Injury
-
Comparative Study
Variations in car crash-related hospitalization costs amongst young adults in New South Wales, Australia.
This study aims to examine factors associated with variation in crash-related hospitalization costs for young adults in New South Wales (NSW), Australia with a particular focus on types of vehicle occupant, rurality of residence and socioeconomic status (SES). ⋯ Annually, young adults' crashes in NSW were estimated to cost the health sector at least A$14.6 million between 2001 and 2007. The higher hospitalization costs and LOS for young adults living in regional and rural vs. urban areas, and those living in moderate and low SES vs. high SES areas partly reflects the severity of these crashes and challenges for treatment. Based on these findings, a strong economic argument can be made for targeting prevention strategies to young people living in rural and low SES areas. The area variations in costs also suggest some scope for policy makers to consider potentially more efficient ways of targeting both treatment and preventative programmes.
-
To prospectively study the incidence, mechanism, distribution of injury, and outcome of patients admitted to Al-Ain Hospital with camel bite injuries in Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates. ⋯ The behaviour of the camel is occasionally unpredictable, especially during the rutting season. The mechanism of camel bite injuries, which are usually severe, are complex including penetrating and crushing injuries by the camel jaw and blunt injuries when patients are picked up and thrown away. Care should be taken when handling camels, particularly in the rut.
-
No sufficiently validated disease-specific instrument is available to assess patient outcome after polytrauma. The aim of this investigation was to test the recently published Trauma Outcome Profile (TOP) in the longer-term outcome of multiply injured patients. ⋯ This first clinical and methodological evaluation in a well defined cohort of polytrauma patients found the TOP to be a reliable and well discriminating score covering both relevant general and trauma-specific aspects of longer-term outcome. Despite these promising primary results, until further validation, the TOP should be used together with already accepted HRQoL measures to allow adequate international comparison of data in the future.
-
Damage control surgery increasingly requires serial operations and a staged abdominal repair (STAR) for ultimate abdominal closure. The effects of multiple operations on quality of life are unknown. We hypothesized that this population of patients had a lower quality of life than the general U.S. population. ⋯ The significant impact of severe abdominal injuries continues to affect the physical and mental health of patients years later. Injuries of this type are associated with lower quality of life than those observed in patients experiencing non-STAR trauma.
-
Review Meta Analysis
Meta-analysis of predictive factors and outcomes for failure of non-operative management of blunt splenic trauma.
This study aimed to analyse predictive factors and outcomes of failure of non-operative management (NOM) following blunt splenic trauma. ⋯ fNOM leads to increased resource use and increased mortality. Methods of preventing fNOM, such as angioembolisation, warrant further assessment. Patients with increasing age, AAST scores and moderate or large haemoperitoneums may benefit from closer monitoring.