An analysis of causes of trauma, spectrum of injuries and treatment outcomes in patients treated at Multitrauma Centre of the University Teaching Hospital No 1 in Szczecin in 2015. Comparison of results from years 2015 and 2007

Introduction: Multitrauma is defined as injury involving two or more different body parts, with a condition that at least one of these injuries is life-threatening. They represent serious traumas, requiring treatment in the intensive care units and frequently surgical intervention. Aim: The objective of this study was epidemiological and clinical analysis of patients treated in 2015 year in Multitrauma Centre of the University Teaching Hospital no 1 in Szczecin, and comparison the results with outcomes of similar study conducted in the same Centre in 2007 year. Material: Clinical material comprised medical notes of 82 patients, 52 men (63%) and 30 women (37%), with a mean age of 44 years, who sustained multitrauma injuries. An analysis included causes of traumas, spectrum of injuries, involvement of body parts, methods and outcomes of the treatment. Results: The most common cause of multitrauma was traffic accident – 45 cases (55%), followed by fall from height – 22 (27%) and other mechanism – 15 (18%). The most frequent component of multitrauma made bone fractures (spine, pelvis, limbs) – 64 cases (78%), followed by head traumas – 63 (77%), chest – 53 (65%) and abdominal 30 (36%) injuries. A total of 48 patients (58%) required surgical intervention, the most frequently fixation of bone fractures – 24 patients (29%), repair of abdominal and head injuries – 18 (22%) either. Of 82 treated patients 64 (78%) survived and 18 (22%) died. A mean period of stay in Multitrauma Centre was 23 days for survived patients and 17 days for those who died. Comparing to similar analysis conducted 8 years earlier, a change in involvement of particular body parts comprising multitrauma injury was observed: number of head injuries increased of 14%, number of chest traumas and bone fractures decreased of 21% and 11%, respectively. The survival rate improved of 10%.