Negative findings on laparotomy for trauma

A retrospective review of 428 exploratory laparotomies for trauma included 199 patients with blunt trauma, 96 with gunshot wounds, and 133 with stab wounds. In the blunt trauma group, 16 laparotomies (8%) showed no injury and 24 (12%) showed that no repair was needed. Physical examination (68 cases) and diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) (121) were used as the primary indication for laparotomy. In the stab wound group, there was a high incidence of negative or nontherapeutic operation when proximity to the abdomen or deep fascial penetration was the indication for operation. Patients sustaining gunshot wounds had a 27% incidence of negative laparotomy, with proximity being the primary indication for operation. Two deaths in the negative laparotomy group occurred due to associated injuries. Complications were minimal. DPL has decreased the number of negative operations but has increased the nontherapeutic operations. The high incidence of negative laparotomy for stab wounds shows the need for selective management rather than routine exploration.     

Initial assessment and management of a patient with a gunshot wound to the femur.

As the number of violent crimes rise, the likelihood increases that the nurse will be faced with patients presenting with gunshot injuries. These wounds pose a significant challenge to the nurse working in the acute care setting. Unlike other penetrating trauma, gunshot wounds produce a myriad of associated injuries related to the mechanism of injury. Nurses must be aware of the specific trauma associated with these wounds to assess and manage the victim in an organized and systematic fashion.     

Blunt hepatic trauma: evaluation with contrast-enhanced sonography: sonographic findings and clinical application.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to report our initial experience in the assessment of liver trauma with real-time contrast-enhanced sonography (CES). METHODS: From January 2000 to December 2003, there were 431 hemodynamically stable patients evaluated with sonography for blunt abdominal trauma. Among these patients, 87 were selected to undergo second-level imaging, consisting of CES and computed tomographic (CT) evaluation. Indications for further assessment were baseline sonographic findings positive for liver injury, baseline sonographic findings positive for injury to other abdominal parenchyma, baseline sonographic findings positive for free fluid only, baseline sonographic findings indeterminate, and baseline sonographic findings negative with persistent clinical or laboratory suspicion. RESULTS: There were 23 hepatic lesions shown by CT in 21 patients. Peritoneal or retroperitoneal fluid was identified in 19 of 21 positive cases by all 3 imaging modalities. Liver injury was found in 15 patients on sonography and in 19 on CES. Contrast-enhanced sonography compared better than unenhanced sonography with the criterion standard for related injury conspicuity, injury size, completeness of injury extension, and involvement of the liver capsule. Both CES and CT showed intrahepatic contrast material pooling in 2 cases. All patients with false-negative sonographic or CES findings recovered uneventfully. CONCLUSIONS: Contrast-enhanced sonography is an effective tool in the evaluation of blunt hepatic trauma, being more sensitive than baseline sonography and correlating better than baseline sonography with CT findings. In institutions where sonography is regarded as the initial procedure to screen patients with trauma, this technique may increase its effectiveness. In addition, CES may be valuable in the follow-up of patients with conservatively treated liver trauma.     

Pancreatic injury

During the ten-year period from 1967 to 1977, 50 cases of pancreatic trauma were reviewed. There were 40 gunshot wounds, six stab wounds, and four cases of blunt abdominal trauma. Ten of the patients died, a mortality of 20%. The overall complication rate was 57%, but only 27% had complications attributable to the pancreatic injury. As has been reported by most authors, there is a high incidence of associated injuries. In our series only one patient had isolated pancreatic injury, while 30% had a major vascular injury, and the mortality for this group was 50%. Several methods of treatment were used, but the majority (36 patients) had drainage alone. The others had either resection (five) or Roux-en-Y pancreaticojejunostomy (five). Of particular interest were results of treatment of severe injuries to the head of the pancreas. Early in the series two patients were treated by pancreaticoduodenectomy and both died within 24 hours. During the last year we have treated five similar injuries using a Puestow type of Roux-en-Y pancreaticojejunostomy, with one death and no pancreatic complications. At present we advocate sump tube drainage for most injuries but rely on a Roux-en-Y pancreaticojejunostomy for severe injury to the head of the pancreas rather than resection.     

