Health experts say 'trauma' is the leading cause of death

KARACHI: Trauma is the leading cause of death for people falling in the age bracket of 14-44 years. Most countries of the world are experiencing an epidemic of trauma, but the most serious increase has been in the developing countries.

It is expected that approximately one fifth of the entire universal burden of disease is due to trauma. Trauma results from various forms of violence and modes of injuries. They represent an ever-escalating burden of morbidity, disability and death all over the world and in Pakistan as well.

These views were expressed by Dr Saeed Minhas, Associate Professor of Orthopaedics, in Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) while delivering his presentation on “Accident-Trauma and management” during first public awareness program of PAK-CHINA MEDCONG held here in Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) House.

Proliferation of roads and use of vehicles has led to a rapid increase in injuries and deaths, and many peripheral medical facilities find themselves faced with multiple casualties from bus crashes or other disasters. Severe burns are also common in both urban and rural areas.

He stressed that efforts in making the health managers capable of dealing with the emerging disease and disability patterns must be directed towards improvement in both qualitative and quantitative term. Such steps should include trauma training, education, National Trauma Registry, pre hospital trauma training, trauma, emergency room specialist, prevention of trauma, up gradation of resuscitation Bay and disaster Plan.

Orthopedic surgery plays a key role in the treatment of the polytraumatized patient. Gunshot wounds required more orthopedic trauma resources than other surgical areas. Motorcycle injuries is an emerging public health problem in Karachi and these injuries constitute a major but neglected emerging public health problem in developing countries, and contribute significantly to the overall road traffic injuries.

Motorcycle injuries are among the leading causes of disability and deaths and the main victims are the motorcyclists, passengers and pedestrians in their young reproductive age group. The problem is increasing at a fast rate in developing countries due to rapid motorization and other factors. The injuries related to motorcycles contribute significantly to the number of road traffic injuries in Karachi city, taking out significant resources including consumables and the health worker time, Dr Saeed Minhas shared.

Emergency services and trauma care are neglected all over the world. The lack of infrastructure, knowledge and initiative leave vast tracts of national highways, roadways, hazard zones unattended and under-served in the case of calamities, accidents and disasters.

To improve the early management and hence outcomes of Road Traffic Related Rrauma, PTC-Sind has been formed under the guidelines of Primary Trauma Care Foundation - UK. This is a not for profit organization promoting primary management of accident victims globally, he concluded.

Dr Seemin Jamali shared her experiences of dealing with disasters and emergencies. “I have done my house job in Civil Hospital Karachi and can think of chaos within hospital to access emergency and other emergency care departments. There is a grave issue of accessibility for patients to get emergency treatment there,” she recalled.

But we have learnt a lot from CHK experience and improved accessibility to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) emergency department. We have attended more than 250 disasters, medical and surgical emergencies in our emergency department. Initial improved management of such trauma cases coupled with good behavior is very vital to save lives, Dr Seemin stressed.