Mortality associated with extremity injuries compared with other types of trauma

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate one-month hospital mortality in victims with injuries of the extremities. METHODS: All accident victims admitted to the Hospital de Base in São José do Rio Preto, Brazil, during the period from July 2004 to June 2005, were evaluated in an observational study. Patients were classified using the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS). Patients with severe injuries of the extremities (AIS 3–4) were compared with those without injuries or with minor extremity injuries (AIS 0–2). RESULTS: A total of 3489 accident victims were evaluated; 3244 (92.98%) did not suffer injuries or had minor injuries of the extremities (AIS 0–2) and 245 (7.02%) had severe injuries (AIS 3–4). Of the 245 patients with AIS 3–4 extremity injuries, 13 (5.31%) patients died, and of those without severe injuries to the extremities, 34 (1.05%) died (Fisher’s Exact test P = 0.0000, relative risk 5.063, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.707–9.467). CONCLUSION: Patients with injuries of the extremities are at greater risk of death than accident victims with other types of trauma.