title: Causality of injury and outcome in patients admitted in a major trauma center in North India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Trauma in South Asia is an increasingly significant problem, particularly in light of increasing motorization. Societal changes are resulting in alterations in the epidemiology of trauma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess various epidemiological parameters that influence causation of injury in the patients admitted in a major trauma center in Northern India.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, cross-sectional, Hospital based study from August 2008 to July 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study of 748 patients chosen by random assortment was carried out over a period of 1 year (August 2008 to July 2009) and following parameters were noted: Age group, sex, mode of trauma, type of injury, place where the trauma occurred and factors leading to injury. The length of stay of patients, Kampala trauma score (KTS) and mortality depending on the arrival time in emergency department was also noted.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data analysis was performed using SPSS Version 16.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall trauma was most common in the age group 15-30 years (Mean age: 29.43 ± 16.87 years), with male constituting 85.29% of the total patients. It was observed that road side injuries were the most frequent (66.71%) site of injuries, whereas household injuries (23.66%), farm site (6.28%), work place (1.60) were the next most common modes of trauma. Mean time of presentation of injured patient was 2.53 ± 4.92 days. About 48.13% patients were admitted after more than 24 h after the injury. Two wheelers (32.09) were found to be the most common mode of injury. Maximum injuries (65.31%) occurred in the rural setting. The overall length of hospital stay ranged from 2 days to 178 days (median15.6 days). Mortality is more in patients who arrive in night (between 9 pm and 5 pm).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that the majority of injuries are preventable and the epidemiological trends differ from that of developed countries. Therefore, preventive strategies should be made on the basis of these epidemiological trends.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Devarshi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rastogi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meena
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, King George Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Vineet
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, King George Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Girish Kumar
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Singh
keywords: Epidemiology; fall; injury; road traffic accidents; trauma