Publication:

Pattern of trauma in a rural hospital and factors affecting mortality in trauma patients

Background Trauma is associated with human civilization since ancient times. With the modern urbanization and increase in motor vehicles incidence and pattern of trauma changed. Hence the present study was conducted to study the pattern of trauma in a rural population admitted to a Kasturba Hospital Sewagram (Rural Hospital) and to detect factors affecting the mortality of trauma patients.

Methods A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted in Department of general surgery, Kasturba Hospital, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sewagram. A total number of 1525 trauma patients were studied over a period of 2 yrs. The detail examination was done and findings were recorded. All the factors affectingmortality of trauma patients were studied.

Results Trauma affects younger population more with a male predominance. Incidences of vehicular accidents are more than the non-vehicular accidents and other modes of trauma. Head injury was most common type of injury as observed in the present study. Advancing age and polytrauma were the main factors for high mortality. The mortality increased as the Revised Trauma Score decreased. While mortality increased with increasing Injury Severity Score and vice versa.

Conclusions Age, sex, mechanism and type of injury affect the mortality in Trauma Patients. The mortality increased as the Revised Trauma Score decreased while mortality increased with increasing Injury Severity Score.