Frequency, causes, and outcomes of trauma in patients referred to the emergency department of Ali Ibn Abitaleb hospital, Rafsanjan, Iran, in 2021

Background: Trauma is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The frequency of trauma-related deaths depends on various factors such as the severity and mechanism of the trauma.Objectives: This study aimed to determine the frequency, causes, and outcomes of trauma in patients referred to the emergency department of Ali Ibn Abitaleb Hospital, Rafsanjan, Iran, in 2021.Methods: A case-series study was conducted, examining the medical files of 4689 trauma patients referred to the emergency department of Ali Ibn Abitaleb Hospital in 2021. Data on age, gender, marital status, place of residence, mode of transportation to the hospital, reasons for admission (extremity trauma, head and neck trauma, thorax trauma, abdominal trauma, spine trauma, multiple trauma), type of trauma (blunt or penetrating), and mechanisms of trauma (traffic accidents, falls, fights, burns, electrocutions, work-related accidents) were recorded. The mortality rate and factors influencing it were also evaluated.Results: Among 4,689 trauma patients, the most common reasons for admission were organ trauma (46.4%), multiple trauma (23.5%), and cervical spine trauma (21.7%). The most common mechanisms of trauma were traffic accidents (68.3%) and fights (17.2%). Most patients (3506, 74.8%) had penetrating trauma. A total of 68 patients (1.5%) died from trauma. Significant factors related to mortality included old age (p<0.001), male gender (p=0.028), transportation by ambulance (p<0.001), initial admission to the trauma emergency department (p<0.001), hospitalization in the emergency or orthopedics department (p<0.001), and cause of trauma (extremity trauma, head and neck trauma, multiple trauma) (p=0.002).Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed that 1.5% of all deaths was due to trauma. Significant factors related to mortality included old age, male gender, transportation by ambulance, admission and hospitalization in the emergency department, and the cause of trauma. Although traffic accidents and fights were the most common mechanisms of trauma and car accidents caused the highest mortality rate, these findings were not significantly correlated with death.