European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery最新文献

Introduction: Electrical injuries (EIs) represent a significant clinical challenge due to their complex pathophysiology and variable presentation, ranging from minor burns to severe internal organ damage. Despite their prevalence in both; domestic and occupational settings, there remains a rareness of systematic guidelines and comprehensive literature to aid clinicians in effectively managing these injuries. Understanding these factors is crucial for developing protocols that can mitigate the risk of delayed complications, such as cardiac arrhythmias, in patients who initially appear stable.

Objectives: This study aims to elucidate the epidemiology, clinical outcomes, and predictors of severe presentation in EIs, providing insights to improve patient assessment and management strategies.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted over 4 years. Data were collected from standardized medical records. The group of patients with severe complications included those who presented a life-threatening cardiac, respiratory, neurological, or biological impairment or died within the first 48 h of the EI.

Results: We enrolled 118 cases of electrical injury (EI). Ages ranged from 4 to 82 years, with 31.3% under 15. EI incidence peaked in summer, with 63.5% being home accidents. High-voltage injuries occurred in 13.6%. The most common ED complaints were burns in children (59.5%) and trauma in adults (48.1%). ECG abnormalities correlated with tetany (p = 0.016), and palpitations (p = 0.014). Complications included cardiac arrest (n = 8), rhabdomyolysis (n = 23), and acute renal injury (n = 9). Severe EI was linked to respiratory distress and creatine kinase levels higher than ≥ 253 UI/l. A normal ECG within 1 h post-injury was correlated to a low risk of severe EI. At 2-year follow-up, 43.9% of survivors reported aesthetic sequelae, 25.3% had psychological disorders, and 7% of adults could not return to their previous occupations.

Conclusion: EIs are frequent, with diverse clinical presentations requiring multidisciplinary care. Awareness of potential delayed complications is essential, and prevention is crucial.

Purpose: Tibial open shaft fractures are very common and susceptible to infection, which can lead to significant morbidity especially infection and non-union. Antibiotic coated nail is one option for fixing open shaft tibial fractures to minimise infection. This study aimed to compare the clinical outcome of Gentamicin-coated tibial nails versus regular unreamed interlocking tibial nails in the treatment of type I and II tibial open fractures.

Methods: Between 2013 and 2020, in a retrospective study of 124 patients with Gustilo type I and II tibial fractures compared non-antibiotic-coated nails (62 patients) with gentamicin-coated nails (62 patients) over 12 months. This study assessed infection rates, duration of hospital stays, fracture union time, and complications.

Results: The antibiotic nail group had significantly lower postoperative infection rates (3.2%) than the regular nail group (17.7%), (χ2 = 4.64, p = 0.031). At the 6-month follow-up, significant differences were observed in ESR (p = 0.031), CRP (p = 0.019), leukocyte count (p = 0.0241), and blood culture (p = 0.018), but not in hemoglobin levels (p = 0.067). The Gentamicin-coated nail group demonstrated better fracture union rates at 6 and 12 months, (p = 0.0267) and lower overall complication rates.

Conclusion: A tibial nail coated with Gentamicin is an effective method for preventing infection in type I and II open fracture shafts of the tibia. It allows, shortens hospital stay and healing time, prevents infection, and thus reduces the chance of a second surgery.

Level of evidence: Level III, a retrospective study.

Design: Retrospective analytical study.

Hypothesis: We hypothesized that Gentamicin-coated nail is effective in preventing infection in Gustilo type I and II open fractures compared to non-antibiotic-coated regular nails.

Purpose: Globally, trauma is a leading cause of death in young adults. The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in the trauma population remains controversial due to the limited published research. This study aimed to analyze 30-day survival of all the trauma ECMO patients at our center, with respect to injury severity score (ISS) and new injury severity score (NISS).

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of all trauma patients receiving ECMO support at a Level 1 trauma center in Sweden between 1997 and 2019.

Results: A total of 53 trauma patients received ECMO support. 85% were male; the median age was 24, with interquartile range (IQR) 17-44 years. More than 70% were multi-trauma patients. The mean NISS and ISS were 50 (IQR:34-57) and 42 (IQR:33-57), respectively. 62% were supported on veno-arterial ECMO with a survival benefit for veno-venous ECMO (75% vs. 36%, respectively (p = 0.01)). There was no association between severity in terms of trauma-score and survival. Sixteen patients (30%) were cannulated at referring hospitals and transported to our unit on ECMO with a survival of 69%, similar to those cannulated in-house. 60% of patients survived ECMO, and 51% survived to hospital discharge.

