Admission patterns of an urban level I trauma center

Because trauma admission and hospitalization patterns have profound effects on the organization and utilization of urban trauma-care systems, the obje ctive of this study was to identify and analyze these patterns. As an examp le, admissions to an urban Level I trauma center were reviewed. Retrospecti ve review of all 2029 trauma admissions to a Level I trauma center was cond ucted from 1993 to 1996. The result was that most trauma patients were youn g (40% <30 years of age) and male (74%). Mechanisms of injury were motor ve hicle accident (36%), fall (27%), gunshot (17%), stab (7%), assault (6%), a nd swimming or diving accident (3%). Half of the patients were directly adm itted from the scene. Injury Severity Score, length of stay, and mortality were 14.1 +/- 0.3, 10.5 +/- 0.3 days, and 5.1%, respectively. Admissions te nded to occur more frequently between 4:00 PM and midnight (46%), between F riday and Sunday (52%), and between July and October (41%). The following p atterns were identified: admissions per year decreased (-21%) because of re duced penetrating trauma (-43%, P <.01); pediatric patients (<15 years) had similar incidence of penetrating trauma as adults (ages 15-45). Length of stay for all mechanisms of injury was not statistically different; most mor talities occurred within the first day (33%, P <.01) or after 6 days (36%, P <.01); early mortality was mainly due to penetrating injury (74%, P <.01) , whereas late mortality was related to blunt trauma (92%, P <.01). The con clusion was that admission and demographic patterns were identified, which may be useful in the utilization, modification, and future design of trauma systems.