Traffic fatalities in a system with decentralized trauma care. A study with special reference to potentially salvageable casualties

Abstract

To evaluate a system with decentralized trauma care, a review was made of all 158 traffic fatalities in 1981 in southern Sweden. The region has 15 well-equipped and well-staffed small- and medium-sized hospitals and 2 university hospitals with extensive resources. The patients are usually brought by ambulance to the closest receiving facility. Only 3 persons could possibly have been saved: 1 suffering from a lacerated femoral artery and 2 patients in whose cases missed diagnosis (e.g., bowel rupture or cardiac tamponade) might have contributed to the fatal outcome. High survival rates after traffic trauma can be achieved with a conventional Swedish trauma care system.