Patterns of traumatic injuries among patients admitted to the emergency department of a teaching hospital

Abstract Purpose Trauma is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries and conflict-affected regions, highlighting the need to understand its patterns, causes, and outcomes to guide prevention strategies and improve clinical care. This study aimed to characterize trauma patients admitted to the Teaching Hospital, An-Najah National University Hospital (NNUH), including their demographics, injury mechanisms, and outcomes. Methods This retrospective study evaluated trauma patients admitted to NNUH’s emergency department in Nablus from January 2022 to September 2023. A total of 2211 medical records were reviewed. Results Patients of all ages were included, with the highest frequency among young adults (48.8%). Among them, 71.8% were male, 62.2% were single, and 90.1% lived in urban areas. The most common injury sites were the upper extremities (34.1%), lower extremities (29.1%), head (31.8%), and multiple sites (33.2%). The leading causes of injury were motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) (45.1%) and falls (20.9%). Most injuries were unintentional (92.6%), and more males than females experienced trauma. Specific instances included gunshot injuries (98.5% male vs. 1.5% female), being hit by soldiers (100% male), and being hit by others (86.2% male vs. 13.8% female). Nearly half of the fall-related incidents involved children, with 20.5% among preschool-aged children and 28.5% among school-aged children (≤ 5 years). Most cases of MVAs (57.4%), gunshot injuries (69.1%), burns (63.0%), and interactions with others involved young adults aged 19–40 years. A significant proportion of soft tissue injuries (52.9%) and bullet injuries (67.4%) were reported in young adults. Patients requiring intensive care (66.6%) were evenly distributed between school-aged children and young adults, whereas 48.7% of patients needing surgery were in the young adult age group. Conclusion This study revealed a significant burden of trauma, with MVAs and falls emerging as the leading causes. Demographic disparities are evident, with males and young adults disproportionately more affected. These findings underscore the importance of proactive measures to address trauma, including improved road safety regulations, fall prevention programs, and informing healthcare providers and decision-makers in emergency departments to prepare and allocate staff, resources, equipment, support, and care services to patients admitted for traumatic injuries.