The Synergy Factor: Trauma and Cancer

Area of Science:

• Trauma Surgery
• Oncology
• Clinical Outcomes Research

Background:

• Trauma and cancer are leading causes of death in the US.
• Limited data exists on the impact of cancer on trauma patient outcomes.
• This study addresses the knowledge gap regarding cancer's influence on trauma patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the impact of cancer on the outcomes of adult trauma patients.
• To compare complication and mortality rates between trauma patients with and without cancer.
• To identify specific risks associated with cancer in trauma patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of the American College of Surgeons-Trauma Quality Improvement Program (2019-2021).
• Inclusion of adult trauma patients (≥18 years), excluding severe head injuries and nonmelanomatous skin cancers.
• Propensity score matching (1:3) to compare cancer (C) and no cancer (No-C) groups, analyzing complications and mortality.

Main Results:

• A matched cohort of 3236 patients (809 cancer, 2427 no cancer) was analyzed.
• Cancer patients had higher rates of deep vein thrombosis (1.1% vs. 0.3%, P=0.004).
• Cancer patients experienced significantly higher mortality (7.5% vs. 2.7%, P<0.001) but similar overall complication rates.

Conclusions:

• Trauma patients with cancer have nearly four times higher odds of deep vein thrombosis.
• Cancer patients face three times higher odds of mortality following trauma.
• Developing specialized care pathways for cancer patients undergoing trauma is essential for improving outcomes.