Mortality association with extremity trauma and transferring patients for higher level of care

Rising healthcare costs and reduced Medicaid reimbursements pose lasting challenges for trauma centers. Various studies have highlighted the adverse effect of these cost-related circumstances on trauma center survival and the need for local hospitals to transfer patients to tertiary and quaternary care centers. Our study seeks to assess the relationship between patient transfer status to a higher-level health center and its association with mortality.

A total of 19 417 patients were identified, of which 15 317 patients presented directly to the higher level health center, and 3830 patients who transferred from 49 different outside hospitals within a 500-mile radius. Data collection was collected from the receiving higher level of care hospital trauma registry. IBM SPSS version 23 was used to analyze the data. A 1:1 propensity-matched analysis based on age, sex, and injury severity score yielded 3566 patients that presented directly to ARMC and 3566 patients who were transferred to ARMC for a higher level of care. Amongst various factors we considered mechanism of injury, response levels, arrival methods, and transfusion of blood products.

The univariate analysis of the propensity-matched analysis demonstrated 88% blunt injury in the nontransferred group and 82% in the transferred group (P<0.001). Overall, hospital mortality was 3% in nontransferred patients versus 4% in the transferred group (P<0.001). A multivariate logistic regression demonstrated mortality is more likely in patients with higher injury severity scores [odd ratio (OD) 2.351 (1.029-1.082), P<0.001] and lack of packed red blood cell (pRBC) transfusions received within first 4 h [OD 6.852 (3.525-13.318), P=0.001].

The transfer of trauma patients with extremity injuries to level 1 trauma centers has significant implications on patient outcomes. In our retrospective observational cohort study, the authors noted increased mortality among patients with higher injury severity scores, penetrating injuries, pRBC administration within the first 4 h of hospitalization, and among patient transfers.