title: Pedestrians: the daily underestimated victims on the road.
abstract: Traffic-related pedestrian injuries (TRPI) are vulnerable to road users. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the demographic pattern of injury and outcome of TRPI. Patients with TRPI admitted between November 2007 and March 2010 to the only level 1 trauma centre in Qatar were included. A retrospective analysis was based on medical records and Emergency Medical Services run sheets. The spreadsheet included demographic data and pre-hospital transport, service admissions and injuries by system and mortality. Of 4077 patients who were admitted, 420 (10.3%) had TRPI. The mode of transportation included ambulances (91%), private vehicles (6%) and helicopters (3%). The direct dispositions were trauma intensive care units (38%), surgical wards (42%) and operating rooms (17%). Patients were classified according to Injury Severity Score (1-8 in 28%, 9-15 in 25%, 16-24 in 20% and 25-75 in 17% cases). Multisystem injuries were most characteristic. Of 804 injures, injury of extremities was predominant followed by head, thorax and abdomen. The overall mortality was 8%. Pedestrian injuries are a significant cause of serious trauma in Qatar. Motor vehicle/pedestrian interface contributes to this ongoing public health problem. Reducing pedestrian trauma requires recognition of the problem and implementing programmes to mitigate these largely preventable injuries.
authors.affiliation: a Trauma Surgery Section, , Hamad General Hospital , Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Hazim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abdulrazzaq
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zarour
authors.forename: Ayman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El-Menyar
authors.forename: Mushriq
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Majid
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Al Thani
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asim
authors.forename: Rifat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Latifi
authors.forename: Kimball
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maull
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017732:Air Ambulances / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003422:Critical Care; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology; D011780:Qatar / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016138:Walking / Q000293:injuries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult