This thesis evaluates the short-term and the long-term outcomes of severely injured patients. Severely injured patients are of interest, not only from a medical, but also from a social and an economic point of view. It is generally assumed that severe injuries have considerable physical, emotional and social consequences in the predominantly young victims of trauma. Remarkably, only little information is available on the subsequent outcomes of severely injured patients. Follow-up studies are necessary (1) to provide patients, the patient's relatives or insurance companies with better information, (2) to evaluate and to improve treatment strategies, (3) to answer questions concerning the allocation of resources and (4) to develop preventive measures and health care policies. The purpose of this study is to analyse the short-term and long-term physical, psychological and social consequences of major trauma, not only in adult, but also in elderly and pediatric polytrauma patients. Secondary questions concern the different outcomes experienced by severely injured patients and those with lesser injuries, as well as by patients with injuries of the upper and lower extremities. The first chapter explains the general concepts used in this study. The following chapters describe various outcome results of severely injured patients of all ages (chapter 2 and 3) and then from three age groups: the elderly (chapter 4 and 5), adults (chapter 6 and 7) and children (chapter 8). The final chapter draws conclusions and recommendations from the above studies. (A)
Samenvatting