A Comparison of the Treatment of Severe Injuries Between the Former East and West German States

摘要: In 2008, around 8.27 million people were injured (not counting minor trauma) and 19 089 killed in accidents Germany. Road traffic alone accounted for 436 368 injuries 4949 deaths (1, 2). Inspection of the road accident statistics reveals that states on territory former East Germany have more per 100 000 inhabitants than old West German states. The city-states Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg form a category their own (Table 1). Table 1 Casualties by federal state Not only rates but also absolute numbers casualties differ markedly between While overall number whole country was 1.08 figure not higher total average exceeded Here too, special case 1). In survey treatment multiple trauma Germany, Kuhne et al. established while has sufficient hospitals with facilities treating severely patients, centers are far from evenly distributed, large areas having an optimal infrastructure this respect (3). An analysis network bases emergency physicians air rescue services showed had worst ratios area to well-developed Brandenburg, Mecklenburg–West Pomerania, Thuringia Saxony–Anhalt (all formerly Germany) largest land physician base. This still true 2008 (3). Given these persisting verifiable differences 20 years after reunification, we set out determine, basis data Trauma Registry Society, whether structure care patients accompanied actual preclinical early clinical might explain statistics.