The profile of trauma presenting to an accident and emergency department in Trinidad - abstract

ABSTRACT

In a prospective 2-week survey of 4,041 consecutive admissions to the accident and emergency service at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, 1,458 cases were related to trauma (36 percent). There were 964 males (66.1 percent) and 494 females (33.9 percent). The home was the most common site of trauma; 571 (39.2 percent) and (67 percent) of the injured were between the ages of 15 and 64 years. The total number of motor vehicle accidents was 201, of which 61 involved pedestrians (13.8 percent). Assault incurring blunt or penetrating trauma consisted of 293 cases (20 percent). The most common injury was related to the soft tissues (33 percent) contusion, abrasion, ligamentous strain; followed by lacerations (19.3 percent) and fractures (19 percent). Direct penetrating injuries accounted for only 35 cases (2.4 percent); 43.7 percent of patients had radiological and 3.4 percent had haematological investigations, compared withe 13 percent and 13.4 percent respectively of non-traumatic admissions. Ward admissions in the trauma and non-trauma groups were, however, similar (40 percent). This large database would be useful for future strategy, in the prevention and provision of emergency care in the West Indies (AU)