Conclusions: This study indicates that trauma patients may benefit from ECMO, independent of severity. Furthermore, our results support ECMO transport as feasible in trauma patients. We recommend larger multi-center studies to determine which trauma patients would have the greatest benefit of ECMO.

Objective: To evaluate the NEXUS Chest CT ALL decision instrument (DI) in reducing unnecessary chest CT imaging in minor blunt trauma patients while preserving high sensitivity for detecting clinically meaningful injuries. Additionally, we examined the impact of delayed presentation, chronic disease, and anticoagulation/anti-aggregation medications on trauma outcomes.

Methods: This retrospective study included 853 adult minor blunt trauma patients who underwent chest CT in the emergency department (ED) of Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center between 2018 and 2022. Clinically meaningful outcomes were defined as trauma-related interventions or hospital admissions. The NEXUS Chest CT DI criteria, along with three additional criteria, were analyzed using logistic regression to identify independent predictors for the primary outcome. These predictors formed a modified DI, and its performance was compared to the original NEXUS DI.

Results: Among 853 patients (median age 44.5 years, 64.2% male), 230 (27.0%) had trauma-related chest CT findings, and 64 (7.5%) experienced clinically meaningful outcomes. Independent predictors included abnormal chest X-ray (aOR 6.5, p < 0.001), chronic disease (aOR 5.2, p < 0.001), sternal tenderness (aOR 4.7, p = 0.007), rapid deceleration (aOR 3.7, p < 0.001), and chest wall tenderness (aOR 3.1, p < 0.001). The NEXUS DI achieved 92.1% sensitivity, reducing imaging by 41.3%, while the modified DI increased sensitivity to 98.4% with a 34.3% imaging reduction.

Conclusions: The NEXUS Chest CT ALL DI significantly reduces unnecessary imaging while maintaining high diagnostic precision. A modified version enhances sensitivity, refining decision-making in emergency care. Integrating such decision tools, particularly in cases of minor trauma, is highly recommended to optimize resource use and improve patient outcomes.

Purpose: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. In recent years, blood biomarkers including glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1) have shown a promising ability to detect head CT abnormalities following TBI. This review aims to combine the existing research on GFAP and UCH-L1 biomarkers and examine how well they can predict abnormal CT results after mild TBI.

Methods: Our study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024556264). PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane electronic databases were searched. We reviewed 37 full-text articles for eligibility and included 14 in our systematic review and meta-analysis.

Results: Thirteen studies reported data for GFAP. The optimal cutoff of GFAP was 65.1 pg/mL with a sensitivity of 76% (95% CI 37 ̶ 95) and a specificity of 74% (95% CI 39 ̶ 93). In patients with GCS 13 ̶ 15 the optimal cutoff was 68.5 pg/mL, showing a sensitivity of 75% (95% CI 17 ̶ 98), and a specificity of 73% (95% CI 20 ̶ 97). Seven studies provided data on UCH-L1. The optimal cutoff was 225 pg/mL, with a sensitivity of 86% (95% CI 50 ̶ 97) and a specificity of 51% (95% CI 19 ̶ 83). In patients with GCS 13 ̶ 15, the optimal cutoff was 237.7 pg/mL, with a sensitivity of 89% (95% CI 74 ̶ 96), and a specificity of 36% (95% CI 29 ̶ 44). Modeling the diagnostic performance of GFAP showed that in adult patients with GCS 13-15 for ruling out CT abnormalities, at the threshold of 4 pg/mL, the optimal diagnostic accuracy was achieved with a sensitivity of 98% (95% CI 94-99) and (negative predictive value) NPV of 97%. For UCH-L1, the optimal diagnostic accuracy for ruling out intracranial abnormalities in adults with GCS 13-15 was achieved at the threshold of 64 pg/mL, with a sensitivity of 99% (95% CI 92-100) and NPV of 99%.

Conclusion: Present results suggest that GFAP and UCH-L1 have the clinical potential for screening mild TBI patients for intracranial abnormalities on head CT scans.

Introduction: This study aimed to compare patient characteristics according to the primary aetiology including gunshot wounds in inpatient individuals diagnosed with enterocutaneous fistula (ECF) or enteroatmospheric fistula (EAF) and to evaluate the impacts of these characteristics on all-cause in-hospital mortality.

