Mechanism of injury does not predict acuity or level of service need: field triage criteria revisited.

Background: Trauma systems use specific criteria based on physiologic, anatomic, and mechanistic factors for field triage. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the emergency department disposition of patients not meeting mandatory criteria (ie, physiologic or anatomic factors) for triage to a trauma center and the potential for over- or undertriage.

Methods: This was a retrospective review of trauma admissions from July 1999 to June 2001, to a level I trauma center.