N. J. Walsh1, R. L. Lassiter1, A. Schlafstein1, P. B. Ham1, J. R. Yon2, A. Talukder1, K. F. O’Malley1, S. B. Holsten1, C. J. Mentzer1,3 1Medical College Of Georgia,Trauma/Critical Care, Department Of Surgery,Augusta, GA, USA 2Swedish Medical Center,Englewood, CO, USA 3University Of Miami,Trauma/Critical Care, Department Of Surgery,Miami, FL, USA
Introduction: The influence of mass gatherings on both local and national health systems has been described but Trauma System utilization during a nationally recognized and televised sporting event has not been reported. A single Regional Trauma Center’s (RTC) institutional database was queried for a 10 year period to elucidate the relationship between an annual mass gathering and utilization of trauma services.
Methods: A retrospective analysis of trauma patients presenting to the RTC during the week of the large annual sporting event (ASE) between 2005 and 2014 was performed using the institution’s trauma database. We compared week of event in April to corresponding weeks in March and May, which were used as controls for each year in the study period. The number of patients, mechanisms of injury (MOI), patient characteristics, and outcomes were investigated.
Results: 1,041 patients presented during the period of study. Patients during the ASE were older (mean 37.4 years vs 36.7 years, p <0.0001), had more recorded diagnoses (10.2 vs 7.0, p <0.001), lower injury severity scores (10.2 vs 10.6, p <0.001), shorter hospital lengths of stay (LOS) (4.7 days vs 5.3 days, p <0.0001), and ICU length of stay (LOS) (5.6 vs 5.9 days, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the average number of adult or pediatric traumas per week, MOI, or mortality.
Conclusion: In a metro area population of 500,000, despite an increase of 20-25% during the Annual Sporting Event, there was no increase in the raw number of trauma hospitalizations. The injured patients had more comorbidities but sustained less severe injuries with shorter ICU and hospital LOS.