• Reintubation is associated with increased mortality, complications, hospital stay, and financial burden.

• Most studies have focused on reintubation in medically ill ICU populations.

• However, surgical ICU patients with traumatic injuries have different pathophysiology, comorbidities, and injury patterns.

• We evaluated comorbidities, injury patterns, and events leading up to extubation in trauma patients associated with reintubation.

• Elucidating risk factors leading to reintubation may help inform clinical practice in the surgical ICU.