St George Trauma Database

About our trauma database/registry

The trauma service database was purpose designed and constructed in 1992. It contains data on the patient’s mechanism of injury, pre-hospital treatment received, management at the treating hospital, any operations performed or the development of in-hospital complications. In addition, the database records the LOS, ventilator days, injuries and probability of survival. Monthly reports are produced.

Since its conception, each trauma patient fulfilling trauma activation criteria (see below) has a 4-page data form completed by the trauma nurse. This form contains information about the patient’s mechanism of injury, pre-hospital and hospital resuscitative care received and a list of injuries sustained by the patient. Each data form is reviewed by the trauma data manager who ensures the data are complete and accurate prior to manual entry into the database. Selected patient details are also recorded in a handwritten log book to enable review if discrepancy arises. The database record is updated upon patient discharge with any events that have occurred during the trauma patient’s hospitalisation. These include surgical procedures, development of complications, detection of missed injuries, number of days in the high dependency unit and independent function in relationship to activities of daily living.

Random quality checks are regularly performed on the database to attempt to identify data entry errors. When patient discharge data are entered by the data manager, the existing data are checked for error by comparing them to the original data form. Since its conception in 1992 the database has undergone two upgrades, the most recent being in 2002. However the data set has remained essentially unchanged.

In accordance with the Institute of Trauma and Injury Management, we are moving to the state wide collection system “Collector”. The NSW Collector trauma registry is a cornerstone for trauma research in NSW, and provides a means to accurately monitor activities and trends within the NSW trauma system. Supported and maintained by Digital Innovation and the Health Technology branch of NSW Health, NSW Collector will continue to provide NSW ITIM and trauma services in NSW a robust tool for trauma data collection and reporting into the future.

Trauma database criteria

Data is collected on trauma patients who present to the ED and fulfil any of the following criteria.

Mechanism of Injury (MOI):

1. Motor vehicle collision at speed >55Kph
2. Motor bike collision at speed > 30kph
3. Pedal cyclist collision at >30Kph
4. Adult pedestrian struck by motor vehicle at > 30Kph
5. Child pedestrian struck by motor vehicle at any speed
6. Fall greater than three (3) metres
7. Torso crush/pinning/entrapment
8. Patient ejection from vehicle

Vital Signs:

1. RR <10 or >30 per minute
2. Cyanosis or oxygen saturation <90%
3. Systolic blood pressure <90mHg (if age >5 years) or no palpable BP in children
4. Heart rate <50 or >120 beats per minute
5. GCS<14 or fitting
6. Pupil(s) dilated or non-reactive

Injuries:

1. Obvious fracture of two or more long bones (humerus/femur/tibia)
2. Suspected spinal cord injury (motor weakness/paralysis)
3. Crush injury or amputation of a limb proximal to wrist/ankle
4. Penetrating injury to head, neck, chest, abdomen, groin, or back
5. Abdominal distension or rigidity
6. Facial and/or airway burns (suspected inhalation injury)
7. Burns > 20% in adults
8. Burns > 10% in children
9. Age >65 with suspected torso or major head injury
10. Pregnant patient with suspected head or torso injury