title: Resource utilization and its management in splenic trauma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study compared resource utilization and its management for splenic injury at 2 level-I trauma centers and a pediatric referral center with other facilities in a state currently developing a trauma system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Management strategy, length of stay, and total charges for children were compared among the pediatric referral center, trauma centers, and other facilities. Adult management, length of stay, and total charges were compared between trauma centers and other facilities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nonoperative management was more frequent in children at the pediatric referral center than trauma centers or other facilities and was more common in adults at trauma centers than at other facilities. Mean length of stay and total charges for children were significantly greater at the pediatric referral center and trauma centers than at other facilities and for adults at trauma centers than at other facilities. Facility type was associated with length of stay and total charges when injury type and severity were controlled.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nonoperative management of splenic injury is more common at trauma centers, and splenic trauma management may be more costly at trauma centers.
authors.affiliation: Intermountain Injury Control Research Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Amalia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cochran
authors.forename: N Clay
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: J Michael
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dean
authors.forename: Lawrence J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Richard G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Barton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017722:Hospital Charges / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008498:Medical Record Linkage; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013154:Spleen / Q000293:injuries*; D014193:Trauma Centers; D014589:Utah; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*