Susan Roncal

Whole-body computed tomography in the initial assessment of trauma patients: is there optimal criteria for patient selection?

To describe the use of whole‐body computed tomography (WBCT) at this Major Trauma Centre; to determine independent predictors of multi‐region injury; and to evaluate the accuracy of the decision to perform WBCT in detecting multi‐region injury.

Growing trend in older patients with severe injuries: mortality and mechanisms of injury between 1991 and 2010 at an inner city major trauma centre

Elderly patients with major trauma are an increasingly important public health concern. The objective of the study was to describe the long term trend in patients aged 65 years and older with major trauma.

Effect of the elderly and increasing injury severity on acute hospital resource utilization in a cohort of inner city trauma patients

This study aimed to determine the relative effect of elderly patients and increasing injury severity on acute hospital costs and inpatient length of stay.

The impact of alcohol intoxication in patients admitted due to assault at an Australian major trauma centre: a trauma registry study from 1999 to 2009

Objective To examine the long term trend in assault admissions at an inner city major trauma centre and determine the association between clinical evidence of alcohol intoxication and major trauma due to assault. Methods Adult trauma patients admitted due to assault between 1999 and 2009 were identified through the hospital based trauma registry at an inner city major trauma centre in Sydney. Demographic data, incident details, clinical evidence of alcohol intoxication, injury severity scores and injury related outcomes were collected. Population based incidences were calculated and outcomes compared between intoxicated and non-intoxicated patients. Major trauma was defined as a composite outcome of severe injury (injury severity score>15), intensive care admission or in-hospital mortality. Results There were 2380 patients analysed. Clinical evidence of alcohol intoxication was documented in 12% (287/2380) of cases. There was a marked peak in incidence of hospital admissions due to assault which occurred between 2000 and 2002. Overall, the rate of hospital admissions due to assault decreased during the study period (incident rate ratios 0.94, 95% CI 0.90 to 0.99, p<0.001). The odds of major trauma were three times higher in patients with clinical evidence of intoxication compared to those that did not (adjusted OR 2.9, 95% CI 2.1 to 4.0, p<0.001). Conclusions There was a peak in hospital admissions due to inner city assault around 2000–2002 associated with an overall decline in hospital admissions at this trauma centre over 10 years. Clinical evidence of alcohol intoxication in patients admitted for assault appears to be associated with more severe injury, including severe head injury.

Performance of the New South Wales Ambulance Service major trauma transport protocol (T1) at an inner city trauma centre

Objective: To evaluate the performance of a newly implemented prehospital trauma triage (T1) protocol in New South Wales for patients transported to an inner city major trauma centre.