Injuries to the colon from blast effect of penetrating extra-peritoneal thoraco-abdominal trauma

Although rare, blast injury to the intestine can result from penetrating thoraco-abdominal extra-peritoneal gunshot (and shotgun) wounds despite the absence of injury to the diaphragm or to the peritoneum. Injuries of the spleen, small intestine and the mesentery by this mechanism have been previously reported in the world literature. This paper reports the first two cases of non-penetrating ballistic trauma to the colon.     

Laparoscopic treatment of duodenal injury caused by gunshot

Duodenal injury in most cases, presents as a complex trauma of all adjacent organs which it is generally treated with a midline laparotomy though laparoscopic treatment in selected cases might be beneficial. We present a case of haemodynamically stable patient who suffered abdominal gunshot injury causing grade II trauma of the liver and penetrating wound of the first part of the duodenum and was treated laparoscopically. We believe that laparoscopic primary or assisted repair of injured duodenum is an appropriate surgical option in haemodynamically stable patients who sustain focal abdominal trauma.     

Ballistics: a primer for the surgeon

The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on ballistics and to sort through the plethora of myth and popular opinion. The trauma surgeon is increasingly faced with gunshot wounds. Knowledge of ballistics is important to help in assessing the patterns of wounds that are seen. There are many factors that affect the flight of a bullet to its target. Many of these factors also affect the behaviour of the bullet after it strikes the target. It is primarily these factors that interest the surgeon.     

Penetrating ballistic-like frontal brain injury caused by a metallic rod

Summary  Penetrating non-missile intracranial injuries caused by metallic foreign bodies are very rare among the civilian population. We present a unique instance of a severe, high-energy, penetrating orbitocranial injury caused by a solid metallic rod that corresponded to the spray valve lever handle of a kitchen sink pre-rinse spray tap, which was fractured and projected at high speed for an unknown reason. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a high-energy, penetrating brain injury caused by such an object. After careful radiological evaluation of the shape and position of the foreign object, a combined right frontal craniotomy and supraorbital osteotomy was performed in order to achieve safe removal of the metal bar. Successful surgical treatment of an orbitocranial injury caused by a similar object has not previously been reported.     

Learning the lessons from conflict: Pre-hospital cervical spine stabilisation following ballistic neck trauma

Background

Current ATLS protocols dictate that spinal precautions should be in place when a casualty has sustained trauma from a significant mechanism of injury likely to damage the cervical spine. In hostile environments, the application of these precautions can place pre-hospital medical teams at considerable personal risk. It may also prevent or delay the identification of airway problems. In today's global threat from terrorism, this hostile environment is no longer restricted to conflict zones. The aim of this study was to ascertain the incidence of cervical spine injury following penetrating ballistic neck trauma in order to evaluate the need for pre-hospital cervical immobilisation in these casualties.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of British military casualties of combat, from Iraq and Afghanistan presenting with a penetrating neck injury during the last 5.5 years. For each patient, the mechanism of injury, neurological state on admission, medical and surgical intervention was recorded.

Results

During the study period, 90 casualties sustained a penetrating neck injury. The mechanism of injury was by explosion in 66 (73%) and from gunshot wounds in 24 (27%). Cervical spine injuries (either cervical spine fracture or cervical spinal cord injury) were present in 20 of the 90 (22%) casualties, but only 6 of these (7%) actually survived to reach hospital. Four of this six subsequently died from injuries within 72 h. Only 1 (1.8%) of the 56 survivors to reach a surgical facility sustained an unstable cervical spine injury that required surgical stabilisation. This patient later died as result of a co-existing head injury.

Conclusions

Penetrating ballistic trauma to the neck is associated with a high mortality rate. Our data suggests that it is very unlikely that penetrating ballistic trauma to the neck will result in an unstable cervical spine in survivors. In a hazardous environment (e.g. shooting incidents or terrorist bombings), the risk/benefit ratio of mandatory spinal immobilisation is unfavourable and may place medical teams at prolonged risk. In addition cervical collars may hide potential life-threatening conditions.     