Selective non operative management of gunshot wounds to the abdomen: a collective review

BackgroundOver the past four decades there has been a shift from operative to selective conservatism in trauma. Selective nonoperative management (SNOM) of stab wounds to the abdomen is widely accepted in trauma centres. However, selective conservatism with gunshot wounds to the abdomen is controversial. This collective review assesses the evidence of SNOM of gunshot wounds to the abdomen.MethodsA Medline search between 1 January 1960 and 31 July 2013 was conducted identifying studies that investigated SNOM of gunshot wounds to the abdomen. Case reports, review articles and editorials were excluded. All other studies that investigated SNOM of gunshot wounds to the abdomen and its outcomes were included.ResultsA total of 37 studies were included of which 22 were prospective, 14 were retrospective and 1 case series. A total of 21330 patients with gunshot wounds to the abdomen were included, of which 6468 (30.3%) were managed nonoperatively. Successful SNOM was possible in 5510 (85.18%) patients and 958 (14.8%) failed SNOM and underwent delayed laparotomies. SNOM reduces rates of non-therapeutic laparotomies and the associated morbidity. Special aspects reviewed include the prehospital and nursing involvement in this modality of care.ConclusionsCurrent evidence supports SNOM of gunshot wounds to the abdomen. It is associated with a decreased rate of non therapeutic laparotomy. Careful patient selection and specially designed protocols should be established and adhered to.     

Anesthetic management of neck trauma.

In a retrospective review of one year's experience in the management of neck trauma, 88 cases comprising 42 gunshot wounds, 29 stab or slash injuries, and 17 injuries by blunt trauma were reviewed. Multiple injuries were noted in all groups, but a higher percentage was found in the blunt trauma series. Anesthetic management is reviewed, and emphasis is placed on careful evaluation of the patient's airway, using physical and roentgenographic examination to plan adequate airway management.     

Traumatic perforation of the diaphragm

To ascertain our experience with traumatic perforations of the diaphragm, we reviewed the charts of 72 patients treated over a ten-year period. From January 1975 through June 1984, 58 male patients and 14 female patients, ranging in age from 6 to 72 years, were treated for traumatic perforations of the diaphragm. These injuries resulted from gunshot wounds in 44 patients (61%), stab wounds in 13 (18%), blunt trauma in 11 (15%), and shotgun wounds in four (6%). Seventy-three percent of the injuries were to the left hemidiaphragm, 26% to the right, and 1% to both. Signs and symptoms were unreliable for making the diagnosis of perforation. Diagnosis depended mainly on preoperative chest roentgenograms (especially for those caused by blunt trauma), thorough intraoperative exploration, and a high index of suspicion. Overall mortality was 7%, but death was usually more readily attributable to associated injuries than to the diaphragmatic injuries.     

Needle thoracostomy in the prehospital setting

Objectives. To determine the effect of needle thoracostomy (NT) in the prehospital setting, its frequency of use, and its complication rate. Methods. This was a prospective case series from January 1, 1995, to December 31, 1996. Inclusion criteria were all patients who met trauma center criteria, were transported by paramedics to Los Angeles County/University of Southern California Medical Center (a large, urban, level I trauma center), and had placement of a prehospital NT. Results. Out of 6, 241 major trauma patients transported by paramedics over the study period, 108 (1.7%) underwent 114 NTs. Sixty-four patients (59%) sustained gunshot wounds, 32 (30%) sustained stab wounds, eight (7%) were involved in motor vehicle accidents, and the remainder had other types of blunt trauma. The mean injury severity score (ISS) was 22.3, and the overall mortality rate was 28%. Of the patients who received NTs, five (5%) showed objective improvement in field vital signs and seven (7%) had subjective improvement of their dyspnea. Two NTs were found to have not penetrated into the thorax with the catheter tip in the soft tissue. Two patients (2%) received NTs despite the absence of any chest injuries found upon operative intervention, resulting in two iatrogenic pneumothoraxes. No other complications, including vascular injury or infection, were found in any of the patients. Conclusion. Prehospital NT is a procedure infrequently performed by paramedics, even in a busy urban area. While there is a risk of the procedure's being done without proper indication, NT may improve outcomes in a small subset of chest-injured patients.     

