Admissions for trauma at the University Hospital of the West Indies

ABSTRACT

Trauma accounted for 20 per cent of all admissions to the general surgery wards of this University Hospital in a developing country. It was the most common reason for admission. This condition affects the young, males more commonly than females, and results in the need for operation in almost 40 per cent of admitted trauma patients. Trauma surgery accounts for 17 per cent of all operations done. Hospital stay and age are significantly greater in those requiring operation. The head, chest and abdomen are, in order of frequency, the most commonly affected areas of the body, and injury is mainly the result of interpersonal violence (52 per cent ), accidental injuries including burns (20 per cent ), and road traffic accidents (20 per cent ). In-patient mortality was 4.5 per cent , significantly higher in older patients and mainly in those with head injuries and burns. Scarce resources and resource allocation mandate preventive measures to minimize the human and economic waste