Overall Asessment of the Response to Terrorist Bombings in Trains,Madrid, 11 March 2004

Objectives  To provide an overall assessment of the response to the terrorist bombings in Madrid, 11 March 2004, which were considered the deadliest terrorist attack on European soil in modern times. Materials and Methods  Overall data on the number of victims treated at the scenes and at primary care facilities and hospitals, as well as the logistics involved, were reported by the EMS and the Health Authority of the Comunidad de Madrid local government. Data were mainly obtained by retrospective chart review, and did not include casualties who had only emotional shock, superficial bruises or transient hearing loss from barotraumas without eardrum perforation. We defined as critical any casualty with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) >15. Results  Over 70,000 personnel were mobilized in the care of the victims. EMS response and total evacuation times at the four blast scenes averaged 7 and 99 min, respectively. There were around 2,000 casualties, and a typical bimodal distribution of deaths, with 177 immediate fatalities and 14 subsequent in-hospital deaths. Almost 60% of casualties were taken to the two closest hospitals. Problems related to security, identification of casualties and record-keeping were encountered at the closest hospital. Closed doors increased the immediate fatality rate in the trains. Most survivors had noncritical injuries, but 14% of the 512 casualties assessed had an ISS >15. The critical mortality rate was 19.5%. The most frequently injured body regions were the head/neck and face. In all, 124 major surgical interventions were performed on 82 victims in the first 24 h, and orthopedic trauma procedures accounted for 50% of the case load. Most patients with lung injuries from the blasts required intubation and mechanical ventilation, and their survival rate was 88.3%. Also, 35% of laparotomies were either negative or nontherapeutic. Conclusion  There was a rapid EMS response and evacuation, but also overtriage, uneven distribution of casualties and difficulties in communication. The sizes and resources of the closest hospitals, as well as the early hour, were probably decisive in the adequacy of the overall response. First Published on January 29, 2007. Doi 10.1080/15031430701680340     

Selective non-operative management of solid organ injury following abdominal gunshot wounds

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate the outcome of patients sustaining a torso gunshot wound with documented solid organ injury. Our hypothesis was that the non-operative management of isolated solid organ injuries is a safe management option for a select group of patients. METHODS: A retrospective review of a prospectively collected database was conducted to identify all patients sustaining a torso gunshot resulting in a solid organ injury undergoing non-operative management over a 5-year period (12/1999-01/2005). Patient demographics, injury details, diagnostic imaging, outcome and follow-up were reviewed. RESULTS: Of 644 gunshot wounds to the torso, 144 (22%) underwent non-operative management. Thirteen of these patients (9%) had 16 solid organ injuries (10 liver, 4 kidney and 2 spleen). CT characterisation of the isolated solid organ injury ranged from AAST Grade I-IV. One of 13 patients failed non-operative management and subsequently underwent laparotomy, which was non-therapeutic. Clinical follow-up was available in all patients for an average of 101 days (median 27, range 6-473). The organ salvage rate was 100%. SUMMARY: In select haemodynamically stable patients without peritonitis able to undergo serial clinical examination, solid organ injury is not a contra-indication to non-operative management. In the appropriate setting, non-operative management of solid organ injury after gunshot wounding is associated with a high rate of success and organ salvage.     

Riddle of a Bullet: Transmediastinal or Unilateral Chest Injury?

Abstract Thoracic gunshot injuries are relatively rare in Western European Trauma Departments. In the case of a thoracic gunshot wound it is vital to establish if mediastinal structures are damaged. Non-mediastinal injuries often only require tube-thoracostomy followed by close observation. We report a case were the localisation of the gunshot wound together with the initial X-ray were suggestive of a transmediastinal injury pattern. A helical CT-scan could exclude this. A forensic reconstruction was performed retrospectively; the most likely chain of events and injury pattern is explained.     

