The influence of prehospital trauma care on motor vehicle crash mortality.

BACKGROUND This study evaluated the impact of the prehospital trauma care system on the mortality from motor vehicle crashes and on the temporal distribution between the crash and related death. METHODS Autopsies performed by the Forensic Medical Institute on all deaths caused by motor vehicle crashes 1 year before and 1 year after the beginning of the prehospital trauma care system were evaluated. RESULTS In the first period, 128 deaths occurred, 53.9% of them in the first hour after the crash, 36.7% between the first hour and the seventh day, and 9.4% after 1 week. In the second period, 115 deaths occurred, 40.8% of them in the first hour, 52.2% between the first hour and the seventh day, and 7% after 1 week. Central nervous system injury was the most frequent cause of death in both periods. Mortality was greatest among young people as well as male victims in both periods. CONCLUSION After starting the prehospital trauma care system in our city, there was a decrease in the deaths occurring before hospital admission, a change in temporal distribution of deaths, and a reduction in the motor vehicle crash mortality rate.

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