English abstract
Trauma surgeons are essential in hospital-based trauma care systems. However, there
are limited data regarding the impact of their presence on the outcome of multi-trauma patients. This study aimed
to assess the outcomes of multi-trauma road traffic crash (RTC) cases attended by trauma surgeons versus those
attended by non-trauma surgeons at a tertiary hospital in Oman. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted
in December 2015. A previously published cohort of 821 multi-trauma RTC patients admitted between January and
December 2011 to the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman, were reviewed for demographic, injury
and hospitalisation data. In-hospital mortality constituted the main outcome, with admission to the intensive care
unit, operative management, intubation and length of stay constituting secondary outcomes. Results: A total of
821 multi-trauma RTC cases were identified; of these, 60 (7.3%) were attended by trauma surgeons. There was no
significant difference in mortality between the two groups (P = 0.35). However, patients attended by trauma surgeons
were significantly more likely to be intubated, admitted to the ICU and undergo operative interventions (P <0.01
each). The average length of hospital stay in both groups was similar (2.6 versus 2.8 days; P = 0.81). Conclusion: No
difference in mortality was observed between multi-trauma RTC patients attended by trauma surgeons in
comparison to those cared for by non-trauma surgeons at a tertiary centre in Oman.
