Introduction: Wound management of trauma patients is one of the most important and common measures in the emergency departments. Following trauma, hemodynamic and metabolic changes occur in the body that are sometimes very complex and lead to many complications and deaths, even with great care. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors for managed wounds in trauma patients referred to the emergency department of Imam Khomeini Hospital, Urmia, Iran.
Materials: This descriptive-analytical study was performed on all trauma patients referred to the emergency department of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Urmia from October 1, 2017 to March 20, 2018 by census. Data were collected using a checklist which included demographic characteristics, underlying diseases, wound characteristics and wound management of patients in terms of complications and recovery in the sixth month according to the Vancouver Oscar criteria.
Results: Among the 350 studied patients, 86 (24.6%) were female and 264 (75.4%) were male and the mean age of patients was 37.3±11.1 years. The most common complications were infection (9%) and inflammation around the wound (5%). Smoking (P<0.05), diabetes (P = 0.03) and wound infection (P = 0.03) were associated with infection, Antibiotic prophylaxis (P=0.02) and keeping the wound clean were also associated with a reduced incidence of infection (P=0.01). The mean degree of wound was 6.4 ± 2.3 at the beginning of admission for patients and 3.1±1.6 after six months. Statistical evaluations revealed that there was a significant decrease in the degree of wounds after six months (P=0.001).
Conclusion: Diabetes and smoking are common risk factors for infection and reduced wound healing.