Most ER cases caused by road accidents, says PH Orthopedic Center

The Philippine Orthopedic Center reported Tuesday that most of their daily emergency cases are the result of road accidents.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, Dr. Jose Pujalte Jr., Philippine Orthopedic Center Medical Center Chief, said they are responding to at least 100 patients on a daily basis as of 2025.

In 2024, the hospital responded to 134,000 emergency incidents.

“Kung isipin natin, sa mga traffic crashes, traffic or road accidents, ang mga tinatamaan naman ay pasahero, yung tumatawid o yung pedestrian, at ang driver… Kalimitan ito ay mga bali sa extremities,” he said.

(If we think about it, in traffic crashes, traffic or road accidents, most of those affected are passengers, pedestrians, and the driver… Most of the time they are afflicted with broken extremities.)

Pujalte noted incidents due to road accidents are often, but not limited to:

• Broken leg
• Broken arm
• Broken bones in hands
• Broken long bones (ex. Femur)
• Head and neck injuries
• Damage to internal organs

The most alarming injury would be an open fracture, or incidents where bones would stick out of the skin.

“Kapag ito ay hindi nalapatan ng lunas sa emergency room, madali magkaimpeksyon at sinasabi natin maari pang maputulan ang pasyente,” he said.

(If this is not immediately treated in the emergency room, it might lead to an infection which might lead to amputation.)

Pujalte noted that most injuries were also caused by overspeeding, and often by motorcycle drivers.

“Ang serious injuries, nakikita namin sa over-speeding, at syempre kung tatamaan dito ang tumatawid. Pag minsan, dadating sa hospital nga namin ay naging hingalo na, kaya malaking bagay rin ang tinatawag naming puwang o yung gap between the transfer of the patient from the injury site to the hospital or to the emergency room,” he shared.

(Serious injuries are observed to be due to over-speeding, and of course it may affect pedestrians. At times, the patient would arrive at the hospital in critical condition, which is why the transfer of the patient from the injury site to the hospital or emergency room is a very big deal.)

He pointed out the increasing need for trained emergency medicine technicians for faster, more accurate care for patients enroute to the hospital.

“Wala namang kaming tinatanggihan at ang emergency room namin ay bukas sa lahat ng nasasakuna,” he shared.

(We would not refuse anyone, and our emergency room is open to anyone in need.) —RF, GMA Integrated News