Subway-related trauma at a level 1 trauma centre in Toronto, Ontario

Article Figures & Tables

Table 1

Baseline characteristics of patients who presented to the emergency department after being hit by a moving subway train

Characteristic	No. (%) of patients^* n = 51
Age, mean ± SD, yr	41 ± 27
Male sex	35 (69)
Glasgow Coma Scale score
≤ 8	18 (35)
9–13	2 (4)
≥ 13	31 (61)
Systolic blood pressure < 90 mm Hg	13 (25)
Injury Severity Score, median (IQR)	17 (9–29)
Injury Severity Score
1–8	12 (24)
9–15	11 (22)
16–24	8 (16)
25–47	15 (29)
48–75	5 (10)
Abbreviated Injury Scale score ≥ 3
Head	22 (43)
Thorax	17 (33)
Spine	5 (10)
Upper extremity	4 (8)
Lower extremity	15 (29)
Length of hospital stay, mean ± SD, d	20.8 ± 20
Length of intensive care unit stay, mean ± SD, d	7.8 ± 8
Duration of mechanical ventilation, mean ± SD, d	8.7 ± 10
Postemergency destination (n = 41)
Intensive care unit	17 (41)
Operating room	12 (29)
Ward	9 (22)
Transferred to secondary acute care hospital	1 (2)
Discharged home	2 (5)
Blood alcohol concentration, mg/dL
> 0	12 (24)
> 80	10 (20)
Unknown	10 (20)
Intent
Self-inflicted	39 (76)
Accidental	10 (20)
Homicide/assault	2 (4)
Psychiatric history	22 (43)
Depression/depressive episodes	15 (29)
Psychotic disorder	10 (20)
Bipolar disorder	4 (8)
Anxiety disorder	1 (2)
History of previous suicide attempt(s)	3 (6)
Psychiatric condition, not otherwise specified	2 (4)
> 1 psychiatric diagnosis	10 (20)
Recorded history of alcohol or substance use	17 (33)
Alcohol use disorder only	7 (14)
Psychoactive substance use only	7 (14)
Both alcohol and substance use	3 (6)
Died	15 (29)
In emergency department	10 (20)
After surgery	2 (4)
In intensive care without surgery	3 (6)

Table 2

Time characteristics

Table 3

Patterns of injury

Pattern	No. (%) of patients
No severe injuries^*	15 (29)
Severe injury to 1 body region only	17 (33)
Lower extremity	7 (14)
Head	6 (12)
Thorax	4 (8)
Severe injury to multiple body regions	19 (37)
Head and lower extremity	4 (8)
Head and thorax	4 (8)
Other pattern	11 (22)