Diagnostic peritoneal lavage in blunt trauma

We reviewed the records of 274 trauma patients who had 275 diagnostic peritoneal lavages from Feb 1, 1983 through Jan 31, 1986. Lavage was done in 271 of 560 (48%) cases of blunt trauma and three of 245 (1%) penetrating injuries (gunshot wounds to the chest). The open lavage technique was used, and results were considered grossly positive if there was 10 ml of gross blood. Results were considered microscopically positive if there were more than 100,000 RBCs or 500 WBCs/cu mm, an elevated amylase or bilirubin value, or bacteria or vegetable fibers. Lavage was negative in 193 cases, including false-negative results (1%), and positive in 78, with three false-positive results (3.8%). Open peritoneal lavage is safe, rapid, readily available, and accurate in the evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma.     

Brachial plexus trauma: the morbidity of hemidiaphragmatic paralysis

Phrenic nerve palsy has previously been associated with brachial plexus root avulsion; severe unilateral phrenic nerve injury is not uncommonly associated with brachial plexus injury. Brachial plexus injuries can be traumatic (gunshot wounds, lacerations, stretch/contusion and avulsion injuries) or non-traumatic in aetiology (supraclavicular brachial plexus nerve block, subclavian vein catheterisation, cardiac surgeries, or obstetric complications such as birth palsy). Despite the known association, the incidence and morbidity of a phrenic nerve injury and hemidiaphragmatic paralysis associated with traumatic brachial plexus stretch injuries remains ill-defined. The incidence of an associated phrenic nerve injury with brachial plexus trauma ranges from 10% to 20%; however, because unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis often presents without symptoms at rest, a high number of phrenic nerve injuries are likely to be overlooked in the setting of brachial plexus injury. A case report is presented of a unilateral phrenic nerve injury associated with brachial plexus stretch injury presenting with a recalcitrant left lower lobe pneumonia.     

Incidence of cervical spine injuries in association with blunt head trauma

To establish an incidence of cervical spine injuries in significant blunt head trauma and to evaluate the necessity of using cervical radiography, all consecutive cases of blunt head trauma admitted to the trauma service over a 7-month period were reviewed. Two hundred twenty-eight charts were reviewed for demographic information, circumstance of injury, complaints and physical findings referable to the cervical spine, presenting level of consciousness, severity of head injury, and cervical spine radiographic findings. Only three patients were found to have cervical spine injuries, for an incidence of 1.7%. Of the 122 alert and asymptomatic patients, none had cervical spine injury. The patient population was defined, yet the very low incidence of cervical spine injuries associated with blunt head trauma in this study precludes any identification of predictors. Nevertheless, the results suggest that alert and asymptomatic patients can be spared cervical spine radiography.     

严重多发伤患者心脏肌钙蛋白Ι与创伤评分、多脏器功能障碍综合征之间的关系

目的观察严重多发伤患者心脏肌钙蛋白Ι(cTnI),探讨其与创伤评分、多脏器功能障碍综合征之间的关系.方法将116例严重多发伤患者,根据有无合并胸部创伤分为两组:合并胸部创伤80例,无合并胸部创伤36例,进行ISS评分和胸部损伤定级(IS).用微粒子免疫发光法采集血样检测cTnI浓度. 结果观察116例多发伤患者中,cTnI升高37例,其中合并胸部创伤30例,无合并胸部创伤7例;cTnI峰值随ISS值升高明显前移且绝对值增高;严重多发伤合并胸部创伤患者cTnI值升高例数比例,随AIS值升高而升高,血清cTnI峰值比较,差异有显著性意义(p<0.05);伴有MODS患者的血清,cTnI水平为(8.48±5.22)ng/ml,且持续时间较长,并与MODS的严重程度呈正相关. 结论严重多发伤患者出现心肌损伤以合并胸部创伤者为主,但严重多发伤患者无论胸部创伤与否均可出现心肌损伤,心肌损伤程度与MODS的发生率密切相关.     

