SAFETYLIT WEEKLY UPDATE

We compile citations and summaries of about 400 new articles every week.
RSS Feed

HELP: Tutorials | FAQ
CONTACT US: Contact info

Search Results

Journal Article

Citation

Asim M, El-Menyar A, Al-Thani H, Abdelrahman H, Zarour A, Latifi R. J. Emerg. Trauma Shock 2014; 7(2): 88-96.

Affiliation

Department of Surgery, Trauma Surgery Section, Hamad General Hospital, Doha, Qatar ; Department of Surgery, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, INDO-US Emergency and Trauma Collaborative, Publisher Medknow Publications)

DOI

10.4103/0974-2700.130878

PMID

24812453

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Trauma represents a global public health concern with an estimated 5 million deaths annually. Moreover, the incidence of blunt traumatic injuries (BTI) particularly road traffic accidents (RTAs) and workplace-related injuries are rising throughout the world-wide.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to review the epidemiology and prevention of BTI, in the Arab Middle East.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A traditional narrative literature review was carried out using PubMed, MEDLINE and EMBASE search engines. We used the keywords "traumatic injuries", "blunt" "epidemiology", "Arab Middle East" between December 1972 and March 2013.

RESULTS: The most common mechanisms of BTI in our region are RTAs, falls from height, struck by heavy objects and pedestrian motor vehicle trauma crashes. The rate of RTA and occupational injuries are markedly increased in the region due to rapid industrial development, extreme climatic conditions and unfamiliar working environment. However, lack of reliable information on these unintentional injuries is mainly responsible for the underestimation of this trauma burden. This knowledge deficit shields the extent of the problem from policy makers, leading to continued fatalities. These preventable injuries in turn add to the overall financial burden on the society through loss of productivity and greater need of medical and welfare services.

CONCLUSION: In the Arab Middle East, population-based studies on the incidence, mechanism of injury, prevention and outcome of BTI are not well-documented. Therefore, region-specific BTI studies would strengthen surveillance to better understand the burden of these injuries in the region.


Language: en

NEW SEARCH


All SafetyLit records are available for automatic download to Zotero & Mendeley
Print