Routine Laboratory Tests in Adult Trauma: Are they Necessary?

Abstract

Trauma is an important public health issue, remaining a common cause of death and morbidity in the UK. The management of trauma patients results in significant health costs. The annual expenditure of the National Health Service for treating such injuries is approximately £1.6 billion (about 7% of the total annual budget). Few studies have been published on the costs of acute treatment for blunt injury in the UK. In the most recent study, Christensen et al examined 35,564 adult patients, finding that the mean hospital cost per person was £9,530 and that costs varied significantly by injury severity and mortality.