Penetrating facial trauma: a management plan

Penetrating wounds of the face present a spectrum of injuries and multiple management dilemmas. The surgeon's first concern remains the establishment of a proper airway and control of life-threatening injuries. Selected ancillary diagnostic procedures should be used to confirm vascular, aerodigestive, or central nervous system injuries. Diagnosis of injuries may require arteriography, endoscopic examination, barium studies, computerized tomography, and detailed ophthalmologic examination. We review 16 cases of penetrating facial trauma treated at the University of South Alabama Trauma Center over a one-year period. The injuries resulted from 13 gunshot wounds and three stab wounds. Injuries of the central nervous system occurred in three patients, mandibular fractures in four, optic nerve or globe injury in three, and maxillary sinus fracture in seven. Our experience with these patients demonstrates the spectrum of injuries and serves as a basis for a management algorithm.     

A Rare Case of Posterior Interosseous Nerve Palsy Associated With Radial Head Fracture

Background: Radial head fractures are the most common fractures occurring about the elbow in adults, but there have been few reported cases of associated nerve injury. The little-known posterior interosseous nerve travels in close proximity to the radial head and is particularly susceptible to injury. Objectives: The objectives of this case report include raising awareness of the possibility of posterior interosseous nerve palsy after radial head fracture and reviewing the clinical assessment of the posterior interosseous nerve to exclude occult injury. Case Report: Here we report a case of a 21-year-old man who developed a posterior interosseous nerve palsy after a fracture of the radial head sustained during a wrestling match. He also sustained frostbite to the extremity due to overaggressive icing of the injury. Conclusions: Physicians should screen patients with radial head fractures for associated nerve injury. A thorough neurovascular examination with attention to the motor innervation patterns in the hand and wrist will help identify posterior interosseous nerve involvement. Careful discharge instructions will help prevent iatrogenic frostbite from overaggressive icing of injuries.     

闭合性肾损伤的诊断和治疗

目的：探讨闭合性肾损伤的诊断和治疗。方法：1993年－2001年收治闭合性肾损伤80例，行B超、IVU、CT等检查。保守治疗66例（82．5％），手术治疗14例（17．5％），其中包括2例选择性肾动脉栓塞术。结果：78例痊愈出院，肾功能正常。2例（2．5％）死亡，均为多器官损伤合并休克的患者。68例（85．0％）随访1－5年。结论：CT平扫及增强扫描检查可较准确地诊断肾损伤程度，并可同时了解腹腔脏器损伤情况，应作为重度以上肾损伤的首选检查，B超可用以轻伤者筛选诊断。肾损伤的治疗应最大程度保留肾组织，防止并发症及后遗症，除了对严重肾实质碎裂伤，肾血管严重损伤应积极进行手术治疗，以挽救患者生命；对严重肾挫伤、肾裂伤、部分肾破裂伤所致肾出血患者可选择超选择性肾动脉栓塞术。脾破裂合并左肾损伤在临床的多发性损伤中并不少，且有其特殊性，诊治得当则能迅速转危为安，反之则会延误病情。     

睾丸损伤的超声分型及临床应用评价

目的　探讨睾丸损伤的超声分型及其临床应用价值。方法　分析 15例阴囊闭合性损伤的高频彩色多普勒超声表现和手术所见。结果　 15例阴囊外伤中 ,睾丸完全破裂 2例 ,部分破裂 4例 ,挫伤 4例 ,单纯血肿 3例 ,正常 2例。睾丸损伤的超声诊断符合率为 93 .3 % (14 /15 )。睾丸损伤的超声表现可分为破碎型、破裂型、钝挫型和包膜下血肿型。结论　超声检查不但能够对睾丸损伤进行分型 ,而且有助于临床治疗方案的选择。     

Distracting Painful Injuries Associated with Cervical Spinal Injuries in Blunt Trauma

