EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF ORTHOPEDIC TRAUMAS IN A TERTIARY HOSPITAL: IMPACT OF TRAUMA ENERGY ON HEALTHCARE OUTCOMES

Abstract

The study analyzed the epidemiological profile of orthopedic traumas and the impact of injury mechanism energy on healthcare outcomes in a tertiary hospital. For this purpose, an observational, retrospective, and analytical study was conducted with 503 patients (N=503) treated at the Emergency Department of the University Hospital of Western Paraná (HUOP) throughout 2024. A Multinomial Logistic Regression model was applied using the Jamovi software (version 2.4) to evaluate the independent association between the Type of Energy involved in the trauma (Low vs. High) and the final clinical outcome (Hospital Discharge, Elective Admission, Elopement, Prolonged Stay, Interinstitutional Transfer, and Death), using Age as an adjustment variable. The results showed that the high-energy mechanism was directly and statistically significantly associated with the Death outcome (β = 7,827; p < 0,001; OR = 2509,45; IC95%: 119,00–52917,98) and the risk of Prolonged Stay (β = -11,689; p < 0,001). It was also found that traumas caused by low mechanical energy reduced the chances of Hospital Elopement by 53% (β = -0,751; p = 0,038; OR = 0,471; IC95%: 0,231–0,960), indicating a concentration of treatment abandonment within the high-energy profile. Age acted as an independent predictor only for planned Elective Admissions (β = 0,013; p = 0,012; OR = 1,013). In conclusion, the intensity of the trauma energy configures as the main determinant for the most severe outcomes in the institution, overspending the age factor in driving regional hospital complexity.