MAJOR TRAUMA IN AUSTRALIA - A REGIONAL-ANALYSIS

This study was undertaken to evaluate the frequency, distribution, cau se, pattern, and outcome of patients suffering from major trauma in th e State of Victoria over a 1-year period. No previous study in Austral ia has attempted a comprehensive regional analysis of major trauma. Al l major trauma admissions resulting from blunt, penetrating, and burns injury were identified, and data collected from emergency departments and intensive care log books at 25 major metropolitan and rural hospi tals from the January 3, 1992 to February 28, 1993 by onsite data coll ectors. The total number of patients admitted into the study was 2,944 . There were 1,076 major trauma cases with an Injury Severity Score gr eater than 15 in a population of 4.2 million people. The type of injur y was predominantly blunt (87.5%), with only a small. percentage of pe netrating injuries (6.4%) and burns (6%). Major trauma in pediatric ca ses is less common (132 cases). The most common causes of injury were road transport (56%) and falls (22%). The overall outcome of the group was favorable when compared with the Major Trauma Outcome Study group (Z = 1.4, M = 0.93, W = 0.52). There was an unexpectedly low number o f patients suffering from major trauma. Outcome using Trauma and Injur y Severity Score methodology was favorable when compared with North Am erica.