An open access trauma registry for developing countries: a tested selected minimal dataset with its free database program

BACKGROUND: Injury is a global health problem, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Sustainable trauma registries in these settings require concise, locally relevant, and low-cost solutions. This methodology paper shares a minimal trauma registry dataset developed and tested over 7 years, together with its accompanying MS Access database, which is made freely available to help LMIC institutions establish locally owned trauma registries. METHODS: Two prospectively tested registries were sequentially designed, implemented, analyzed, and refined in Al-Ain City, United Arab Emirates: a 200-variable single-center hospital registry and a 50-variable multicenter road traffic collision registry. Finally, an 80-variable Trauma and Emergency Research Group registry was developed. Variables were retained or removed according to feasibility, data completeness, clinical usefulness, prevention value, and demonstrated research utility. RESULTS: The first registry enrolled 2573 patients over 3 years and the second enrolled 1008 patients over 18 months. Experience from these registries generated 21 publications from the first registry, 13 from the second, 3 combined analyses, and 5 follow-up studies, which informed the final open-access registry. The resulting tool is a five-page, 80-variable minimal dataset organized into seven sections: personal details, trauma details, road trauma details, emergency department assessment, discharge summary, death details, and injuries and scores. It balances prevention variables such as crash mechanics, safety equipment, education level, and injury location with core outcome variables needed for benchmarking and system evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: A carefully selected minimal dataset can support clinically useful, prevention-oriented, and affordable trauma surveillance in resource-limited settings. Making the form and accompanying MS Access database freely available may help LMIC institutions establish locally owned trauma registries that are scalable, sustainable, and adaptable to national systems, provided that minimum resources for implementation, maintenance, governance, data quality, and reporting are planned.