Objectives: To analyse the demographics, mechanism, nature, anatomical distribution, management and complications in trauma patients presenting to the plastic surgery unit.
Study design: Descriptive cross-sectional study.
Setting: This study was conducted in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, from 1(st) January 2009 to 30(th) April 2012.
Materials and methods: All trauma patients referred from emergency department and other departments irrespective of age and gender were enrolled in the study, excluding acute burns and trauma sequelae patients. The details were obtained from the data sheets of the patients. All the data were analysed and projected in the form of tables and figures.
Results: A total of 1034 patients including 855 (82.7%) males and 179 (17.3%) females presented with plastic surgical trauma, with age ranging from 1 to 86 years, with a mean age of 20.84 ± 15.469 SD. The upper limb was affected in 492 (47.6%) patients, followed by head and neck in 273 (26.4%) cases. Road traffic accidents (RTAs) were the main cause of trauma, affecting 340 (32.9%) patients. Wound excision and closure was performed in 473 (45.7%) patients, followed by skin grafting and flap coverage in 232 (22.4%) and 132 (13.2%) patients, respectively. Postoperative complications were observed in 45 (4.35%) patients.
Conclusion: Males in their young age mainly presented with plastic surgical trauma with RTA as the main mechanism and laceration as the most common type of these injuries. The upper limb was the most commonly affected region. The frequency of different types of surgical procedures and postoperative complications observed are comparable with international literature except for the microvascular surgery which is not performed in our centre. Regular audit of the plastic surgical trauma should be conducted in all plastic surgical units to both improve trauma care and reaffirm the role of Plastic Surgery in the new age trauma.
Keywords: Plastic surgery; skin grafting; trauma.