Methods: This is a single-centre hospital-based retrospective cohort study conducted with adult patients who were hospitalised for treatment of ECF or EAF. The patients were allocated to three study groups according to their primary aetiology (surgery-related group, gunshot-related group and other-cause group). The demographics and clinical features of the patients were compared between the study groups, furthermore, the impacts of these characteristics on in-hospital mortality were evaluated using Cox Regression Analysis.

Results: Gunshot-related fistulas were more likely to originate from small intestines, whereas surgery-related fistulas originated from all anatomic sites and those related to other aetiologies often originated from large intestines (p = 0.006). Severe malnutrition was more prevalent in the other-cause group (26.1%) (p < 0.001). Sepsis occurred in 24.3%, 68.8% and 47.8% of the patients (p = 0.008); and the median length of stay was 18.0, 45.0 and 32.0 days (p = 0.025) in the surgery-related group, the gunshot-related group, and the other-cause group, respectively. While the surgery-related and gunshot-related groups had similar and low mortality rates (2.7% and 6.7%, respectively), patients with other reasons had the highest mortality (30.4%). The increase in the duration of output (DOO) was associated with decreased mortality [HR (95%CI): 0.55 (0.39-0.79) p = 0.001], whereas being severely malnourished and having an aetiology of other causes were associated with increased mortality [HR (95%CI): 25.29 (5.20-123.09) and p < 0.001, and HR (95%CI): 9.06 (1.11-73.86) and p = 0.040, respectively].

Conclusions: Patient characteristics, clinical manifestations and treatment approach may differ according to primary aetiology in patients with ECF or EAF. Primary aetiology, the decrease in DOO and severe malnourishment have negative impacts on in-hospital mortality.

Purpose: The use of prehospital tourniquets (PHTQ) for haemorrhage control in the civilian trauma population has increased over the past decade with some reports documenting the overuse of the device. The aim of this study was to identify the proportion of PHTQ use that is non-indicated and determine how this proportion is changing over time.

Methods: An 11-year retrospective study was performed at a Level-1 Trauma Centre on all trauma patients admitted with a PHTQ. Local PHTQ guidelines were used to define non-indicated use. Collected variables included patient demographics, injury characteristics, tourniquet application characteristics, prehospital data, emergency department data, and clinical outcomes. The primary outcome was non-indicated PHTQ use. The secondary outcome was complications attributed to PHTQ use.

Results: There were 88 PHTQ applications to 88 extremity injuries in 86 patients (n = 86, median (IQR) age 43 (28-57) years, 85% male). PHTQ use was deemed non-indicated in 68 cases (68/88, 77% [95%CI 67-86%]). The proportion of non-indicated PHTQ use increased over the period of the study period (p = 0.03). At least one complication potentially from PHTQ use was seen in 33 patients (33/86, 38%). In patients with prolonged tourniquet time (n = 13), at least one complication from PHTQ use was seen in 11 patients (11/13, 85%).

Conclusion: Over this 11-year period, we identified that the increase in PHTQ use in civilian trauma is from increasing non-indicated use. Given that complications are associated with unnecessary PHTQ use, the adherence to the guidelines needs to be urgently reinforced.

Background: Using a validated tool, we explored the prevalence, risk factors, and predictors of longer hospitalization among hospitalized geriatric patients.

Methods: Retrospective and comparative analyses of age groups (55-64 vs. ≥ 65 years), gender, survival status, and frailty index categories were performed. The Modified 5-Item Frailty Index was assessed, and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to predict prolonged hospitalization (> 7 days).

Results: There were 17,600 trauma hospitalizations with a mean age of 32 ± 15 years between 2010 and 2021; of them, 9.2% were geriatrics at ≥ 55-64 years (n = 935) and ≥ 65 years (n = 691). The female/male ratio was 17.5%/82.5%, and the mean injury severity score was 13 ± 9. The injury rate for age ≥ 65 was 24 per 10,000 compared to 10 per 10,000 in the younger group age (≥ 55-64). 35% of injuries occurred at home due to falls. Overall mortality was 8%, with a higher rate among males than females (9% vs. 4%). The deceased were three years older at the time of death compared to the survivors. Higher frailty grades were associated with home-related falls and head injuries. Patients 65 years or older were likely to have higher frailty scores, as indicated by higher percentages in the mFI-5. Among the older group, 25% were moderately frail, and 18% severely frail. In the younger group, 50% were frail. Higher frailty scores correlated with increased acute kidney injury, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and longer hospital stays. Severe frailty significantly predicted longer hospitalization (odds ratio 1.83, p = 0.007).

