A five-year retrospective analysis of pregnant trauma patients evaluated in the emergency department

Objective: This study aims is to examine pregnant trauma patients evaluated in a university hospital emergency department, to provide insights into this patient group, and to make recommendations regarding their managements. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional and retrospective study was conducted at Çukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, evaluating pregnant patients presenting with trauma between May 1, 2018, and April 30, 2023. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, imaging, and treatment data, as well as maternal and fetal outcomes, were analyzed. Results: A total of 237 pregnant trauma patients were included in the study. The most common trauma mechanisms were assault (36.3%), followed by falls (28.3%) and motor vehicle accidents (23.2%). The most frequently injured body regions were the head and neck (36.7%), upper extremities (30.4%), and lower extremities (24.9%). Hospital admission rates were 13.1% to other wards and 0.8% to the intensive care unit, while the delivery rate was 2.1% (60% via C-section). Assault was significantly more common in pregnancies <20 weeks (p=0.001), whereas in-vehicle motor vehicle accidents were more frequent in pregnancies ≥20 weeks (p=0.004). Assault was more frequent among those requiring emergency department observation (p=0.041), while other trauma mechanisms were more common in those admitted to different wards (p=0.035). No significant relationship was found between trauma mechanisms and maternal or fetal outcomes (p>0.05). Conclusion: Assault is a significant mechanism of injury in pregnant trauma patients, particularly in those <20 weeks of gestation. Pregnant trauma patients subjected to assault often experience intimate partner violence, which constitutes a serious health and social issue. The management of pregnant trauma patients requires a multidisciplinary approach. Keywords: Pregnancy, trauma, emergency department