Characteristics of trauma in North East Iran and the prevention strategies.

BACKGROUND The increase in mortality and morbidity of traumatized patients in developing countries might be due to disorganized medical services and credit tightness. This study was designed to describe the characteristics of injury, the strategies for the trauma prevention, and to improve the healthcare system.  METHODS This was part of a national research project about trauma, conducted in the main trauma center of Mashhad, in North East Iran; it was a prospective cross-sectional study which comprised of all consecutively admitted patients to the emergency department from December 2003 through July 2004.  RESULTS Most of the traumatized patients were male, uneducated, housewives, or workers. Motor vehicle accidents (during the time when fastening seat belts and wearing helmets were not compulsory) and falling (height less than four meters and falling on the ground) were considered as the most common mechanisms. Almost 68.5% of the patients transferred to the hospitals did not have prehospital care. With an average injury severity score (ISS) value of 10.3, lower extremities and head and neck were the most common traumatized anatomic areas leading to their related morbidity and mortality.  CONCLUSION A large number of traumatized cases among uneducated and nonoccupational population makes the role of mass media more prominent. Public education about traffic law, streets, and vehicle security check seems to be crucial to decrease the mortality and morbidity.