Reporting data following major trauma and analysing factors associated with outcome using the new Utstein style recommendations

Study objective: To collect and present retrospectively the recommended cor e data from the Utstein style, analyse factors associated with outcome in m ajor trauma, and discuss the value of the Utstein style definition of major trauma, Des gn: A retrospective trauma cohort study. Setting: A Norwegian trauma system with a 1200 bed combined local and referral trauma hospital w ithout a formal trauma registry, covering a population of 2.0 million. Part icipants: 3391 injured patients admitted 12 months from January 15, 1996. M ain outcome measures: Recommended core data from the Utstein style, and fac tors associated with outcome defined as in-hospital death within 30 days. R esults: 225 patients had an injury severity score (ISS) > 15. In each of th e 225 patients, we were able to obtain at least 47% of the recommended core data, Age > 70 years. fall as a mechanism of injury, and a Trauma Score (T S) less than or equal to 14 were significantly associated with poor outcome . Of 22 with no major trauma (ISS < 16), two died in hospital and 20 had an intensive care unit stay of more than 2 days. Conclusion: We found it diff icult to collect retrospectively the recommended core data of the Utstein s tyle. Age and physiological alterations (TS) were significantly related to outcome. The recommended definition of major trauma (ISS > 15) did not cove r all life-threatening injuries. The implementation of trauma registries ba sed on the Utstein style recommendations could facilitate system evaluation and comparison, but definitions and categorisations should be further deve loped. Efforts should be made to reduce the number of core data. (C) 2001 E lsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.