Trauma registry comparison: six-year results in trauma care in Southern Finland and Germany

Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg. 2015 Oct;41(5):509-16. doi: 10.1007/s00068-014-0470-z. Epub 2014 Nov 14.

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the treatment and survival of trauma patients in Germany and Southern Finland.

Methods: Data from Helsinki University Hospital trauma registry (TR-THEL) and TraumaRegister DGU(®) (TR-DGU) were compared in a period from 2006 until 2011. From TR-DGU level-one trauma centers treating annually >50 injury severity score (ISS) >15 patients were included. The inclusion criterion was ISS >15. Patients under 16 years with penetrating trauma without head injury and transferred in with isolated head injury were excluded. The compared parameters were age, sex, pre-injury ASA, injury scoring, injury pattern, mechanism of injury, injury distribution, pre-hospital timings, transportation method, pre-hospital intubation, treatment at hospital, discharge destination, and 30-day hospital mortality. Expected mortality was defined with the Revised Injury Severity Classification score (RISC).

Results: Eighty-five German level-one trauma centers were included. A total of 15,306 and 1,274 patients were included in the outcome analysis from TR-DGU and TR-THEL, respectively. The difference between the observed and expected mortality of all patients was -4.1% (standardized mortality ratio [SMR] 0.82) at German hospitals and -4.0% (SMR 0.79) in Helsinki. Differences in the pre- and in-hospital treatment between the two countries were noted (transportation method, intubation rate, intensive care unit treatment, ventilation time, length of stay).

Conclusion: The overall outcome results of the Helsinki University Hospital trauma unit were similar to those of the German level-one trauma centers. Registry comparison is a feasible method of quality control in a trauma centre.

Keywords: Quality of trauma care; Registry comparison; Severe injuries; Trauma; Trauma registry.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Female
  • Finland / epidemiology
  • Germany / epidemiology
  • Hospital Mortality
  • Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Registries
  • Time-to-Treatment
  • Transportation of Patients / statistics & numerical data
  • Trauma Centers / statistics & numerical data
  • Wounds and Injuries / epidemiology*
  • Wounds and Injuries / mortality
  • Wounds and Injuries / therapy
  • Young Adult