Trauma during Pregnancy: A Population-based Analysis of Maternal Outcome

Background Serious injury during pregnancy is known to cause adverse maternal outcomes. However, the significance of minor injuries in adverse maternal outcomes requires clarification because most injuries sustained during pregnancy are minor ones. Methods Two population-based databases (inpatient and ambulatory care) were used to identify pregnant women who had severe (required hospitalization) or minor injuries (required ambulatory care only) prenatally. ICD-9-CM coding was used to categorize the types of prenatal injury and complications during delivery. The patient demographics, types and timing of the injuries, and their association with adverse maternal outcomes were compared among the uninjured, those with minor injury, and those with severe injury. Odds ratios were calculated to estimate the risks of having adverse outcomes in injured pregnant women compared with those who are uninjured. Results The severely injured women tended to be younger (