A 10-year retrospective review of chest trauma in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia

Background: Globally chest trauma accounts for 10% of trauma admission and 25% of trauma deaths. Outcome of chest trauma depends on causes and mechanism of the injury, pattern of lesions and presence of associated injuries. Objective:To study the aetiology, injury pattern, management and outcome of chest trauma in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM), Kelantan,Malaysia. Methods: Records of 504 patents admitted from January2003 to December 2012 who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic data, details of aetiology, mechanism and pattern of injury,associated injury,management including ICU admission ,ventilation requirement and outcome including length of stay(LOS) and mortality was analysed . Results: 412 patients (82.0%) were males. Most frequent injury was fracture rib. Out of 11thoracotomies performed (2.2%), 8 were caused by penetrating injury. Overall hospital LOS was 1 to 94 days with a mean of 10.2 days (SD=12.4).Mortality occurred in 35 patients (6.9%). Associated extrathoracic injuries, ICU admission and ventilation requirement significantly affected LOS and mortality. Conclusion-Road Traffic Accident (RTA) is the main cause of chest trauma in Kelantan. Greater than 5 ribs fracture indicated severe injury. Presence of extrathoracic injuries, ICU admission and requirement for artificial ventilation correlated well with the outcome.