Injury
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Management of polytraumatized patients with associated blunt chest trauma: a comparison of two European countries.
Blunt chest trauma represents one of the most common injuries in polytrauma patients. Blunt chest injury complicating polytrauma is associated with significant prolongation of intensive care stay. Further, it has a great impact on the timing of fixation of skeletal injuries, possibly contributing to adverse outcome. The purpose of this study is to assess whether there are any differences in the management and outcome of polytrauma patients with blunt chest trauma between trauma units in two different countries. Detailed information about advantages and disadvantages of these two systems might allow optimising the management of blunt chest trauma. ⋯ The reasons for the differences regarding survival times and survival rates seem to be multiple. German patients received more red blood cells, had a longer hospital stay in intensive care and a better survival rate. The use of kinetic therapy in Germany, not standard in the UK, may contribute to a more favourable outcome.