Physical trauma affects up to 8% of all pregnancies and is the leading cause of non-obstetric death during pregnancy. The predominant causes of trauma in pregnancy are motor vehicle collision (MVC) and domestic or family violence (DFV).
Compared with non-pregnant women of reproductive age, pregnant women are nearly twice as likely to die after trauma, and twice as likely to experience DFV.4 Management of pregnant trauma patients requires consideration of several issues specific to pregnancy. These include alterations to physiology and anatomy during pregnancy, exposure to radiation and possible teratogens, the need to assess fetal well-being, and monitoring for potential obstetric complications that may occur secondary to trauma.5 Evidence for care provision is limited with the majority of studies being retrospective and reported outcomes varying widely.
