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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND 4.0Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine

Severity and resource utilisation among trauma patients undergoing trauma team activation in four Danish trauma units: a prospective cohort study

  • Thea Palsgaard Møller1,2,3
  • Emil Ørskov Ipsen4,5
  • Amalie Elisabeth Thiele-Nygaard1,2,3
  • Emma Roginski Lauritzen2
  • Sofia King6
  • Ida Lang Andersen4
  • Oscar Hoch Engelund7
  • Jakob Hessel Andersen3,4
  • Henrik Roland Jensen6
  • Tore Gyllenborg Larsen7
  • Kim Zillo Rokamp3,7
  • Roar Borregaard Medici2
2 more authors
  • Jakob Klim Danker4
  • Daniel Hägi-Pedersen3,6
7 affiliations
  1. 1Prehospital Center, Region Zealand, Denmark
  2. 2Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Holbæk Hospital, Holbæk, Denmark
  3. 3Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
  4. 4Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Zealand University Hospital, Køge, Denmark
  5. 5Department of Anesthesiology, Copenhagen University Hospital - North Zealand Hospital, Hilleroed, Denmark
  6. 6Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Central- and West Zealand Hospital, Region Zealand, Denmark
  7. 7Department of Anesthesia, Zealand University Hospital, Nykøbing Falster, Køge, Denmark
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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.

Methods: 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.

Results: 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.

Conclusions: 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.

Trial registration: Not applicable.

Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s13049-026-01668-4.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{moller2026severity,
  title = {{Severity and resource utilisation among trauma patients undergoing trauma team activation in four Danish trauma units: a prospective cohort study}},
  author = {Thea Palsgaard Møller and Emil Ørskov Ipsen and Amalie Elisabeth Thiele-Nygaard and Emma Roginski Lauritzen and Sofia King and Ida Lang Andersen and Oscar Hoch Engelund and Jakob Hessel Andersen and Henrik Roland Jensen and Tore Gyllenborg Larsen and Kim Zillo Rokamp and Roar Borregaard Medici and Jakob Klim Danker and Daniel Hägi-Pedersen},
  journal = {Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine},
  year = {2026},
  month = aug,
  doi = {10.1186/s13049-026-01668-4},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s13049-026-01668-4},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Severity and resource utilisation among trauma patients undergoing trauma team activation in four Danish trauma units: a prospective cohort study
AU  - Thea Palsgaard Møller
AU  - Emil Ørskov Ipsen
AU  - Amalie Elisabeth Thiele-Nygaard
AU  - Emma Roginski Lauritzen
AU  - Sofia King
AU  - Ida Lang Andersen
AU  - Oscar Hoch Engelund
AU  - Jakob Hessel Andersen
AU  - Henrik Roland Jensen
AU  - Tore Gyllenborg Larsen
AU  - Kim Zillo Rokamp
AU  - Roar Borregaard Medici
AU  - Jakob Klim Danker
AU  - Daniel Hägi-Pedersen
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/08
JO  - Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine
DO  - 10.1186/s13049-026-01668-4
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1186/s13049-026-01668-4
AB  - 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.  Methods: 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.  Results: 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.  Conclusions: 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.  Trial registration: Not applicable.  Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s13049-026-01668-4.
SN  - 1757-7241
ER  -