Thoracic trauma now and then: A 10 year experience from 16,773 severely injured patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Thoracic trauma remains to be a relevant injury to the polytraumatised patient. However, literature regarding how far changes in clinical guidelines for pre- and in-hospital trauma management and diagnostic procedures affect the outcome of multiple injured patients with severe chest injury during a long-term observation period is sparse.

METHODS: Multiple traumatised patients (age≥16y) documented in the TraumaRegister DGU® (TR-DGU) from January 1st 2005 to December 31st 2014 with severe chest trauma (AIS≥3) were included in this study. Demographic data, the pattern of injury, injury severity, radiographic emergency procedures, indication for intubation, duration of mechanical ventilation, emergency surgery, occurrence of complications and mortality were evaluated per year and over time.

RESULTS: A total of 16,773 patients were analysed. The use of whole body computer tomography increased (p<0.001), while the incidence of plain x-rays decreased (p<0.001). Furthermore, incidence of AISThorax = 3 graded injuries increased (p<0.001) while AISThorax = 4 decreased (p<0.001). Both, rate of patients being intubated at the time of ICU admission decreased (p<0.001) and the time of mechanical ventilation decreased (p<0.001). Additionally, need for emergency surgery, lung failure, sepsis, and multi organ failure all decreased (p<0.001). However, mortality remained unchanged.

INTERPRETATION: Severity of severe chest trauma and associated complications decreased while diagnostics and treatment improved over time. However, mortality remained unchanged. Our results are in line with those expected in the context of the incidence of CT diagnostics, which has increased parallel to the clinical outcome Thus, our data demonstrate a positive trend in the treatment of patients with severe chest trauma.