The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Feb 2015
Comparative StudyThe impact of trauma-center care on mortality and function following pelvic ring and acetabular injuries.
Lower mortality and improved physical function following major polytrauma have been associated with treatment at level-I trauma centers compared with that at hospitals without a trauma center (nontrauma centers). This study investigated the impact of trauma-center care on outcomes after pelvic and acetabular injuries. ⋯ Mortality was reduced for patients with unstable pelvic and severe acetabular injuries when care was provided in a trauma center compared with a nontrauma center. Moreover, those with severe acetabular fractures experienced improved physical function at one year. Patients with these injuries represent a well-defined subset of trauma patients for whom our findings suggest preferential triage or transfer to a level-I trauma center.