Total elbow arthroplasty in patients who have elbow fractures caused by gunshot injuries: 8- to 12-year follow-up study

Introduction In this retrospective study, we aimed to present 8–12-year clinical and radiographic evaluation of total elbow arthroplasty in young patients who had open fractures due to gunshot injuries. Materials and methods The study included a consecutive series of seven patients who had insertion of total elbow prosthesis (semi-constrained type) for the treatment of comminuted intra-articular elbow fractures resulting from gunshot injuries between 1994 and 1998. All patients were male and the mean age at the time of operation was 23 years. Results The average time from the original fracture to the joint replacement was 26 months (range 14–39). The mean follow-up period was 117 ± 15 months. At the time of the latest follow-up, 5 of 7 elbows had a poor result. Radiological evaluations revealed that three patients had ulnar and two patients had humeral component loosening at the last follow-up examination. No intra-operative complications were observed. In the long-term evaluation, two patients had prosthesis loosening that resulted from deep infection and three patients had aseptic loosening that necessitated re-operation. The prosthesis removal was performed. Conclusion As a result, the patients in whom we implemented total elbow prosthesis in comminuted elbow fractures due to gunshot wounds seemed to get back into active life in the early period without any problem and it seemed that their pain disappeared and their functional capacity increased. In the long period, however, these values showed a distinct decrease with the same patients.     

Delayed recognition of diaphragmatic injury caused by penetrating thoraco-abdominal trauma

INTRODUCTIONPenetrating trauma to the thoraco-abdomen may cause diaphragmatic injury (DI). We present a case which highlights the difficulties of recognizing DI and the limited role of multimodal diagnostic imaging.PRESENTATION OF CASEA 19 year old male presented with stab wounds to his left lateral chest wall. CT was suspicious for diaphragmatic injury but this could not be confirmed despite ultrasound and serial plain radiographs. He was discharged but re-presented with respiratory compromise and diaphragmatic herniation.DISCUSSIONWe review the clinical features of diaphragmatic injury after penetrating thoraco-abdominal trauma and the various imaging modalities available to clinicians.CONCLUSIONA high index of suspicion must be employed for DI in the context of penetrating thoraco-abdominal trauma. Inpatient observation and laparoscopy/thoracoscopy should be considered when radiological findings are ambiguous. Front line physicians should also consider diaphragmatic herniation in stab victims who re-present with respiratory, circulatory, or gastrointestinal symptomology.     

Delayed presentation of penetrating craniocerebral injury caused by a nail

A 38 year old woman presented after 2 weeks with penetrating craniocerebral injury from a six inch nail. She had aphasia and right hemiplegia. Brain CT scan showed no significant cerebral injury. The nail track was infected. Craniectomy and extraction of the nail along with broad spectrum antibiotics was effective. She had no residual neurologic deficit.     

Complete recovery of severe quadriparesis caused by stab wound at the craniocervical junction

Non-missile penetrating spinal cord injuries are uncommon, and involvement of the craniocervical junction is even less frequent. The author reports a case of 42-year-old male who presented with quadriparesis immediately following stab injury inflicted with a kitchen knife to the back of his neck. The knife was retained in the patients neck. Neurological examination revealed spastic paraplegia and severe weakness of the left upper limb and the right-hand grip, and sensory disturbance from C2 and downwards. In addition to these symptoms, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was leaking from the wound. Computerised tomography (CT) scan showed the blade passed through the spinal canal and its tip reached the odontoid peg. After retrieval of the knife, his quadriparesis recovered. The management and outcome of the patient are described.     

Double Noncontiguous Cervical Spinal Injuries

Summary. Summary.   Background: Double noncontiguous spinal injuries in the same patient, the first at the cervical level and the second at the thoracic or thoracolumbar level are not uncommon. On the other hand the incidence of double noncontiguous cervical injuries in low and these injuries imply complex mechanisms. This study investigates the cases of double noncontiguous cervical lesions in 342 cases of acute cervical injuries.   Method: An analysis of 342 patients with cervical injuries found 67 multiple cervical injuries and only 11 cases of double noncontiguous cervical lesions.   Findings and Interpretation: Double noncontiguous cervical injuries have a frequency of 3.2% in this study and in three cases there were pre-existing benign cervical lesions. A possible spinal biomechanical behaviour during injury can be that the first lesion appears because of the traumatic impact and there is a uniform transmission of the remaining traumatic strain all along the spine. It seems that the propagated force finds a spinal zone where the spinal resistance is diminished and the second spinal lesion can occur. Spinal vulnerability for the second lesion in the same trauma can be caused by a pre-existing benign spinal lesion or by a biomechanical discontinuity because of a particular posture at the traumatic moment. The second lesion in double noncontiguous cervical lesions can appear through a single great impact in pre-existing lesions, double impacts at the same time with injuries at two cervical levels or repeated cervical impacts in very quick succession in the same trauma. Published online July 18, 2002     

