Spinal cord injuries in Australian footballers

Background: Acute spinal cord injury is a serious concern in football, particularly the rugby codes. This Australia‐wide study covers the years 1986?1996 and data are compared with those from a previous identical study for 1960?1985. Methods: A retrospective review of 80 players with a documented acute spinal cord injury admitted to the six spinal cord injury units in Australia. Personal interview was carried out in 85% of the participants to determine the injury circumstances and the level of compensation. The severity of the neurological deficit and the functional recovery were determined (Frankel grade). Results: The annual incidence of injuries for all codes combined did not change over the study period, but there was some decrease in rugby union and an increase in rugby league. In particular there was a significant decline in the incidence of adult rugby union injuries (P = 0.048). Scrum injuries in union have decreased subsequent to law changes in 1985, particularly in schoolboys, although ruck and maul injuries are increasing; 39% of scrum injuries occurred in players not in their regular position. Tackles were the most common cause of injury in league, with two‐on‐one tackles accounting for nearly half of these. Schoolboy injuries tended to mirror those in adults, but with a lower incidence. Over half of the players remain wheelchair‐dependent, and 10% returned to near‐normality. Six players (7.5%) died as a result of their injuries. Conclusions: The rugby codes must be made safer by appropriate preventative strategies and law changes. In particular, attention is necessary for tackle injuries in rugby league and players out of regular position in scrummage. Compensation for injured players is grossly inadequate. There is an urgent need to establish a national registry to analyse these injuries prospectively.     

Treatment and outcome of traumatic biliary injuries in children

Background/Purpose

Traumatic biliary tract injuries in children are rare but may result in significant morbidity. The objective of this study was to review the occurrence of traumatic biliary tract injuries in children, management strategies, and outcome.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective review of patients with biliary tract injury using the trauma registry at our level 1 pediatric trauma center from 2002–2012.

Results

Twelve out of 13,582 trauma patients were identified, representing 0.09% of all trauma patients. All were secondary to blunt trauma. Mean age was 9.7 years [range 4–15], and mean Injury Severity Score was 31 ± 14, with overall survival of 92%. Biliary injuries included major ductal injury (6), minor ductal injury with biloma (4), gallbladder injury (2), and intrahepatic ductal injury (1). Major ductal injuries were managed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and biliary stent (5) and Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy (1). Associated gallbladder injury was managed by cholecystectomy. In addition, the associated biloma was managed with percutaneous drainage (7), laparoscopic drainage (2), or during laparotomy (3). Two patients with ductal injuries developed late strictures after initial management with ERCP and stent placement. One of the two patients ultimately required a left hepatectomy, and the other has been managed conservatively without evidence of cholangitis. Two patients required placement of additional drains and prolonged antibiotics for superinfection following biloma drainage.

Conclusion

Biliary tract injuries are rare in children, and many are amenable to adjunctive therapy, including ERCP and biliary stent placement with or without placement of a peritoneal drain. Patients with a discrete ductal injury are at higher risk for stricture and require close follow up. Hepaticojejunostomy remains the definitive repair for large extrahepatic biliary tract injuries or transections.     

Spinal injuries in the pediatric age group: a review of 82 cases of spinal cord and vertebral column injuries

A review of 82 children with spinal cord and/or vertebral column injury treated in our department between 1968 and 1993 showed that 67% of the patients were boys and the average age was 11.4 years. The cause, vertebral level, and type of injury, and the severity of neurological injury varied with the age of the patient. The cause of pediatric injuries differed from that of adult injuries in that falls were the most common causative factor (56%) followed by vehicular accidents (23%). The most frequent level of spinal injury was in the cervical region (57%, 47 patients) followed by the lumbar region (16.5%, 13 patients). In our series, 18% of the patients had complete injury and the overall mortality rate was 3.6%. Eleven children (13%) had spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality (SCIWORA), whereas 39 (47%) had evidence of neurological injury. Although the spinal injury patterns differed between children and adolescents, the outcome was found to be predominantly affected by the type of neurological injury (P<0.05). Children with complete myelopathy uniformly remained with severe neurological dysfunction; children with incomplete myelopathy recovered nearly normal neurological function. Finally, the authors conclude that most spinal injuries can be successfuly managed with nonoperative therapy. The literature is reviewed as to the treatment and outcome of pediatric spinal injuries.     

In harm's way: Unintentional firearm injuries in young children

Purpose

Firearm-related trauma represents a major source of preventable injury and death. Many firearm injuries in young children are unintentional, and the true incidence may be underestimated. We sought to characterize the morbidity of unintentional firearm injuries.

