Epidemiology and prognostic signs of chest injury patients

Accidental injury is the leading cause of death in persons between the ages of 1 and 50 years in our Western society. In spite of a better knowledge of the pathophysiology involved and greater availability of specific resuscitative measures, the mortality rate of patients with severe injuries of the chest has not improved much. This study was carried out to survey and evaluate our own experience with injuries of the chest and to look for prognostic factors related to these and to the often associated injuries of other parts of the body. The case records of 828 consecutive injured patients treated in our critical care department during the period 1975-1984 were retrospectively analysed. The overall mortality rate was 15 per cent for those with injuries of the chest. The best prognostic indices were the Glasgow Coma Scale and the Injury Severity Score.