The incidence of peripheral nerve injury in trauma patients in Iran

BACKGROUND In patients aged 1-34 years, injury is the leading cause of mortality, disability and health care costs. Two to 3% of Level I trauma patients have peripheral nerve injury (PNI). METHODS Data were collected from the Iran National Trauma Registry database, compiled according to the International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision (ICD9) codes, from August 1999 to February 2004. The information included demography, mechanism, levels and regions of PNI, associated injuries, Abbreviated Injury Scale, duration of hospital stay, and costs. RESULTS Of 16,753 patients, 219 (1.3%) had PNI; 182 (83.1%) were male. The mean age of the patients with PNI was lower than of those without nerve injury (28.6+/-14.45 vs. 33+/-21.08 years; p<0.001). The most common cause of PNI was direct laceration from a sharp object (61%) followed by road traffic crashes (22%). Penetrating trauma was more common than non-penetrating injuries (5.6% vs. 0.4%, p<0.001). The most frequent PNI location was from the elbow to the hand (10%). The ulnar nerve was the most commonly injured nerve. The most common area of ulnar nerve injury was at the forearm (15.3%). CONCLUSION Sharp laceration and road traffic crash have the highest rates of PNI, which are more common in young males. Open wounds from the elbow to the hand should raise suspicion of PNI in triage. Although injuries leading to PNI are rare, their outcomes and disabilities require further research.