Spinal and spinal cord injuries in horse riding: the New South Wales experience 1976-1996

Objectives: The objective of the present study was to determine the incidence of acute spinal cord injuries (ASCI) in all forms of horse riding in New South Wales (NSW) for the period 1976?1996. Other aims of the present study were to compare and contrast ASCI with vertebral column injuries (VCI) without neurological damage and to define appropriate safety measures in relation to spinal injury in horse‐riding. Design: A retrospective review was done of all ASCI cases (n = 32) admitted to the two acute spinal cord injury units in NSW for the cited period. A comparable review of VCI cases (n = 30) admitted to these centres for the period 1987?1995 was also undertaken. Results: A fall in flight was the commonest mode of injury in both groups. Occupational and leisure riding accounted for 88% of ASCI and VCI. The incidence of ASCI is very low in those riding under the aegis of the Equestrian Federation of Australia ? two cases in 21 years; and there were no cases in the Pony Club Riders or in Riding for the Disabled. The difference in the spinal damage caused by ASCI and VCI is in degree rather than kind. Associated appendicular/visceral injuries were common. Conclusions: No measures were defined to improve spinal safety in any form of horse riding. The possible role of body protectors warrants formal evaluation. Continued safety education for all horse riders is strongly recommended.     

对急性创伤性无骨折脱位型颈髓损伤的病因探讨

作者报道近年来收治的急性创伤性无骨折脱位型颈髓损伤患者２７例。常规Ｘ线及ＣＴ扫描均不能确切了解脊髓损伤的真正原因和致伤机理。１６例经ＭＲＩ检查表明两种机制造成了脊髓损伤：（１）脊髓的一过性挫伤。由伤时椎间瞬间的小位移造成，原先存在的颈椎退变因素也参与了损伤。（２）脊髓的持续性压迫。主要由急性外伤性椎间盘突出造成。作者强调对本病的诊断应提高警惕，对Ｘ线等检查无骨折脱位而临床表现有脊髓损伤者应首选ＭＲＩ检查。     

儿童无放射学影像异常的脊髓损伤14例临床分析

目的：提高对儿童无放射学影像异常的脊髓损伤（spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality，SCIWORA）的认识。方法：对1992年1月至2005年8月北京儿童医院住院患者中诊断为“急性脊髓炎”或“脊髓损伤”的187例进行回顾性分析，发现其中14例为SCIWORA。男6例，女8例。年龄1岁3个月～15岁（15岁1例，1岁3个月～7岁13例）。均有明确外伤史。损伤水平在C6～T9，颈髓2例，胸髓12例。脊髓功能ASIA分级：A级9例，C级4例，D级1例。脊柱X线片和CT未见骨折及脱位；MRI检查示脊髓水肿9例,脊髓出血2例，脊髓挫伤3例。采用综合治疗，包括卧床、局部制动，应用激素、脱水剂、神经营养药等。结果：4例患者失访，10例患者随访6个月～5年，平均2年3个月，4例（C级3例，D级1例）患者（均为MRI显示水肿局限者）在伤后6个月运动、感觉及括约肌功能完全恢复（E级）；6例（A级）患者运动、感觉及括约肌障碍未恢复。2例（A级）病初MRI表现为脊髓弥漫水肿者，伤后4～6个月复查MRI脊髓呈萎缩样改变。结论：对怀疑SCIWORA的儿童，应首选MRI检查。脊髓水肿局限者预后好，水肿弥漫或伴有出血、挫伤者预后差。     

A prospective study on acute spinal injuries

This work examines demographic and clinical characteristics of 163 consecutive cases of acute spinal injuries in a small area of Western Turkey, since 1982. These include all spinal injuries with or without neurological symptoms. Combined conservative and surgical methods were used for treatment. Age, sex, etiology, site of injury, radiologic findings, neurological status, and outcome are compared with the other studies. The results have been found to be parallel to those of the other studies except for some regional differences like an excess of tractor accidents.     

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Veterans with Spinal Cord Injury: Trauma-related Risk Factors

Trauma-related risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were examined in a sample of 125 veterans with spinal cord injury. Category of injury was found to be the most consistent predictor of PTSD diagnosis and symptom severity with paraplegia predicting more PTSD symptoms than quadriplegia. The occurrence of a head injury at the time of the trauma was found to predict PTSD symptom severity measures, but not PTSD diagnosis. Trauma recency consistently predicted Impact of Event score (IES) and was found to be related to current PTSD severity and lifetime PTSD diagnosis in multiple but not simple regression models. Trauma severity was found to be significantly related to self-reported PTSD symptoms and lifetime PTSD diagnosis in simple but not in multiple regression analyses. Type of trauma, alcohol or other drug (AOD) use during the trauma and loss of consciousness (LOC) during the trauma were not consistently associated with PTSD symptom severity or diagnosis.     