Distracting painful injuries (DPIs) may mask symptoms of spinal injury in blunt trauma victims and form an important element in a decision instrument used to identify individuals who require cervical spine radiography. OBJECTIVE: To identify the types and frequencies of injuries that actually act as DPIs among blunt trauma patients undergoing cervical spinal radiography. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study of consecutive blunt trauma victims presenting to an urban Level 1 regional trauma center between April 1, 1998, and September 30, 1998. Prior to cervical spinal radiography, treating physicians evaluated each patient to determine whether a DPI was present or absent and, if present, what type of injury was sustained. Injuries were categorized as fractures, soft-tissue injuries and lacerations, burns, visceral injuries, crush injuries, or other injuries. RESULTS: Data were collected for 778 patients, between 1 month and 98 years old, of whom 264 (34%) were considered to have DPIs. Physicians were unable to determine the DPI status in 47 (6%) additional cases. Fractures accounted for a majority of DPIs (154, or 58%), 42 (16%) were soft-tissue injuries or lacerations, and 86 (34%) were due to a variety of other entities, including visceral, crush, burn, or other miscellaneous injuries. Among the 37 (5%) patients with an acute cervical spinal injury, 20 (54%) had a DPI, including three (8%) who had DPI as the only indication for cervical radiography. CONCLUSIONS: A significant number of blunt trauma patients are believed by clinicians to have DPIs that can possibly mask the presence of cervical spinal injury. Fractures and trauma to soft tissues are the most common types of DPI.     

Impact of early recognition on outcome in nonpenetrating wounds of the small bowel

During a recent ten-year period, 20 patients were treated for nonpenetrating, small-bowel trauma requiring resection. Despite the relative infrequency of this injury, jejunoileal trauma must be suspected in all patients sustaining blunt force to the abdomen. Physical signs suggesting major intra-abdominal wounds usually occur at admission or immediately thereafter, provided the patient is alert. Patients with altered sensorium or equivocal findings should undergo diagnostic peritoneal lavage. Laboratory investigation is not helpful in detecting small-bowel wounds. Plain roentgenography is indicated, but was diagnostic in only 20% of patients in this series. The high incidence of associated injuries accounts for the substantial morbidity (70%) in this series. Early operation improves survival.     

Reducing complications of thoracic gunshot wounds

With the persistent presence of violence in our urban areas and the availability of guns, penetrating injuries as a result of firearm use continue to be a challenge for the emergency, surgery, and operating room nurse. Because gunshot wounds may be rapidly fatal, an understanding of firearms and the injuries they produce, as well as their possible complications, can assist the critical care nurse in caring for patients with gunshot wounds to the chest. Thoracic trauma is present in 50% of all trauma patients and is the cause of death in 25% of these victims. Penetrating trauma from violent episodes accounts for approximately 50% of cases of chest trauma in the urban setting.     

Pediatric Trauma: Enabling Factors, Social Situations, and Outcome

Objectives: 1) To determine, for severely injured pediatric patients, which enabling factors and social situations are associated with the most severe and costly injuries; 2) to determine which subsets of patients are affected by particular enabling factors; and 3) to determine which enabling factors are associated with death.
Methods: Retrospective chart review of patients included in a pediatric trauma registry at a level I trauma center, plus review of medical examiner reports for deaths declared at the scene for one year. Abstracted data included age, gender, enabling factors (e. g., abuse/assault, neglect, endangerment, and nonuse of safety measures), mechanisms of injury, Injury Severity Scale (ISS) score, length of stay, need for intensive care unit (ICU) care, and expense.
Results: Records were reviewed for 336 identified children. There was a 2: 1 male-to-female ratio; 9. 5% died, 3. 5% at the scene. Active endangerment or neglect was associated with death (p = 0. 0004). However, the nonuse of safety devices was more common and resulted in a higher absolute number of deaths. Similarly, while inadvertent gunshot wounds, intentional injury, and environmental mishaps were more commonly lethal, motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) were more common and claimed the most lives. Cost was highest for the patients aged 14–16 years, in part reflecting the larger number of MVCs.
Conclusion: The severity of pediatric trauma is largely influenced by the mechanism of injury. Our data highlight the importance of enabling factors for such injuries overall and as a function of age group (reflecting developmental status). While injury prevention education for caregivers is necessary, the incorporation of passive safety measures also is vital for decreasing injuries and their severity.