Injury epidemiology in Kermanshah: the National Trauma Project in Islamic Republic of Iran

In a cross-sectional study, all trauma patients hospitalized for 24 hours or more over a 4-month period in Taleghani hospital, the only referral teaching centre in Kermanshah city, were studied [n = 779]. Mean age was 34.7 [standard deviation 19.9] years. Male, unemployed and illiterate patients predominated. Road traffic accidents, falls and interpersonal violence were the most common mechanisms of injury. Among road traffic accident victims, pedestrians were the most vulnerable group. A total of 7.8% of patients died, mostly due to head injuries [78.7%]. Our findings also showed the importance of head trauma as the main anatomical site of injury

Intercessory prayer and ferritin and hemoglobin in major thalassemia: a pilot study

Intercessory prayer [IP] is one of the newly recognized holistic treatment methols and its effectiveness has been documented on the mangement of difterent diseases such as coronary heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and infertility. This study aims to d etemine its effectiveness on ferritin and blood indices of major thalassemic patients. This was an interventionaI study assessing seven patients attending an outpatient clinic receing IP in addition to their routine treatment. In all IP was performed 5.56 times for each patient as close-Iaying of hands and 6 times as remote IP. Before the study, the mean hemoglobin was 9.7 mg/dI, which increased to 10.8 afterwards [P = 0.028]. Mean serum ferritin was 2246.8 before the intervention which decreased to 1680.8 afterwards. Blood transfusion interval doubled in four patients. Dizziness and fatigue, which were reported by two patients before intervention, disappeared afterwards. Three patienis reporled an improvement in their school penfllrmance after the study. This pilot study showed that intercessory prayer was effectlve in increasing hemoglobin and transfusion interval, decreasing ferritin and improving school performance in patients with major thalassemia. A larger randomized trlal is suggested corfirm the results

Road Traffic Crashes Mortality and Morbidity in Iran in 1997- 2006

Road traffic crashes are the main cause of trauma mortality in most of world countries especially Iran. The objective of this study is to evaluate R TC mortality and morbidity in the last 10 years [1997-2006]. Data were obtained from Iran official reports of police, health sources and the Statistical Centre of Iran [SCI]. These data include population, registered motor-vehicles number, RTC, RTC injuries and deaths, during the period of 1997-2006. Statistical analysis was. performed by State 8 software and significance of mortality change was evaluated by Poison distribution. RTC fatalities increased between 22.1 [95%CI, 21.7-22.4] per 100, 000 and 40.5 [95%CI 40.1-41.0] per100, 000 from 1997 to 2005, but in the last year of 2006, this trend is reversed and there was declined to 39.1 [95%CI, 38.7-39.6] per 100, 000. R TC injuries has been increased from 110 to 401 per 100000 population from 1997 to 2005, but decreased to the 393 per 100000 in 2006. This paper shows road traffic crashes mortality and mortality in Iran in recent ten years and the decrease in the last year. This decline was most probably the result of a variety of interventions, including legislation, police enforcements improvements in traffic and transport, health care facilities and media and public education. It is recommended that efforts of all responsible organizations continue in unique leadership

Pattern of motorcycle-related injuries in Tehran, 1999 to 2000: a study in 6 hospitals

We studied motorcycle-related injuries in Tehran from 23 August 1999 to 21 September 2000 in 6 hospitals. Data were obtained from the trauma registry and questionnaires completed by trained physicians. Of a total of 8500 patients with trauma injuries, 1332 were motorcyclists, with a male to female ratio of 15:1. Of these, 1226 patients were driving the motorcycle at the time of the accident and 75 were pillion passengers. Crashes involving another vehicle were the commonest kind of accident [72.5%]. Helmet use was noted in only 8.6% of cases. There were 28 fatalities and head injuries were the prominent cause of death. Of those who died, none had been wearing a helmet at time of the crash. Only 2.7% of helmeted riders sustained a head injury, compared with 11.2% of riders without a helmet. The commonest musculoskeletal injury was fracture: tibial fracture with 509 cases [49.8%] comprised the largest proportion

[Drug abuse in hospitalized trauma patients in a university trauma care center: an explorative study]

Drug abuse has been known as a growing contributing factor to all types of trauma in the world. The goal of this article is to provide insight into demographic and substance use factors associated with trauma and to determine the prevalence of drug abuse in trauma patients. Evidence of substance abuse was assessed in trauma patients presenting to Sina trauma hospital over a 3-month period. They were interviewed and provided urine samples to detect the presence of drug/metabolites of opium, morphine, cannabis and heroin by 'Morphine Check' kits. Demographic data, mechanisms of injury, history of smoking and drug abuse were recorded. A total of 358 patients with a mean age of 28.4 years were studied. The Patients were predominantly male [94.7%]. There was a history of smoking in 136 cases [38%]. 58 cases [16.2%] reported to abuse drugs [91.5% opium]. The commonest route of administration was smoke inhalation [37.2%]. Screening by Morphine Check test revealed 95 samples to be positive [26.5%]. The preponderance of test-positive cases was among young people [of 20-30 years of age] with a history of smoking. Victims of violence and those with penetrating injuries also showed a higher percentage of positive screens [P=0.038 and P<0.001, respectively]. These results suggest that drug abuse is a contributing factor to trauma especially in violent injuries and among the young. Regarding the considerable prevalence of drug abuse among trauma patients, it's highly recommended that all trauma patients be screened for illicit drugs

Injuries caused by falls from trees in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran

Although falls from trees are rare, the consequences can be severe. Over 13 months in 6 hospitals in Tehran 49 [0.57%] of 8500 registered trauma patients had fallen from trees. The mean age was 31 years [range 6 to 74 years] and 21 [42.9%] were aged < 20 years. Home and recreational/sports grounds were the most common sites of trauma. Most falls occurred during leisure time; only 3 [6.1%] were occupation-related. Eleven patients [22.4%] sustained a fracture of the spinal column; 2 of them became permanently paraplegic and 2 others who had severe thoracic vertebral fractures and paraplegia on first observation were transferred to other hospitals for treatment. Due to the severity of this type of injury, especially among the young, effective preventive efforts may be necessary

Patterns of assault: Experience from an urban hospital-based study in a developing country

Most studies on assault-related injuries represent the burden of trauma due to firearms in the developed world. Nevertheless the pattern of violence leading to injuries may differ in developing countries due to cultural and socioeconomic factors or availability of weapons. Our study aims to determine this hypothetical difference. An inpatient dataset consisting of 8450 records based on a multi-center urban trauma study in Tehran was used. Exclusion of accidental and suicidal injuries resulted in a subset comprised of assault victims. Demographic characteristics of cases, mechanism, place and anatomical distribution of injuries were demonstrated. Of 475 assault victims, 88.5% were male and the mean age was 28.87 years. Violence against men had often occurred in the streets [53.7%], while women were mostly victims of assault at home [78.2%].In contrast to the predominance of blunt trauma in women [72.7%], men frequently suffered from penetrating trauma [57.8%]. Injuries to upper extremities were the main reason for trauma admission in 26.5% of cases followed by head injuries in 25.9%. The commonest mechanism of assault was trauma by sharp objects [51.1%], mostly by knife [42.6% of all]. Firearms were a very rare agent of assault [4%].It seems that strict laws for wearing knives in public, may greatly reduce the incidence of assault-related injuries, especially in the developing world