Patterns and outcomes of chest injury among adult patients treated at Hawassa university comprehensive specialized hospital, Hawassa sidama, Ethiopia:

Retrospective record review

Abstract

 Introduction: Trauma is a major global health concern, causing 4.4 million deaths annually, with
thoracic injuries accounting for 25% of deaths. Developing countries disproportionately bear these
deaths due to inadequate post-trauma measures.

Methods: Retrospective chart review study was conducted at Hawassa University Comprehensive
Specialized Hospital among 111 chest injury patients from August 01/2021 to August 31/2023. Data
were collected using structured questionnaires from the trauma registry, 24-hour reports, and patient
charts and collected by trained nurses. The collected data were entered, cleaned, edited, and analyzed
using SPSS version 25.0 statistical software.

Results: A total of 111 chest injury patients’ charts were included in the analysis. About threefourths (74.77%) were males, and 28 (25.23%) were females. Blunt trauma (77.5%, n = 86) was the
most common type of injury, with road traffic crashes (59.5%, n = 66) being the most common
mechanism. Rib fracture (n = 39, 35.14%) was the most common injury, followed by hemothorax (n =
37, 33.33%), hemopneumothorax (n = 32, 28.83%), and flail chest (n = 18, 16.22%). On univariate
analysis, comorbidity (P <0.001), blunt mechanism (P = 0.039), hemopneumothorax (P = 0.006), flail
chest (P = 0.021), pulmonary contusion (P = 0.014), development of complication (P <0.001), and
extra thoracic injuries (P = 0.013) were associated with mortality.

Conclusion: This study found that one in ten chest injury patients died in a hospital, with road traffic accidents being the main cause. Most patients sustained blunt chest injuries and death was associated with chronic diseases, hemopneumothorax, multiple injuries, and complications.