The time of death after trauma

Abstract

All patients aged over 12 who died after trauma in the Lothian and Borders regions of Scotland between 1 February 1992 and 31 January 1994 were studied prospectively by the Scottish Trauma Audit Group and the university department of forensic medicine. The time and mechanism of injury and the time of death were recorded. Postmortem examinations were performed in every case, and injury severity scores calculated, using the abbreviated injury scale, 1990 revision. The definition of trauma used was that previously used by Trunkey, allowing direct comparison.