Outcomes of Multi-Trauma Road Traffic Crashes at a Tertiary Hospital in Oman: Does attendance by trauma surgeons versus non-trauma surgeons make a difference?

OBJECTIVES: Trauma surgeons are essential in hospital-based trauma care systems. However, there are limited data regarding the impact of their presence on the outcome of multi-trauma patients. This study aimed to assess the outcomes of multi-trauma road traffic crash (RTC) cases attended by trauma surgeons versus those attended by non-trauma surgeons at a tertiary hospital in Oman.

METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted in December 2015. A previously published cohort of 821 multi-trauma RTC patients admitted between January and December 2011 to the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman, were reviewed for demographic, injury and hospitalisation data. In-hospital mortality constituted the main outcome, with admission to the intensive care unit, operative management, intubation and length of stay constituting secondary outcomes.

RESULTS: A total of 821 multi-trauma RTC cases were identified; of these, 60 (7.3%) were attended by trauma surgeons. There was no significant difference in mortality between the two groups ( P = 0.35). However, patients attended by trauma surgeons were significantly more likely to be intubated, admitted to the ICU and undergo operative interventions ( P <0.01 each). The average length of hospital stay in both groups was similar (2.6 versus 2.8 days; P = 0.81).

CONCLUSION: No difference in mortality was observed between multi-trauma RTC patients attended by trauma surgeons in comparison to those cared for by non-trauma surgeons at a tertiary centre in Oman.