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E Orsay

Publications and source records attributed to E Orsay.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Analysis of Hispanic motor vehicle trauma victims in Illinois, 1991-1992.

OBJECTIVE: 1) To develop a profile of Hispanic motor vehicle trauma victims in Illinois, 2) to ascertain whether differences exist between Hispanic and general-Illinois-population motor vehicle trauma victims, and 3) to identify potential target areas for future injury intervention programs. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of Illinois motor vehicle trauma patients admitted from July 1991 to June 1992 was made. Participants were motor vehicle trauma victims (drivers and passengers) who presented to one of 73 level I or level II trauma centers throughout Illinois and were entered into the Illinois Trauma Registry (ITR) from July 1, 1991, through June 30, 1992. RESULTS: Of the 12,299 motor vehicle trauma victims in the ITR, 771 (6.3%) were Hispanic, 8,979 (73.0%) were white, 1,115 (9.1%) were black, and 1,434 (11.6%) were other. When compared with the other racial groups, the group of Hispanic victims were younger (25.2 vs 33.2 years), had higher male predominance (72.8% vs 60.9%), and had the lowest rate of safety equipment/occupant restraint use (21.7% vs 34.7%). A high alcohol use rate (30.7%) and high mean serum ethanol levels (44 mmol/L; 0.2 mg%) were noted. When contrasted with other racial/ethnic groups, the Hispanic victims had lower Injury Severity Scale scores (p < 0.001), but mean hospital charges tended to be higher, with fewer alternative sources of payment (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Using age-adjusted data from the ITR, Hispanic motor vehicle trauma victim features differ significantly from those of other racial groups. Effective health maintenance and injury prevention strategies should address the basis for these differences.

Accident Prevention↗

Motorcycle trauma in the state of Illinois: analysis of the Illinois Department of Public Health Trauma Registry.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the current morbidity and mortality of motorcycle trauma in the state of Illinois and, specifically, to assess the incidence and cost of head injury to motorcycle crash patients according to their helmet use. DESIGN: Retrospective, cross-sectional examination of the Illinois Department of Public Health Trauma Registry, for which data are available from July 1, 1991, through December 31, 1992. Data are collected from all hospitals designated as Level I or Level II trauma centers in Illinois. PARTICIPANTS: All patients involved in motorcycle crashes and subsequently taken to a Level I or Level II trauma center in Illinois and entered into the trauma registry during the period studied. RESULTS: Head injury, spinal injury, helmet use, demographic data, hospital charges, days in ICU, and source of payment were selected as outcome measures. During the 18-month study period, 1,231 motorcycle trauma patients were entered into the trauma registry. Eighteen percent were helmeted and 56.0% were nonhelmeted. In 26.0% the helmet status at the time of the crash was unknown. Thirty percent of the helmeted patients sustained head injury and 4% sustained spinal or vertebral injury, compared with 51% and 8%, respectively, for nonhelmeted patients. Nonhelmeted patients were significantly more likely to sustain severe (Abbreviated Injury Score [AIS], 3 or more) or critical (AIS, 5 or more) head injury. Patients with these serious head injuries incurred almost three times the hospital charges and used a disproportionately larger share of ICU days than those with mild or no head injuries. There was a trend toward greater use of public funds or self-pay status (no insurance) for payment of hospital charges in nonhelmeted patients. CONCLUSION: Motorcycle helmet nonuse was associated with an increased incidence of serious head injury. Motorcycle trauma patients with severe or critical head injuries used a significantly greater proportion of ICU days and hospital charges than those with mild or no head injuries.

Accidents, Traffic↗

A prospective study of the impact of helmet usage on motorcycle trauma.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of the use of a motorcycle helmet on reducing the mortality, morbidity, and health care costs resulting from motorcycle crashes. DESIGN: A prospective, multicenter study of all eligible motorcycle crash victims. SETTING: The emergency departments of eight medical centers across the state of Illinois, including representatives from urban, rural, teaching, and community facilities. TYPE OF PARTICIPANTS: All motorcycle crash victims presenting less than 24 hours after injury for whom helmet information was known. Data were collected from April 1 through October 31, 1988. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Fifty-eight of 398 patients (14.6%) were helmeted, and 340 (85.4%) were not. The nonhelmeted patients had higher Injury Severity Scores (11.9 vs 7.02), sustained head/neck injuries more frequently (41.7 vs 24.1%), and had lower Glasgow Coma Scores (13.73 vs 14.51). Twenty-five of the 26 fatalities were nonhelmeted patients. By logistic regression, the lack of helmet use was found to be a major risk factor for increased severity of injury. A 23% increase in health care costs was demonstrated for nonhelmeted patients (average charges $7,208 vs $5,852). CONCLUSION: Helmet use may reduce the overall severity of injury and the incidence of head injuries resulting from motorcycle crashes. A trend toward higher health care costs was demonstrated in the nonhelmeted patients.

Accidents, Traffic↗