Deaths from trauma in Auckland: a one year study.

We report a one year prospective study of all deaths from trauma in the Auckland region. Data was collected on the circumstances of death from coroner's, police and hospital records. All cases had autopsies and the injuries were scored using the abbreviated injury scale (AIS) system. The group of 236 had a median age of 27 years and 73% were under the age of 45. Seventy-two percent were male. Blunt trauma, predominantly the result of road crashes, accounted for 89% of the fatalities. Most deaths occurred at the site of injury and only 37% survived to reach hospital. Cases were audited if death occurred without a critical or unsurvivable injury. Thirteen cases were considered to be potentially salvageable if medical treatment had been optimal. The implications for the organisation of prehospital and inhospital trauma care are discussed.