title: Incidence, patterns, and factors predicting mortality of abdominal injuries in trauma patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Abdominal trauma is a major public health problem for all nations and all socioeconomic strata.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to determine the incidence and patterns of abdominal injuries in trauma patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We classified and identified the incidence and subtype of abdominal injuries and associated trauma, and identified variables related to morbidity and mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Abdominal trauma was present in 248 of 300 cases; 172 patients with blunt abdominal trauma and 76 with penetrating. The most frequent type of abdominal trauma was blunt trauma; its most common cause was motor vehicle accident. Among patients with penetrating abdominal trauma, the most common cause was stabbing. Most abdominal trauma patients presented with other injuries, especially patients with blunt abdominal trauma. Mortality was higher among penetrating abdominal trauma patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Type of abdominal trauma, associated injuries, and Revised Trauma Score are independent risk factors for mortality in abdominal trauma patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohammad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gad
authors.forename: Aly
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saber
authors.forename: Shereif
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Farrag
authors.forename: Mohamed E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Shams
authors.forename: Goda M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Ellabban