KST
Search
- Page Path
- HOME > Search
Original Articles
- Year-round consistency in upper extremity trauma surgery in Florida: challenging the concept of “trauma season”: a retrospective study
- Anshumi Desai, Rohan Mangal, Daniel Garcia, Mitchell A. Pet, Kashyap K. Tadisina
- J Trauma Inj. 2026;39(3):256-263. Published online September 30, 2026
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.20408/jti.2025.0154
- 237 View
- 4 Download
-
Abstract
PDF
Supplementary Material - Purpose
Upper extremity (UE) trauma requiring surgery in the United States typically peaks during the summer and fall; however, Florida’s climate may create a distinct temporal pattern. This study analyzes year-round UE trauma surgery volumes at a South Florida academic medical center to explore the potential impact of environmental factors.
Methods
Current Procedural Terminology (CPT; standardized codes used to report medical and surgical procedures) databases were analyzed to identify acute UE trauma codes over a 132-month period, and surgical volume was tabulated accordingly. Raw data were plotted as a time series and subsequently converted to a moving average ratio. Autocorrelation analysis was performed to assess yearly periodicity, and multivariable modeling evaluated variability attributable to this periodicity. A subanalysis examined periodicity across three predefined age groups.
Results
A total of 5,924 CPT codes were included in the analysis. The highest monthly volume of UE trauma–related CPT codes occurred in March (49.5 codes per month), whereas the lowest volume occurred in June (41.7 codes per month), yielding a difference of 7.8 codes. No consistent patterns were observed with respect to higher case volumes by specific months or seasons. Time series analysis across the 132-month period demonstrated an overall trend of volume growth without evidence of annual fluctuation. Autocorrelation analysis revealed no yearly periodicity in UE trauma CPT volumes, including after weekend-specific subanalysis. In age-stratified models, results remained nonsignificant: 18–44 years (R2=0.10, P=0.401), 45–64 years (R2=0.10, P=0.369), and ≥65 years (R2=0.13, P=0.133).
Conclusions
UE trauma operations were consistently distributed throughout the year, with no distinct periodic fluctuations identified across weekends or age groups in Florida. These findings suggest that weather-related factors may contribute to the seasonal patterns observed in other geographic regions. -
Summary
- Patients with intentional punch injuries in the emergency department: a retrospective cohort study
- İbrahim Toker, Ömer Salt, Taner Şahin, Mükerrem Altuntaş, İrfan Gökçek, Murat Eşlik, İbrahim Tüysüz, Baycan Kuş, Muhammed İslam Özer
- J Trauma Inj. 2025;38(1):32-37. Published online March 31, 2025
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.20408/jti.2025.0022
- 6,461 View
- 68 Download
-
Abstract
PDF
- Purpose
Hand and wrist injuries represent some of the most common traumatic conditions encountered in the emergency department (ED). Our study aimed to elucidate the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients sustaining intentional punch injuries.
Methods
This single-center retrospective study involved patients aged 16 years and older who presented to the ED with intentional punch injuries in 2023.
Results
A total of 405 patients were included in the study. The median patient age was 30 years (interquartile range, 22–40 years), and 363 (89.6%) were male. Among the patients, a total of 389 fractures were identified in 362 patients (89.4%). Metacarpal bone fractures were the most common, with 372 fractures (95.6%). The fifth metacarpal was the most frequently injured (67.4%), followed by the fourth (10.0%) and third (7.7%) metacarpals. Although the most common base fracture occurred in the first metacarpal, shaft fractures were most prevalent in the second, third, fourth, and fifth metacarpals. Overall, 259 patients (71.5%) had nondisplaced fractures. Additionally, 31 patients (7.7%) had previously been admitted to the ED for punching, 17 (4.2%) had prior ED visits for trauma resulting in a fracture, and 63 (15.6%) reported a history of psychiatric drug use.
Conclusions
Young men represent the majority of intentional punch injury patients. The fifth metacarpal and its shaft fractures were most commonly observed. A history of prior ED visits for punching or trauma, as well as psychiatric medication use, may serve as potential risk factors. -
Summary
First
Prev
