ABSTRACT
Background: Thoracic trauma is increasingly encountered now a days in emergency room
Objective: To determine the pattern and management outcome of thoracic trauma patients at area central Hospital Saudi Arabia
Methodology: Study Design: Crosssectional study. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted on 104 patients at the ER, ICU and Surgical floor of Arar Central Hospital, Northern Border Region, Saudi Arabia from 1 January to 31 December 2015. Information consisting of patients particulars, pattern and modes of injuries and hospital stay were recorded. Complications and deaths were analyzed by database to determine the morbidity and mortality. Patients irrespective of their age and gender were included in our study. The data was entered and analyzed by using SPSS version 11
Results: Sample size of 104 patients was included. Male to female ratio was 4:1. Patients age raised from 4 years to 82 years, mean age was 29.6 years. Blunt Trauma was most prevalent [72.11%], followed by Penetrating injuries [19.23%] and combined injuries [8.65%]. Extra thoracic injuries included orthopedic injuries in 35[33.65%] patients, 28[26.92%] patients has neurological injuries whereas in 23[22.11%] patients blunt abdominal trauma was noted. Most frequent injury pattern seen was Fracture Ribs 70 [67.30%] patients with underlying haemothorax in 27[25.96%]patients. Most of the patients treated either conservatively or with tube thoracostomy 53.84% and 43.27% respectively. Complications were encountered in 35 [33.65%] patients. 10 [9%]patients has Chest tube site infection whereas 7[6.73%] developed atelectasis treated successfully by Bronchoscopy. Overall 6 [5.76%] deaths were recorded during study duration
Conclusion: Thoracic injuries remain major trauma related issues in this part of country. Highest priority must be given to the chest injured patients in order to decrease the morbidity and mortality. Moreover surgical audit should be expanded to other facilities also in order to improve the health care facilities provided to patients