The Effects of Multidisciplinary Team Care for Acute Spinal Cord Injury Patients

ABSTRACT

The care of 169 survivors of spinal injury receiving acute treatment at the Hamilton General Hospital in Ontario, Canada, was studied. This paper compares treatment of groups of patients before and after formation of a multidisciplinary Acute Spinal Cord Injury Team.

The establishment of multidisciplinary team care for acute spinal cord injury patients in our tertiary referral center correlates with clinically and statistically significant reductions in length of stay in the acute care hospital; alterations in the rate of surgical treatment for them, changes in the use of radiological resources, and reduction in the average number of days febrile. The team also brought stronger representation of allied health professionals to the hospital records of acute spinal cord injury patients.

These important changes result from implementation of an effective multidisciplinary medical team without the addition of new funds, personnel, or hospital facilities and without alteration in referral patterns.

Our team did not reduce mortality, duration of intensive care unit stay, or work for physicians.     

Early Trauma Indicators and Rehabilitation Outcomes in Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

Objectives:To investigate the relationship between early trauma indicators and neurologic recovery after traumatic SCI using standardized outcome measures from the ISNCSCI examination and standardized functional outcome measures for rehabilitation populations.Methods:This is a retrospective review of merged, prospectively collected, multicenter data from the Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems (SCIMS) database and institutional trauma databases from five academic medical centers across the United States. Functional status at inpatient rehabilitation discharge and change in severity and level of injury from initial SCI to inpatient rehabilitation discharge were analyzed to assess neurologic recovery for patients with traumatic SCI. Linear and logistic regression with multiple imputation were used for the analyses.Results:A total of 209 patients were identified. Mean age at injury was 47.2 ± 18.9 years, 72.4% were male, 22.4% of patients had complete injuries at presentation to the emergency department (ED), and most patients were admitted with cervical SCI. Mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 124.1 ± 29.6 mm Hg, mean ED heart rate was 83.7 ± 19.9 bpm, mean O2 saturation was 96.8% ± 4.0%, and mean Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score was 13.3 ± 3.9. The average Injury Severity Score (ISS) in this population was 22.4. Linear regression analyses showed that rehabilitation discharge motor FIM was predicted by motor FIM on admission and ISS. Requiring ventilatory support on ED presentation was negatively associated with improvement of ASIA Impairment Scale (AIS) grade at rehabilitation discharge compared with AIS grade after initial injury. Emergency room physiologic measures (SBP, pulse, oxygen saturation) did not predict discharge motor FIM or improvement in AIS grade or neurological level of injury.Conclusion:Our study showed a positive association between discharge FIM and ISS and a negative association between ventilatory support at ED presentation and AIS improvement. The absence of any significant association between other physiologic or clinical variables at ED presentation with rehabilitation outcomes suggests important areas for future clinical research.     

急性脊髓外伤后脑脊液脂质过氧化物的变化及意义

测定36例急性脊髓外伤患者伤后48h内CSF—LPO的含量,与正常对照组比较,同时对不同损伤程度及不同预后等的患者进行比较。采用医学统计学方法,予显著性t检验。结果显示急性脊髓外伤患者CSF-LPO含量显著高于正常对照组(P<0.001),且与脊髓损伤程度、脊髓水肿范围、脊髓受压、髓内出血以及预后有关。认为CSF—LPO含量增高,提示有脊髓损伤存在,其检测值的差异对早期估计脊髓损伤程度,指导临床治疗,判断预后有一定意义。     

实验性胚胎脊髓移植进展

目的：研究胚胎脊髓移植治疗脊髓损伤的作用。方法：将胚胎脊髓移植到各种动物模型,以及在临床的初步应用。结果和结论：胚肿脊髓移植能够促进脊髓环路的再生和功能恢复。     

American Spinal Injury Association A (sensory and motor complete) is not different from American Spinal Injury Association B (sensory incomplete,motor complete) in gunshot-related spinal cord injury

Background Context

We receive a large number of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) due to penetrating gunshot wounds (GSW) at our national rehabilitation center. Although many patients are labeled American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) B sensory incomplete because of sensory sparing, especially deep anal pressure, with purported prognostic value, we have not observed a clinical difference from patients labeled ASIA A complete. We hypothesized that sensory sparing, if meaningful, should reduce the occurrence of pressure ulcers.