Patient characteristics and interventions at a trauma stabilization point in Gaza- a retrospective analysis.
Conflict and Health · 2026-05-05 · Observational study
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Timely prehospital care is essential in preventing trauma‑related deaths in conflict settings, yet civilian systems often lack the capacity for rapid stabilization and evacuation. Trauma Stabilization Points (TSPs), adapted from military models, have been introduced in Gaza to provide forward‑deployed triage and stabilization. This study describes patient characteristics, clinical presentations, interventions, and outcomes at a TSP operating in Khan Younis, Gaza, in 2024 during the ongoing war. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cross‑sectional analysis of routinely collected patient‑level data from a TSP operated by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society with support from the WHO and an international emergency medical team. All patients presenting between 12 February and 28 April 2024 were included. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression assessed associations between patient characteristics, injury severity, interventions, and referral outcomes. RESULTS: 1,928 patients were entered into the dataset. Non‑traumatic conditions accounted for 53% of attendances, while 47% were trauma‑related. Most patients (94.8%) were stable, as defined by the Interagency Integrated Triage Tool (IITT) on arrival. A total of 3482 interventions were recorded, dominated by basic care (86%). Overall, 80.6% of patients were discharged, 19.3% referred to still-functioning hospitals, and 0.1% died at the TSP. Clinical instability, fractures, and penetrating injuries were significantly associated with referral, while basic interventions (e.g., wound suturing, antipyretics) predicted discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Despite operating in a high‑intensity conflict, the TSP primarily functioned as a triage and primary‑care access point rather than a trauma‑focused facility. The dominance of on-site treatment and same-day discharge suggest the TSP offloaded some non-urgent patients from overwhelmed hospitals and likely contributed to reducing consumption of limited ambulance resources.
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Tags
Low- and middle-income settings · Military & tactical · Time intervals
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