Evaluation of intra-abdominal injuries in patients referred to the emergency department as a result of traffic accidents.

Background: Traffic accidents are one of the most important reasons that increase the workload of emergency services all over the world. Especially in developing countries, this problem is difficult to solve due to rapid population growth.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the causes of mortality and morbidity, the organs affected by the injury, and the prognosis of the patients who are referred to the emergency department as a result of traffic accidents and underwent abdominal imaging.

Design: Retrospective, cross-sectional study.

Setting: A state hospital in Turkey.

Patients and methods: 1014 patients admitted to Gaziantep Abdulkadir Yüksel State Hospital between 15 July 2022 to 15 July 2023 due to traffic accidents and examined for abdominal trauma were retrospectively evaluated.

Main outcome measures: Evaluation of patients admitted due to traffic accidents and examined for abdominal trauma.

Sample size: 1014 patients.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 25.88 years, 79.6% were male, 67.3% were admitted to the hospital by ambulance, 47.4% were admitted as a result of a vehicular traffic accident, 34.3% were admitted as a result of a non-vehicular traffic accident, 18.2% were admitted as a result of a motorcycle accident and 36.4% were drivers, 35.3% were pedestrians and 28.3% were passengers. Intra-abdominal organ injuries were detected in 3.2% of all patients, including urinary system in 1%, hepatobiliary system in 0.9% and spleen in 0.8%. It was determined that 13% of the patients had life-threatening injuries and 40.2% had injuries that could not be treated with simple medical intervention.

Conclusion: It was determined that 21% of the patients admitted to the emergency department as a result of traffic accidents required hospitalization or resulted in death. Prevention of traffic accidents, which especially threaten the young population, is of great importance both in reducing the workload in the emergency department and in minimizing labor and financial losses.

Limitations: Since the study was based on retrospective file review, files with missing information were not included in the study.