title: Outcome and quality of life 5 years after major trauma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to determine quality of life after injury and identify factors potentially associated with outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five years after injury from blunt or penetrating trauma, patients received a questionnaire based on the SF-36 Health Survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred five patients (83%) replied. Most were men, median age 39 years, 93% injured by blunt energy, median Injury Severity Score 14 (range 9-57). Mean SF-36 scores were significantly lower than in a matched reference group. Poor outcome was associated with: in-hospital days, intensive care days, surgical procedures, in-hospital major complications, age, recurrent injury, and inadequate information. Subjects reported considerable physical (68%) and psychologic (41%) disabilities. Near half reported need of improved follow-up care. Injury severity did not predict poor health-related quality of life 5 years later.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adequate information, sufficient pain management and follow-up by trauma specialist teams are needed. Certain factors can help identify patients in need of additional help and support.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Science, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. kerstin.sluys@telia.com
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sluys
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Häggmark
authors.forename: Lennart
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Iselius
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*