A five-year retrospective study of admissions to a trauma center in southeast Georgia

A five-year retrospective review of a computerized trauma registry at Memorial Medical Center, Inc. (MMC), the designated Level I Trauma Center of Region IX EMS, was accomplished to identify patterns of epidemiology and use of our regional trauma center. All trauma admissions from 1983 through 1987 were reviewed with respect to mechanism of injury, age, gender, outcome, mode of prehospital transport, and referral source. Seventy-five percent of 4862 admissions were due to blunt trauma. Sixty percent were brought directly to the trauma center; 40% were interhospital transfers from outside the local area. The average length of stay was 12 days. Retrospective review of trauma registry data is helpful in determining the use and quality of care of a regional trauma center.