{
  "abstract": "Background: Evidence on trauma epidemiology and outcomes largely originates from major trauma centres, while data from regional trauma units remain limited. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology, management, and outcomes of patients undergoing trauma team activation in the trauma units of Region Zealand, Denmark.\n\nMethods: We conducted a prospective multicentre observational study across four regional trauma units in Region Zealand, Denmark, between 1 March 2024 and 28 February 2025. All consecutive patients undergoing trauma team activation were included. Data included demographics, injury mechanisms, injury severity, in-hospital management, and mortality. Analyses were descriptive.\n\nResults: A total of 1611 patients were included. Median age was 38 years [IQR 20–58], and 60.5% were male. The most common injury mechanisms were traffic-related injuries (53%), falls (22%), and equestrian-related accidents (13%). Median Injury Severity Score was 1 [IQR 0–5] and 94% had Injury Severity Score < 16. Secondary transfer to a major trauma centre occurred in 3.8% of cases, and 90-day mortality was 2.6%. Trauma admissions occurred predominantly outside regular daytime workflow, with a peak in the late afternoon and early evening. Median TTA duration was 58 minutes [IQR 43–76] and CT imaging was performed in 86.7% of cases. Following trauma team activation, 55.2% of patients were discharged directly and 4.6% required intensive care unit admission.\n\nConclusions: Most patients undergoing trauma team activation in regional trauma units had minor injuries, were discharged directly from the emergency department, and infrequently required intensive care unit admission or secondary transfer. Despite this, trauma team activation had a median duration around one hour and showed marked diurnal variation, with a peak in the late afternoon and early evening when staffing and clinical resources are typically more limited. These findings highlight opportunities to optimise trauma team activation criteria and organisational structures to better align resource utilisation with patient acuity.\n\nTrial registration: Not applicable.\n\nSupplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s13049-026-01668-4.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Prehospital Center, Region Zealand, Denmark",
    "Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Holbæk Hospital, Holbæk, Denmark",
    "Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark",
    "Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Zealand University Hospital, Køge, Denmark",
    "Department of Anesthesiology, Copenhagen University Hospital - North Zealand Hospital, Hilleroed, Denmark",
    "Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Central- and West Zealand Hospital, Region Zealand, Denmark",
    "Department of Anesthesia, Zealand University Hospital, Nykøbing Falster, Køge, Denmark"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 14,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Thea Palsgaard Møller",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-7658-2447"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3,
        4
      ],
      "name": "Emil Ørskov Ipsen",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-6166-923X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Amalie Elisabeth Thiele-Nygaard",
      "orcid": "0009-0005-6653-0260"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Emma Roginski Lauritzen"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Sofia King",
      "orcid": "0009-0005-4963-544X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Ida Lang Andersen"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Oscar Hoch Engelund",
      "orcid": "0009-0000-5728-5957"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Jakob Hessel Andersen",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-1402-8162"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Henrik Roland Jensen"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Tore Gyllenborg Larsen",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-7598-6308"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2,
        6
      ],
      "name": "Kim Zillo Rokamp",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-4673-0888"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Roar Borregaard Medici",
      "orcid": "0009-0008-7237-7962"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Jakob Klim Danker"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2,
        5
      ],
      "name": "Daniel Hägi-Pedersen",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-8008-6614"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/czg3cfya4geq6.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1186/s13049-026-01668-4",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13737688/",
  "id": "czg3cfya4geq6",
  "issns": [
    "1757-7241"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1186/s13049-026-01668-4",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
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      "heading",
      "Research"
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      "2711|Trauma and Emergency Care Studies"
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  "openalex": "W7201958785",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": "PMC13737688",
  "pmid": "42983831",
  "published": "2026-08-08",
  "publisher": "BMC",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/czg3cfya4geq6.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-09T12:22:49Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13737688",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1186/s13049-026-01668-4"
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  "subjects": [
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      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2711|Trauma and Emergency Care Studies",
      "subfield": "general"
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  ],
  "title": "Severity and resource utilisation among trauma patients undergoing trauma team activation in four Danish trauma units: a prospective cohort study",
  "title_text": "Severity and resource utilisation among trauma patients undergoing trauma team activation in four Danish trauma units: a prospective cohort study",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-09T12:22:49Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/czg3cfya4geq6",
  "venue": "Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine",
  "versions": []
}