Table 3

Characteristics of the Hamilton General Hospital trauma registry data set

CharacteristicDescription
PopulationThe Ontario Trauma Registry Comprehensive Data Set consists of detailed information on patients with major trauma who present to lead trauma hospitals across Ontario.
Eligibility criteriaCase inclusion/trauma definition: patients with an Injury Severity Score ≥ 12 (Abbreviated Injury Scale 2005), AND an ICD code for external cause of injury that meets the definition of trauma in the Ontario Trauma Registry (e.g., external cause of injury codes that are included in the definition of trauma are motor vehicle collisions, including those involving pedestrians, motorcycles and bicycles, falls, drowning and burns; exclusions are poisoning, adverse effects and complications); is admitted or is treated in the emergency department but not admitted; or died in the emergency department. All patients with trauma team activation are included regardless of their Injury Severity Score.
Data

  • Basic patient demographic characteristics (age, sex)

  • Injury data, including mechanism of injury

  • Scene data, including mode of transport, crew, time stamps (e.g., crew arrival on scene)

  • Procedures performed on scene

  • Sending hospital data (where applicable), including nonoperative and operative procedures

  • LTH care (intensive care unit, surgical interventions, physician services involved in care)

  • Anatomic diagnoses (Injury Severity Score)

  • Patient complications, comorbidities

  • Patient outcomes (length of stay, discharge disposition, death)

Indirect identifiers for linkage across data sourcesPatient’s name/initials, date of birth and sex, arrival at LTH, sending facility code (where applicable).

  • ICD = International Classification of Diseases; LTH = lead trauma hospital.