title: Epidemiology and management of trauma patients in a Greek multispecialty hospital in the absence of a dedicated trauma center.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the absence of dedicated trauma centers, surgical emergency departments in hospitals assigned as trauma centers accept a huge load of trauma patients. In this audit, we aim to document and assess the epidemiologic data of trauma patients and their injuries in order to give a picture of the impact of trauma in the workload of a surgical department in the Greek healthcare system.
  
  
  METHODS
  During a period of 2 years, we managed 6,041 trauma patients in the accident and emergency (A&E) department based on the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) protocols. We retrospectively reviewed the emergency department registry and the admissions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  47.56 % of the patients seen in the A&E department were trauma patients. The mean age of the trauma patients was 44.52 years (range 15-106 years). The majority were men (60.4 %). The leading cause of trauma was motor and vehicle accidents, followed by slip and fall accidents, physical assault, fall from height, and vehicle pedestrian accidents. The majority of the patients were discharged from the hospital. Only 29 (4.6 %) out of 624 patients who were admitted to the general surgery department underwent an operation, while the rest were admitted for observation. On the other hand, patients were admitted to other departments only when surgical treatment was necessary.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the absence of level one trauma centers, in multispecialty urban hospitals, the coordination of trauma burdens the general surgery team. This has financial and administrative implications. The collection of important epidemiologic data from these hospitals is mandatory in order to develop national prevention measures against injuries.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Surgical Department and Unit of Surgical Oncology, "Korgialenio-Benakio", Red Cross Athens General Hospital, 115 26, Athens, Greece. drlanitis@yahoo.com.|, 14 Proairesiou St., 116 36, Athens, Greece. drlanitis@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lanitis
authors.affiliation: 2nd Surgical Department and Unit of Surgical Oncology, "Korgialenio-Benakio", Red Cross Athens General Hospital, 115 26, Athens, Greece. kontovounisios@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kontovounisios
authors.affiliation: 2nd Surgical Department and Unit of Surgical Oncology, "Korgialenio-Benakio", Red Cross Athens General Hospital, 115 26, Athens, Greece. vivizaf@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zafeiriadou
authors.affiliation: 2nd Surgical Department and Unit of Surgical Oncology, "Korgialenio-Benakio", Red Cross Athens General Hospital, 115 26, Athens, Greece. ggsgourakis@yahoo.gr.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sgourakis
authors.affiliation: 2nd Surgical Department and Unit of Surgical Oncology, "Korgialenio-Benakio", Red Cross Athens General Hospital, 115 26, Athens, Greece. doot7@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karkoulias
authors.affiliation: 2nd Surgical Department and Unit of Surgical Oncology, "Korgialenio-Benakio", Red Cross Athens General Hospital, 115 26, Athens, Greece. vasileios13@yahoo.gr.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Armoutides
authors.affiliation: 2nd Surgical Department and Unit of Surgical Oncology, "Korgialenio-Benakio", Red Cross Athens General Hospital, 115 26, Athens, Greece. bravegr2002@yahoo.gr.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Papaconstandinou
authors.affiliation: 2nd Surgical Department and Unit of Surgical Oncology, "Korgialenio-Benakio", Red Cross Athens General Hospital, 115 26, Athens, Greece. c.karaliotas@korgialenio-benakio.gr.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Karaliotas
keywords: Emergency department; Epidemiology; Primary assessment; Trauma; Trauma patients
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