@article{ref1,
title="Can planned traffic patterns improve survival among the injured during mass casualty motorcycle rallies?",
journal="Journal of surgical research",
year="2019",
author="DuPree, Cecily and Pinnola, Aaron and Gibson, Stefanie and Muertos, Keely and Davis, John M. and Sciarretta, Jason D.",
volume="234",
number="",
pages="262-268",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Mass casualty events are infrequent and create an abrupt surge of patients requiring emergency medical services within a brief period. We hypothesize that implementation of a controlled &quot;traffic loop&quot; pattern during a planned high-volume motorcycle rally could improve overall mortality and impact patient outcomes. <br><br>MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of all motorcycle-related injuries during the city's annual motorcycle rally over a 4-y period. Comparative analysis was completed between those injured during &quot;nontraffic loop&quot; hours versus the city's scheduled 23-mile, 3-d &quot;traffic loop&quot; pattern. The two groups were compared for age, gender, injuries, Injury Severity Score, Glasgow Coma Scale, length of stay, ventilator-free days, and mortality. The primary outcome was mortality. <br><br>RESULTS: A total of 139 patients were included (120 nonloop and 19 loop). Mean (standard deviation) age was 36.1 (11.2) y and 72.1% were male. Both groups were equivalent in age, gender, Injury Severity Score, and Glasgow Coma Scale. Traffic loop patients required longer intensive care unit length of stay, (median = 9.0, range: 1-49 d), ventilator days (median = 29.5), (range: 1-49 d) and experienced abdominal trauma (P = 0.002). Emergency medical services transport times during loop hours had shorter response times than the nonloop injury group (7.79 ± 5.2 min and 13.22 ± 14.01 min (P = 0.049). No deaths occurred during the city's scheduled traffic loop (0 versus 22, P = 0.0447). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Controlled traffic patterns during high-volume city gatherings can improve overall mortality and morbidity. Regional trauma system preparedness with field triage guidelines and coordinated trauma care is warranted to effectively care for the injured.<br><br>Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0022-4804",
doi="10.1016/j.jss.2018.09.014",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2018.09.014"
}