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To determine differences in outcomes between patients taken to level I and level II trauma centers, investigators conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of consecutive patients (age, >15 years) who were transported directly by emergency medical services to all 11 level I (10,070 patients) and 16 level II (8033 patients) trauma centers in Ohio from 2003 through 2006. Patients who had isolated hip injuries or who were transferred between the two types of centers were excluded.
Patients at level I trauma centers were significantly younger than those at level II centers (mean age, 44 vs. 51 years) and had significantly higher mean Injury Severity Scores (ISSs; 15 vs. 11). A significantly greater proportion of patients at level I trauma center…