The University of Adelaide CENTRE FOR AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY RESEARCH

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TitleLogistics of early management of head and spinal injuries
AuthorsSimpson DA, Kwok B, North JB, Ring IT, Selecki BR, Sewell MF
Year1986
TypeJournal Article
AbstractThe logistics of early management have been studied in a series of 1161 patients with head and/or spinal injuries, who were admitted to hospital in NSW in 1977-78. Special attention has been given to three subgroups: 336 head injuries with records of impaired consciousness before first hospital admission, 355 head injuries later transferred because of deterioration, and 202 serious spinal injuries. It was found that in at least 18% of unconscious head injuries, and a similar percentage of spinal injuries, first aid and transport to hospital were provided by ambulances recorded to have only one trained staff member. In country weas, 41°/ of unconscious head injuries reached hospital after periods of time exceeding 1 h. For administrative as well as geographic reasons, more than 80% of initially unconscious head injuries and spinal injuries were first admitted to hospitals without neurosurgical and or spinal services; the majority of cases in both groups, therefore, had to be transferred to other hospitals, often within 6 h of first admission. In the subgroup of cases transferred because of deterioration, mortality increased with distance from a neurosurgical unit. These findings are related to the concept of an integrated regional trauma service.
Journal TitleAustralian & New Zealand Journal of Surgery
Journal Volume (Issue)56(7)
Page Range585-590
Page Count6
Notesavailable from CASR library on request

Reference
Simpson DA, Kwok B, North JB, Ring IT, Selecki BR, Sewell MF (1986). Logistics of early management of head and spinal injuries. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Surgery, 56(7), 585-590.