Presentation of trauma patients in a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan.

Abstract

Objective: To observe the presentation, nature of injury and outcome of patients presenting with trauma in the leading emergency setting of Pakistan. Study Design: Cross Sectional. Setting: Jinnah Sindh Medical University/Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center. Period: July 2019 to December 2019. Material & Methods: Patient’s age, location and mode of injury, duration from injury to emergency department, Glasgow coma scale (GCS), full outline of unresponsiveness (FOUR) score and outcome of patients were measured. Results: The most common age group presenting to the emergency department in tertiary care hospital in Karachi was between 18 to 40 (61.4%). The most common head injury was laceration (16.9%) and the most common chest injury was pneumothorax (2.6%). The most common mode of injury was road traffic accidents (76.8%). 73.3% had mild Glasgow coma scale (GCS) and the most common full outline of unresponsiveness (FOUR) score was between 13-16 (79.6%). Conclusion: Road traffic accidents are contributing to a significant number of patients coming to the emergency department with trauma. Head injury is very frequent in patients presenting to patients in ER.