 (P less than .03); the 1982 rate dropped to 12.37 compared to a projected rate of 15.80 (P less than .02). Implementation of a regional trauma system has resulted in significant improvements in trauma care and a reduction in the death rate from vehicular trauma.