Reduction in mortality of severely injured patients in Germany

Introduction: The trauma registry of the German Society of Trauma Surgery is a multicentric prospective record of the treatment of severely injured patients.

Methods: The present study examines the effect of a quality management system on key processes and outcomes, in hospitals included in the trauma registry. The study is based on data of 11 013 severely injured patients (injury severity score = 16) who were treated in 105 hospitals between 1993 and 2005. A variety of parameters relating to early diagnosis and treatment were considered. Outcome quality was measured by a comparison between observed and calculated mortality (revised injury severity classification).

Results: During the 13 year long study period mortality could be significantly reduced from 22.8% to 18.7%. The time to initial radiological and ultrasound diagnosis was reduced, the use of computed tomography increased, the time until emergency operations in hemorrhagic shock was reduced, and damage limiting orthopedic interventions were performed more frequently.

Discussion: The German Trauma Registry records processes and treatment results in severely injured patients. This information is fed back to participating hospitals. The continuous data feedback is associated with a continuous improvement of process and outcome quality in the treatment of severely injured patients.