Background: Motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) are the leading cause of death for ages 2-34 years. Rollover (RO) is defined as any vehicle rotation of ≥90° about any longitudinal or lateral axis occurring. The purpose of this study was to determine the cost effectiveness of RO mechanism as the sole triage criteria.Methods: Detailed patient injury, demographics, costs and crash information were obtained on patients ≻16 years and seen at an ACS COT-verified level I trauma center from 2007-2008. Analysis was performed using SPSS v 17.Results: 257 RO crash occupants were treated at this study center. The frequency of AIS ≤2 in these RO occupants was 74%. 62% (133/214) of patients triaged as partial TTA (PTTA) were discharged from the emergency department (ED), whereas all full TTA (FTTA) patients were admitted. 60% of all RO patients were reported to have utilized seat belts. Seat belt use decreased the risk of injury by four-fold (95% CI, 2.14-8.01). No other patient or crash characteristics contributed to this excess triage rate. Based on an average cost of $6,000/TTA and our excess ED discharge rate exceeding the accepted national average rate of 37%, this trauma center could save $498,000/year. Applying the same cost analysis to the NASS database could save $190 million annually to the trauma systems nationally.Conclusion: Consideration of physiometric data, and seat belt use in the triage of non-critically injured RO occupants could potentially save this trauma center up to $2.5 million over a five-year period and approximately $0.95 billion dollars for the trauma systems nationwide over the same period.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Are Trauma Team Activations Essential and Cost Effective for Rollover Crashes?


    Additional title:

    Sae International Journal of Passenger Cars. Mechanical Systems
    Sae Int. J. Passeng. Cars – Mech. Syst



    Conference:

    SAE 2010 World Congress & Exhibition ; 2010



    Publication date :

    2010-04-12


    Size :

    7 pages




    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English




    2010-01-0519 Are Trauma Team Activations Essential and Cost Effective for Rollover Crashes?

    Aldaghlas, T. / Burke, C. / Sheridan, M.J. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2010


    Characteristics of Rollover Crashes

    Jack McLean / Craig Kloeden / Giulio Ponte | DOAJ | 2007

    Free access

    Characteristics of Fatal Rollover Crashes

    W. Deutermann / U. Shankar | NTIS | 2002


    Analysis of Large Truck Rollover Crashes

    McKnight, A.J. / Bahouth, G.T. / Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2008


    Analysis of large truck rollover crashes

    McKnight, A.James / Bahouth, George T. | Tema Archive | 2008