Association of rurality with short-term outcomes of peripheral vascular trauma

Background: Peripheral vascular trauma is a major contributing factor to long-term disability and mortality among patients with traumatic injuries. However, an analysis focusing on individuals at a high risk of experiencing limb loss due to rural and urban peripheral vascular trauma is lacking.

Method: This was a retrospective analysis of the 2016 to 2020 Nationwide Readmissions Database. Patients (≥18 years) undergoing open or endovascular procedures after admission for peripheral vascular trauma were identified using the 2016 to 2020 Nationwide Readmissions Database. Patients from rural regions were considered Rural, whereas the remainder comprised Urban. The primary outcome of the study was primary amputation. Multivariable regression models were developed to evaluate rurality with outcomes of interest.

Results: Of 29,083 patients, 4,486 (15.6%) were Rural. Rural were older (41 [28-59] vs 37 [27-54] years, P < .001), with a similar distribution of female sex (23.0 vs 21.3%, P = .09) and transfers from other facilities (2.8 vs 2.5%, P = .34). After adjustment, Rural status was not associated with the odds of mortality (P = .82), with urban as reference. Rural status was, however, associated with greater odds of limb amputation (adjusted odds ratio 1.85, 95% confidence interval 1.47-2.32) and reduced index hospitalization cost by $7,100 (95% confidence interval $3,500-10,800). Additionally, compared to patients from urban locations, rurality was associated with similar odds of non-home discharge and 30-day readmission. Over the study period, the marginal effect of rurality on the risk-adjusted rates of amputation significantly increased (P < .001).

Conclusion: Patients who undergo peripheral vascular trauma management in rural areas appear to increasingly exhibit a higher likelihood of amputation, with lower incremental costs and a lower risk of 30-day readmission. These findings underscore disparities in access to optimal trauma vascular care as well as limited resources in rural regions.