RATE, CAUSES AND PREVENTION OF DEATHS FROM INJURIES IN SOUTH-EAST SCOTLAND

Data on all deaths after injuries in Lothian and Borders regions of so uth-east Scotland were collected prospectively over 2 years. Post-mort ems were performed after all deaths and Injury Severity Scores (ISS) c alculated. There were 331 deaths ata rate of 20 per 100 000 per year; of those who died 49 per cent were younger than 40 years and most were male; 37 per cent of deaths were caused by road traffic accidents, 16 per cent by falls and 15 per cent by hangings. Two hundred and forty- eight patients (75 per cent) were either dead when found or died insta ntly with unsurvivable injuries (ISS = 75). A further five patients di ed in the first hour after injury and before reaching hospital. Ninete en (7 per cent) died between 3 and 4 h after injury, 59 (17 per cent) died move than 4 h after. These results demonstrate the rate, causes a nd timing of deaths following injuries in one UK region. The pattern o f these deaths differs markedly from that previously described in the US. There is no evidence to support the concept of a trimodal distribu tion of trauma deaths. The greatest potential to reduce the number of trauma deaths lies with prevention. (C) 1996 Published by Elsevier Sci ence Ltd.