References
Abstract
Motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) are the leading cause of major trauma in the UK. The extrication phase following an MVC represents an important and largely unstudied part of the patient journey from injury to definitive care. Current methods result in significant patient delays and potential for patient deterioration. This article reports on the incidence of medical vs. true physical entrapment following MVCs in a UK population. The low incidence of true physical entrapment (12%) gives significant potential for clinicians to adapt extrication plans to optimise care for each patient.
Motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) are the most common cause of major trauma in the UK (National Audit Office, 2010). Extrication of trapped patients following an MVC is reported to be required for 12% of patients (Wilmink et al, 1996), although international studies have found this number to be as high as 33% (Dias et al, 2011). The extrication period represents a key element of a patient's journey from the point of injury to arrival at a facility that can provide definitive care (Figure 1). For pre-hospital clinicians, their response time (from their location to the incident) and the total transport time (from the incident to the hospital) are essentially fixed time periods which cannot be changed for that patient, on that day, with the transport resources available at that time. Therefore, the total on-scene time represents the only truly variable element, of which the extrication plan and method make up a considerable percentage. The extrication plan and method can be adapted to meet the needs of individual patients, through multi-agency teamwork and appreciation of the priorities of care.
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