Spinal Cord Injury Caused by Gunshot Wound During Pregnancy

Abstract

We report a case of a pregnant woman with acute spinal cord injury (CS) caused by gunshot wound and discuss the respective maternal and fetal considerations. Neither decompressive surgery nor corticosteroid protocols were used. At 37 weeks, the patient delivered a normal female infant after induction of labor and epidural anesthesia, with no medical or obstetrical complications. With conservative management and rehabilitation, this patient had significant recovery of function.     

Fracture of the occipital condyle caused by minor trauma in child

We report a case of fractured occipital condyle caused by minor trauma accompanied by light pain on palpation at the lateral cervical trigonum. A 15-year-old boy complained of nuchal pain, particularly pain on palpation at the left lateral cervical trigonum in the absence of neurologic deficits after head deceleration trauma. Computed tomography demonstrated a unilateral nonluxated fracture of the occipital condyle. Owing to consequent immobilization by means of cervical orthosis, pain disappeared after the first 48 hours. Follow-up examination 4 weeks later showed no neurologic deficits. The boy had no severe impairment of movements at the cervical spine.     

上肢屈曲性旋转撕脱离断伤的形成及功能挽救

目的探讨上肢轴向屈曲性旋转撕脱离断伤的形成以及侧胸和背部组织在功能挽救中的应用方式和疗效。方法2000年7月～2003年9月共收治6例上肢轴向屈曲性旋转撕脱离断伤患者,所有病例行一期再植或寄养再植。术后肩关节外展90°、肘关节屈曲100°位石膏或支具固定,6周后去除固定行功能锻炼。结果6例患者再植均顺利成活,随访3个月～2年,术后肩关节外展50°～90°,前屈50°～70°,后伸20°～30°,内收20°～40°;肘关节屈曲100°～140°,伸-20°～0°;重建术后3个月时屈肘肌力达Ⅳ～Ⅴ级。结论充分利用侧胸和背部组织特点进行分期、分层手术,解决创面覆盖和功能重建互相干扰的矛盾,是挽救严重轴向屈曲性旋转撕脱离断伤上肢,恢复其外形和功能的可靠方法。     

Treatment of limb arterial in juries caused by traffic accidents

Objective:To analyze the features,diagonosis and treatment of limb arterial injuries caused by traffic accidents.Methods:A total of 43 patients with limb arterial injury admitted in our department over the past 30years(about50%of them happened during the last10 years)were analyzed retrospectively in this article.The popliteal,femoral and brachial arteries were mainly involved,accounting for 432%,20.5%and20.5%respectively of all the involvements.There were 35cases of open injury and9of close injury,The involved vessels were transected in 43.2%of the cases and contused in 40.9%,All the patients had various complications,such as fractures,dislocations and severe soft tissue injuries.The injured vessels were repaired by means of end-to-end anastomosis in 10cases,autogenous vein graft in 23cases and intraluminal hydraulic dilatation in 4cases.Results:Successful limb salvage was achieved in 34cases initially,whereas10amputations were carried out due to injuries to popliteal arteries in7,femoral arteries in2and humeral artery in 1and severe soft tissue damages in9 cases.Twenty-nine patients were followed up for 1-156months,with the averageof48.8months.There was good circulation in 22 cases and certain ischemia in 5cases.Two amputations were carried out in the late stage because of popliteal artery thrombosis after repair in 2cases.There was no death in this series.Conclusions:The limb arterial injuries caused by traffic accidents are severe and complicated.It is proposed that particulatr attentions should be paid to the features in diagnosis and treatment for this type of injury and special efforts should be made for both life saving and limb salvage.