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Existing chest trauma scoring tools are often only applicable to patients with chest trauma. We sought to develop a novel Trauma Induced Pulmonary Event (TIPE) score to predict the risk of developing pulmonary complications in all adult trauma patients.Multiple logistic regression models were created using the 2017 Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) to identify independent predictors of pulmonary complications in trauma patients. The weighted average and relative impact of each independent predictor was used to derive a TIPE score. We then validated the score using area under the receiver operating curve (AROC).A total of 22 independent predictors of pulmonary complications were identified. The TIPE score was derived with scores ranging from 0 to 43. Injury accounted for 74% of the total score while comorbidities and demographics made up 21% and 5%, respectively. The most important individual predictors were injuries to the spinal cord and bile ducts (both 4 points). The AROC for this was 0.844.TIPE is a novel scoring tool to help predict pulmonary complications in all trauma patients.

To perform a national analysis of pediatric firearm violence (PFV), hypothesizing that black and uninsured patients would have higher risk of mortality.The Trauma Quality Improvement Program (2014-2016) was queried for PFV patients ≤16 years-old. Multivariable logistic regression models on all patients and a subset excluding severe brain injuries were performed.The PFV mortality rate was 11.2%. 66.5% of PFV patients were black (p 0.001). Deceased patients were more likely to be uninsured (14.5% vs. 5.3%, p 0.001). Black race was an associated risk factor for mortality in patients without severe brain injury (OR 5.26, CI 1.00-27.47, p = 0.049) but not for the overall population (OR 1.32, CI 0.68-2.56, p = 0.39).Nearly two-thirds of PFV patients were black. Contrary to previous studies, black and uninsured pediatric patients did not have an increased risk of mortality overall. However, in a subset of patients without severe brain injury, black race was associated with increased mortality risk.Between 2014 and 2016 the mortality rate for pediatric firearm violence (PFV) in children 16 years and younger was 11.2%. Although two-thirds of PFV patients were black, black race and lack of insurance were not risk factors of mortality for the overall population. Once patients with severe brain injury were excluded, black race and became associated with an increased risk of mortality.

Background Marijuana has become legal in eight states since 2012. We hypothesized the incidence of marijuana-positive trauma patients and rate of mortality has increased post-legalization. Methods A single level-I trauma center was used to identify patients screening positive for marijuana on urine-toxicology. Patients in the pre-legalization and post-legalization periods were compared. Results In the pre-legalization cohort 9.4% were marijuana-positive versus 11.0% in the post-legalization cohort (p = 0.001). Marijuana-positive patients post-legalization had higher rates of critical trauma activation (20.0% vs. 15.0%, p = 0.01) and mortality (2.6% vs. 1.2%, p = 0.03). In the pediatric (age 12–17) subgroup, the incidence of marijuana-positive patients did not change after legalization (pre: 39.3%, post: 46.4%, p = 0.24). Conclusion The incidence of marijuana-positive trauma patients increased post-legalization. Adult marijuana-positive trauma patients post-legalization were more likely to meet criteria for critical trauma activation and have a higher mortality rate. A subgroup of pediatric patients had an alarmingly high rate of marijuana use. Summary The rate of marijuana use among trauma patients increased post-legalization in California. The rate of critical trauma activation also increased as well as the mortality rate.