Leukocytosis as a Predictor of Severe Injury in Blunt Trauma
Objective: The objective of this study was to determine if the white blood cell count can predict severity of injury in blunt trauma victims.Methods: This was a retrospective study comparing two groups of blunt trauma victims by severity of injury, one with significant injury and one without signifi...
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doaj-49e197cc797046228f21b29ec75a428b2020-11-24T21:15:12ZengeScholarship Publishing, University of CaliforniaWestern Journal of Emergency Medicine1936-900X1936-90182008-05-01928185Leukocytosis as a Predictor of Severe Injury in Blunt TraumaSantucci, Claudia APurcell, Thomas BMejia, CarloObjective: The objective of this study was to determine if the white blood cell count can predict severity of injury in blunt trauma victims.Methods: This was a retrospective study comparing two groups of blunt trauma victims by severity of injury, one with significant injury and one without significant injury, and comparing their initial WBC in the emergency department (ED). We also examined if WBC correlates with degree of injury using Injury Severity Score (ISS) in both groups combined. Further, we examined the WBC as a predictor of serious injury.Results: Our study showed a difference in mean WBC between the two groups that was statistically significant (p<0.001). A positive relationship between ISS and WBC was found, although the association was weak (correlation coefficient = 0.369). While the WBC had moderate discriminatory capability for serious injury, it could not, in isolation, reliably rule in or out serious injury. Nevertheless, this study supports using WBC on presentation to the ED as an adjunct for making disposition decisions.Conclusion: A significant elevation in WBC in a blunt trauma patient, even with minimal initial signs of severe injury, should heighten suspicion for occult injury.http://escholarship.org/uc/item/9sg9x9mbblunt traumawhite blood cell countpredicting injuryinjury severityemergency department |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Santucci, Claudia A Purcell, Thomas B Mejia, Carlo |
spellingShingle |
Santucci, Claudia A Purcell, Thomas B Mejia, Carlo Leukocytosis as a Predictor of Severe Injury in Blunt Trauma Western Journal of Emergency Medicine blunt trauma white blood cell count predicting injury injury severity emergency department |
author_facet |
Santucci, Claudia A Purcell, Thomas B Mejia, Carlo |
author_sort |
Santucci, Claudia A |
title |
Leukocytosis as a Predictor of Severe Injury in Blunt Trauma |
title_short |
Leukocytosis as a Predictor of Severe Injury in Blunt Trauma |
title_full |
Leukocytosis as a Predictor of Severe Injury in Blunt Trauma |
title_fullStr |
Leukocytosis as a Predictor of Severe Injury in Blunt Trauma |
title_full_unstemmed |
Leukocytosis as a Predictor of Severe Injury in Blunt Trauma |
title_sort |
leukocytosis as a predictor of severe injury in blunt trauma |
publisher |
eScholarship Publishing, University of California |
series |
Western Journal of Emergency Medicine |
issn |
1936-900X 1936-9018 |
publishDate |
2008-05-01 |
description |
Objective: The objective of this study was to determine if the white blood cell count can predict severity of injury in blunt trauma victims.Methods: This was a retrospective study comparing two groups of blunt trauma victims by severity of injury, one with significant injury and one without significant injury, and comparing their initial WBC in the emergency department (ED). We also examined if WBC correlates with degree of injury using Injury Severity Score (ISS) in both groups combined. Further, we examined the WBC as a predictor of serious injury.Results: Our study showed a difference in mean WBC between the two groups that was statistically significant (p<0.001). A positive relationship between ISS and WBC was found, although the association was weak (correlation coefficient = 0.369). While the WBC had moderate discriminatory capability for serious injury, it could not, in isolation, reliably rule in or out serious injury. Nevertheless, this study supports using WBC on presentation to the ED as an adjunct for making disposition decisions.Conclusion: A significant elevation in WBC in a blunt trauma patient, even with minimal initial signs of severe injury, should heighten suspicion for occult injury. |
topic |
blunt trauma white blood cell count predicting injury injury severity emergency department |
url |
http://escholarship.org/uc/item/9sg9x9mb |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT santucciclaudiaa leukocytosisasapredictorofsevereinjuryinblunttrauma AT purcellthomasb leukocytosisasapredictorofsevereinjuryinblunttrauma AT mejiacarlo leukocytosisasapredictorofsevereinjuryinblunttrauma |
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