Related Experiment Videos
Trauma and the full moon: a waning theory.
W Coates1, D Jehle, E Cottington
1Division of Emergency Medicine, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh.
Annals of Emergency Medicine
|July 1, 1989
Summary
The full moon does not increase major trauma admissions or mortality rates. This study found no statistical link between lunar phases and trauma incidence, challenging popular beliefs.
Area of Science:
- Medical research
- Public health
- Lunar studies
Background:
- A widespread belief links the full moon to increased major trauma cases.
- This phenomenon, often termed the 'lunar effect,' lacks robust scientific validation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the statistical relationship between full moon phases and major trauma admissions.
- To determine if lunar cycles influence patient outcomes such as mortality and length of stay.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 1,444 major trauma victims over one year.
- Defined full moon as a three-day period centered on the full moon day.
- Compared trauma admission rates, Injury Severity Scores, and mortality between full moon and non-full moon periods.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant difference in trauma admissions was observed during full moon periods (3.58 patients/day) versus non-full moon periods (3.98 patients/day).
- Mortality rates (5.4% vs. 10.3%), mean Injury Severity Scores (13 vs. 15), and mean length of stay (10 vs. 12 days) showed no significant variation.
- Admissions for victims of violence (assault, gunshot, stabbings) were also similar across lunar phases.
Conclusions:
- The popular belief associating the full moon with increased major trauma is statistically unfounded.
- Lunar phases do not appear to be a significant factor in major trauma incidence or patient outcomes.