Traffic Accident Cases in A Secondary-Level State Hospital Emergency Department: Trauma Scores and One-Year Analysis

Objective: Traffic accidents are one of the leading causes of death worldwide. This study aims to examine the demographic data, trauma scores, and seasonal and monthly distributions of traffic accidents presented to a secondary-level state hospital to improve emergency department management and contribute to national data. Methods: This retrospective observational study included patients who presented to the Emergency Department of Kara Mustafa Paşa State Hospital due to traffic accidents (in-vehicle, out-of-vehicle, motorcycle, etc.) between 01.01.2024-31.12.2024. Data were retrieved from the hospital’s data system. Demographics, time of accident, monthly distribution, Injury Severity Score (ISS) values, procedures performed in the emergency department, and whether referral or admission occurred were recorded for patients with ICD code Z04.1. Results: A total of 803 patients were included; 68.6% were male, and the median age was 32 years. Most accidents (48.7%) occurred between 16:00-24:00. The most common injury sites were lower extremities (26.4%) and upper extremities (26%). Referrals were made for 7.5% of patients. August had the highest number of visits (n=114), and summer had the most accidents (39.6%). The 30-day mortality rate was 2% (n=15). ISS values were significantly higher in deceased patients compared with surviving patients (p < 0.001). Among 17 ICU admissions, 7 (46.7%) died within one month. Conclusion: Traffic accidents are more frequent during summer and evening hours. Legal precautions may help during these periods. ISS calculation is valuable for prognosis and referral decisions in secondary-level emergency departments.