Abstract
Objectives: Despite the implementation of additional safety measures, motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) still result in significant injuries and fatalities. This study aims to explore the severity of these injuries and the length of hospital stays (LOS) following MVCs. Furthermore, this study will assess how helmet use and alcohol influence trauma outcomes. Methods: This retrospective study from a single center includes 604 patients from 1 January 2016, to 31 December 2024. Patients were identified based on the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) body regions. Descriptive statistics and ANOVA were performed on helmet use and blood alcohol concentration, with significance set at p < 0.01. Results: Mean LOS at the hospital (H) was 13 days, 10.53 h in the ED, and 113.32 h in the ICU. In total, 74.5% of patients were male and 25.5% were female. The mean injury severity score (ISS) was 22.58, with 99.83% representing blunt trauma. The majority of patients (94.21%) arrived with signs of life, with 50.99% patients discharged to home or self-care (routine discharge). A noticeable trend following 2020 showed an increase in ED discharges, and thus ED admissions, compared to years before 2020. Helmet use showed a non-significant trend toward reduced ISS and length of stay. ETOH level and primary payor source were not significantly associated with outcome variables in regression models, though patterns suggest a potential relationship between payor source and ED discharge disposition. Conclusions: This study identifies important clinical trends that merit further investigation. Helmet use may be associated with reduced injury severity and shorter hospital stays, while differences in primary payor source suggest disparities in ED discharge outcomes. These findings underscore the need for further research on payor disposition, helmet use, and ETOH level in MVCs.