Conclusion: One out of eleven trauma admissions was aged > 55. Head injury and bleeding were the leading causes of mortality in the study cohort. There was a significant decrease in the trend of geriatric trauma over the years. The modified FI-5 performs well as a predictive tool of prolonged hospitalizaion in trauma patients with different age groups.

Introduction: While there is evidence supporting the use of ultrasound for real-time monitoring of primary blast lung injury (PBLI), uncertainties remain regarding the timely detection of early PBLI and the limited data correlating it with commonly used clinical parameters. Our objective is to develop a functional incapacity model for PBLI that better addresses practical needs and to verify the early diagnostic effectiveness of lung ultrasound in identifying PBLI.

Methods: We selected six healthy male pigs to develop an animal model using a bio-shock tube (BST-I). The injuries were induced at a pressure of 4.8 MPa. We monitored the animals before and after the injury using various methods to detect changes in vital signs, lung function, and hemodynamics.

Results: The experimental peak overpressure was measured at 405.89 ± 4.14KPa, with the duration of the first positive peak pressure being 50.01ms. The mortality rate six hours after injury was 50%. The average Military Combat Injury Scale was higher than 3. Significant increases were observed in heart rate (HR), shock index (SI), alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient (AaDO₂), lung ultrasound scores(LUS), and pulmonary vascular permeability index (PVPI) at 0.5 h, 3 h, and 6 h after-injury (p < 0.05). Conversely, there were notable decreases in average arterial pressure(MAP), oxygenation index (OI), stroke volume per heartbeat(SV), cardiac output power index(CPI), global end-diastolic index (GEDI), and intrathoracic blood volume index (ITBI) during the same time periods (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the extrapulmonary water index (ELWI) showed a significant increase at 0.5 h and 6 h after injury (p < 0.05). At 6 h after injury, pulmonary ultrasound scores were positively correlated with HR (R = 0.731, p < 0.001), AaDO₂ (R = 0.612, p = 0.012), SI (R = 0.661, p = 0.004), ELWI (R = 0.811, p < 0.001), PVPI (R = 0.705, p = 0.002). In contrast, these scores were negatively correlated with SpO₂ (R = -0.583, p = 0.007),OI (R = -0.772, p < 0.001), ITBI (R = -0.637, p = 0.006).

Conclusion: We have successfully developed a novel, and highly reproducible animal model for assessing serious PBLI functional incapacity. This model displays immediate symptoms of hypoxia, decreased cardiac output, decreased blood volume, and abnormal lung ultrasound findings within 0.5 h of injury, with syptoms lasting for up to 6 h. Lung ultrasound evaluation is crucial for the early assessment of injuries, and is comparable to commonly used clinical parameters.

Background: Total hip replacement (THR) is commonly used for active and lucid elderly patients with displaced femoral neck fractures (FNF). Historically, cemented stems have been favoured, demonstrating superior early outcomes. Controversy still exists regarding the use of cemented or uncemented stems in the most active group of patients with FNF and there is a need for extended follow-up studies to assess long-term outcome of cemented and uncemented stem results.

Methods: A 4 and 10-year follow-up was conducted on a single-centre, single-blinded, randomized controlled trial. Patients aged 65-79 years with an acute displaced FNF (Garden III-IV) were included, and surgeries were performed between 2009 and 2014. The study was terminated after an interim analysis indicated that the total number of early hip-related complications was substantially higher in the uncemented group. Baseline and follow-up assessments included hip-related complications, reoperations, health-related quality of life scores, Harris hip score and pain ratings.

Results: In total, 69 patients were randomized. At 4 years, there were 8 complications in the uncemented group and 2 complications in the cemented groups. The uncemented group had several periprosthetic fractures and dislocations necessitating revisions in several cases. From 4 to 10 years, the cemented group showed a single periprosthetic fracture, while none occurred in the uncemented group. The total number of complications during the study period were 8 in the uncemented group and 3 in the cemented group. The median Harris hip score for the uncemented group remained consistent at 81 for both the 4- and 10-year follow-ups. In contrast, the cemented group showed scores of 92 and 93 at the respective 4- and 10-year follow-ups, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups. Health-related quality of life and pain ratings were similar between groups throughout the study.

Conclusion: Our study presents a 10-year follow-up of uncemented femoral stems in THR for elderly FNF patients. Our findings not only underscore the importance of cautious decision-making in selecting patients for uncemented implants, but also highlight that most patients suitable for THR would benefit from a cemented arthroplasty to avoid an increased risk of short-term complications.