title: Predictors of abdominal injuries in blunt trauma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify predictors of abdominal injuries in victims of blunt trauma.
  
  
  METHODS
  retrospective analysis of trauma protocols (collected prospectively) of adult victims of blunt trauma in a period of 15 months. Variables were compared between patients with abdominal injuries (AIS>0) detected by computed tomography or/and laparotomy (group I) and others (AIS=0, group II). Student's t, Fisher and qui-square tests were used for statistical analysis, considering p<0.05 as significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 3783 cases were included, with a mean age of 39.1 ± 17.7 years (14-99), 76.1% being male. Abdominal injuries were detected in 130 patients (3.4%). Patients sustaining abdominal injuries had significantly lower mean age (35.4 + 15.4 vs. 39.2 + 17.7), lower mean systolic blood pressure on admission (114.7 + 32.4 mmHg vs. 129.1 + 21.7 mmHg), lower mean Glasgow coma scale (12.9 + 3.9 vs. 14.3 + 2.0), as well as higher head AIS (0.95 + 1.5 vs. 0.67 + 1.1), higher thorax AIS (1.10 + 1.5 vs. 0.11 + 0.6) and higher extremities AIS (1.70 ± 1.8 vs. 1.03 ± 1.2). Patients sustaining abdominal injuries also presented higher frequency of severe injuries (AIS>3) in head (18.5% vs. 7.9%), thorax (29.2% vs. 2.4%) and extremities (40.0% vs. 13.7%). The highest odds ratios for the diagnosis of abdominal injuries were associated flail chest (21.8) and pelvic fractures (21.0).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Abdominal injuries were more frequently observed in patients with hemodynamic instability, changes in Glasgow coma scale and severe lesions to the head, chest and extremities.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Brotherhood of Holy Home of São Paulo-SP-BR.
authors.forename: Samiris
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Farrath
authors.forename: José Gustavo
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Parreira
authors.forename: Jacqueline A G
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Perlingeiro
authors.forename: Silvia C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Solda
authors.forename: José Cesar
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Assef
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult