Original Articles
An epidemiological evaluation and causes of delayed presentation of patients with orthopaedic polytrauma to the Emergency Department | |
Dr. Prabhakar T S | |
Aim: An epidemiological evaluation and causes of delayed presentation of patients with orthopaedic polytrauma to the Emergency Department. Materials and Methods: This prospective non-interventional epidemiological study was conducted at the Akash Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Center, Devanahalli, Bengaluru Rural District, from June 2021 to December 2023. A total of 100 patients with polytrauma attending the emergency department were included in this study. Upon arrival in the trauma bay, patients were triaged by the emergency team and categorized as Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 trauma. Resuscitation measures were implemented, and treatment was initiated according to the specific injuries sustained.Epidemiological data were collected for each patient, including:Age, Sex, Mode of injury, Alcohol status, Time of injury, Time delay in presentation to the emergency department, Cause of delay as reported by patient attendants, Mode of transfer (personal/hired vehicle or 108 ambulances) and Who brought the patient to the emergency department (police, family members, coworkers, or onlookers). Results: Out of the 100 patients, 40% were under the influence of alcohol at the time of injury, while 60% were not. The time of injury was categorized into daytime (6 AM - 6 PM) and nighttime (6 PM - 6 AM). The time delay in presentation to the emergency department was recorded as follows: 15% of patients presented within 1 hour, 40% within 1-3 hours, 25% within 3-6 hours, and 20% after more than 6 hours. The majority of patients (65%) presented within the first 3 hours, but a significant number experienced delays, which could impact treatment outcomes.The causes of delay in presentation were varied: traffic congestion (30%), distance from the hospital (25%), initial treatment elsewhere (20%), lack of transport (15%), and other reasons (10%). Traffic congestion and distance from the hospital were the most common causes of delay, indicating potential areas for intervention to reduce these barriers. Conclusion: The results of this study highlight key demographic and epidemiological factors associated with the delayed presentation of orthopedicpolytrauma patients to the emergency department. The findings emphasize the importance of addressing road safety, alcohol consumption, traffic management, and transport availability to improve emergency response and patient outcomes. These insights can inform strategies for enhancing trauma care and reducing delays in treatment. |
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