| Abstrakt: |
Background: Moose-vehicle collisions and deer-vehicle collisions are dangerous and costly. Motorists are sometimes killed in such encounters but more often sustain injuries ranging from minor to severe. Reports of how patients of such collisions in British Columbia arrive at hospitals, the types of injuries they sustain, and the kinds of immediate and follow-up treatments they receive have not been published. Methods: We examined hospital records of 183 patients injured in vehicle collisions with deer and moose in north-central BC between 1993 and 2014. Data analyzed included the month of collision occurrence, the number of patients transported to the emergency department via ambulance versus the number of walk-ins, the types of injuries incurred, the duration of hospital stay, and the main types of treatment interventions required: pain management, imaging, and additional interventions of a particular medical specialty. Results: Hospital records suggested differences in seasonal patterns of moose- and deer-vehicle collisions, and in patient outcomes. Collisions with deer and moose occurred most often in August and September, respectively. Patients involved in moose-vehicle collisions had more serious injury types, received more extensive treatments, and required wider varieties of medical specialties for treatment than those involved in deer-vehicle collisions. Conclusions: This study provides emergency responders and doctors with the information they need regarding when to expect to attend to patients of moose- and deer-vehicle collisions, what types of injuries they can incur, and what treatments they may require. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
