Abstract:
Trauma is a leading cause of hospitalization. Epidemiology of injuries, risk factors and burden caused by them
have not been adequately studied in Sri Lanka. To study the incidence of various types of injuries, their burden on hospital and the families. All patients admitted with trauma to the trauma unit, Teaching Hospital Karapatiya, during four consecutive
Wednesdays and a weekend were included (n= 200). An investigator administered questionnaire was used to
collect data. One hundred and forty five out of200 admissions were males. Admissions due to unintentional injuries were 169
and due to intentional injuries were 31 (30 due to interpersonal violence, 01 self-inflicted injury). Casualties
admitted with unintentional injuries were victims of Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs) (n=75, 37.5%), domestic
accidents (n=50, 25%), workplace accidents (n=18, 9%), leisure time accidents (n=14, 7%) and others (n= 12,
6%). Seventy five of unintentional injuries (44.4%) were caused by falls. Out of the RTA casualties 41 (61.2%)
were motorcycle riders and 15 (24.5%) were casualties due to impact with motorcycles. Sixty four percent of
RTA victims were drivers (n=48). Most common age group of RTA was 1 6 -3 0 years. Domestic injuries were
more common among individuals below 15 years and above 60 years. Site of injuries due to RTAs included limb
injuries (n=59), head injuries (n=29) and trunk injuries (n=17). More than 25% of admissions received IV
antibiotics. Eighty percent individuals needed X-ray & 15.5% patients underwent CT scans. When the family
economic burden due to injuries and hospital stay was calculated, it was more than Rs. 10,500/=.in 10.5% and
between Rs. 7,000/= and 10,500/= in 8.5%.
