Road traffic accidents, circumstances, diagnoses and severity of injury--data from the Israeli National Trauma Registry

The Israeli National Trauma Registry includes data on road traffic accidents from eight trauma centers. The investigation of registry data adds a new dimension to the analysis of road injuries. This dimension includes health information such as the type and severity of injury, treatment provided and outcomes. This article summarizes data on 4,328 patients injured in traffic accidents and included in the National Trauma Registry in 1999. We describe diagnoses and injury severity for road traffic accident casualties and link the injury outcomes to the type of accident. Findings indicate high risk for severe or fatal injuries among pedestrians, particularly among the young and the elderly. Children on bicycles and young car drivers are also at risk. This information will serve as a basis for prevention intervention and education programs.