English abstract
Objectives:Road traffic injuries (RTIs) are considered a major public health problem worldwide.
In Oman, high numbers of RTIs and RTI-related deaths are frequently registered. This study aimed to evaluate
the distribution of trauma care facilities in Oman with regards to their proximity to RTI-prevalent areas.
MethodsThis descriptive pilot study analysed RTI data recorded in the national Royal Oman Police registry from
January to December 2014. The distribution of trauma care facilities was analysed by calculating distances between
areas of peak RTI incidence and the closest trauma centre using Google Earth and Google Maps software (Google
Inc., Googleplex, Mountain View, California, USA). Results: A total of 32 trauma care facilities were identified.
Four facilities (12.5%) were categorised as class V trauma centres. Of the facilities in Muscat, 42.9% were ranked
as class IV or V. There were no class IV or V facilities in Musandam, Al-Wusta or Al-Buraimi. General surgery,
orthopaedic surgery and neurosurgery services were available in 68.8%, 59.3% and 12.5% of the centres, respectively.
Emergency services were available in 75.0% of the facilities. Intensive care units were available in 11 facilities, with
four located in Muscat. The mean distance between a RTI hotspot and the nearest trauma care facility was 34.7
km; however, the mean distance to the nearest class IV or V facility was 83.3 km. Conclusion: The distribution and
quality of trauma care facilities in Oman needs modification. It is recommended that certain centres upgrade their
levels of trauma care in order to reduce RTI-associated morbidity and mortality in Oman
