Admissions for trauma at the University Hospital of the West Indies. A prospective study.

Trauma accounted for 20% of all admissions to the general surgery wards of this University Hospital in a developing country. It was the most common reason for admission. This condition affects the young, males more commonly than females, and results in the need for operation in almost 40% of admitted trauma patients. Trauma surgery accounts for 17% of all operations done. Hospital stay and age are significantly greater in those requiring operation. The head, chest and abdomen are, in order of frequency, the most commonly affected areas of the body, and injury is mainly the result of interpersonal violence (52%), accidental injuries including burns (20%), and road traffic accidents (20%). In-patient mortality was 4.5%, significantly higher in older patients and mainly in those with head injuries and burns. Scarce resources and resource misallocation mandate preventive measures to minimize the human and economic waste.