• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.183-187
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• 2006

An increase has been see in fall injuries at construction sites and in penetrating injuries by iron bars or pipes associated with the fall. In particular, a thoraco-abdominal penetrating injury had the worse prognosis, and multiple organ injury occurred because of blunt trauma associated with fall. Iron bars were the most common penetrating materials, and pipe penetrating injuries were uncommon. However, because the diameter of the pipes were large than those of the bars, penetrating injuries associated with pipes were more often fatal. A secondary thoraco-abdominal injury worsened the prognosis. We reported a case of a 33-year-old man with a thoraco-abdominal trauma secondary to a penetrating injury with a scaffolding pipe following a fall.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.107-112
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• 2010

Purpose: Recently, the change to a more complex social structure has led to an increased frequency of traumas due to violence, accident and so on. In addition, the severity of the traumas and the frequency of penetrating injuries have also increased. Traumas to cervical and abdominal areas, what are commonly seen by general surgeons, can have mild to fatal consequences because in these areas, various organs that are vital to sustaining life are located. The exact location and characteristics of the injury are vital to treating patients with the trauma to these areas. Thus, with this background in mind, we studied, compared, and analyzed clinical manifestations of patients who were admitted to Wonju Christian hospital for penetrating injuries inflicted by themselves or others. Methods: We selected and performed a retrospective study of 64 patients who had been admitted to Wonju Christian Hospital from January 2005 to December 2009 and who had cervical or abdominal penetrating injuries clearly inflicted by themselves or others. Results: There were 51 male (79.7%) and 13 female (20.3%) patients, and the number of male patients was more dominant in this study, having a sex ratio of 3.9 to 1. The range of ages was between 20 and 86 years, and mean age was 43.2 years. There were 5 self-inflicted cervical injuries, and 19 self-inflicted abdominal injuries, making the total number of self-inflicted injury 24. Cervical and abdominal injuries caused by others were found in 11 and 29 patients, respectively. The most common area involved in self-inflicted injuries to the abdomen was the epigastric area, nine cases, and the right-side zone II was the most commonly involved area. On the other hand, in injuries inflicted by others, the left upper quadrant of the abdomen was the most common site of the injury, 14 cases. In the neck, the left-side zone II was the most injured site. In cases of self-inflicted neck injury, jugular vein damage and cervical muscle damage without deep organ injury were observed in two cases each, making them the most common. In cases with abdominal injuries, seven cases had limited abdominal wall injury, making it the most common injury. The most common deep organ injury was small bowel wounds, five cases. In patients with injuries caused by others, six had cervical muscle damage, making it the most common injury found in that area. In the abdomen, small bowel injury was found to be the most common injury, being evidenced in 13 cases. In self-inflicted injuries, a statistical analysis discovered that the total duration of admission and the number of patients admitted to the intensive care unit were significantly shorter and smaller, retrospectively, than in the patient group that had injuries caused by others. No statistically significant difference was found when the injury sequels were compared between the self-inflicted-injury and the injury-inflicted-by-others groups. Conclusion: This study revealed that, in self-inflicted abdominal injuries, injuries limited to the abdominal wall were found to be the most common, and in injuries to the cervical area inflicted by others, injuries restricted to the cervical muscle were found to be the most common. As a whole, the total duration of admission and the ICU admission time were significantly shorter in cases of self-inflicted injury. Especially, in cases of self inflicted injuries, abdominal injuries generally had a limited degree of injury. Thus, in our consideration, accurate injury assessment and an ideal treatment plan are necessary to treat these patients, and minimally invasive equipment, such as laparoscope, should be used. Also, further studies that persistently utilize aggressive surgical observations, such as abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography, for patients with penetrating injuries are needed.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.94-96
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• 2012

Duodenal injuries following a blunt or penetrating trauma are uncommon and account for just 3% to 5% of all abdominal injuries. About 22% of all duodenal injuries are caused by blunt trauma. An overlooked injury or delayed diagnosis of duodenal injury may lead to increased mortality and morbidity. We report two cases of a duodenal injury following blunt abdominal trauma.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.288-293
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• 2021

In South Korea, most patients who visit trauma centers with abdominal injuries have blunt trauma, and penetrating injuries are relatively rare. In extremely rare cases, some patients are admitted with a long object penetrating their abdomen, and these injuries are referred to as abdominal impalement injuries. Most cases of impalement injuries lead to fatal bleeding, and patients often die at the scene of the accident. However, patients who survive until reaching the hospital can have a good prognosis with optimal treatment. A 68-year-old female patient was admitted to the trauma center with a 4-cm-thick tree branch impaling her abdomen. The patient was transported by a medical helicopter and had stable vital signs at admission. The branch sticking out of the abdomen was quite long; thus, we carefully cut the branch with an electric saw to perform computed tomography (CT). CT revealed no signs of major blood vessel injury, but intestinal perforation was observed. During laparotomy, the tree branch was removed after confirming that there were no vascular injuries, and enterostomy was performed because of extensive intestinal injury. After treating other injuries, the patient was discharged without any complications except colostomy. Abdominal impalement injuries are treated using various approaches depending on the injury mechanism and injured region. However, the most important consideration is that the impaled object should not be removed during transportation and resuscitation. Instead, it should only be removed after checking for injuries to blood vessels during laparotomy in an environment where injury control is possible.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.118-122
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• 2022

The usual cause of penetrating thoracoabdominal injuries with evisceration are stab wounds with knives and other sharp weapons used during fights and conflicts. Evisceration of the abdominal viscera as a result of trauma, with its attendant morbidity and mortality, requires early intervention. Gunshot wounds can also cause penetrating thoracoabdominal injuries. We report the case of a 52-year-old male patient, a worker at a timber-processing factory, who was assaulted with a chainsaw by his colleague following a disagreement. He was seen at the accident and emergency department of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Nigeria with a thoracoabdominal injury about 1.5 hours after the attack. He had a left thoracoabdominal laceration with abdominal evisceration and an open left pneumothorax. He was managed operatively, made a full recovery, and was discharged 16 days after admission. He was readmitted 4 months after the initial surgery with acute intestinal obstruction secondary to adhesions. He underwent exploratory laparotomy and adhesiolysis. He made an uneventful recovery and was discharged on the 9th postoperative day for subsequent follow-up.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.33-36
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• 2016

Traffic accidents involving agricultural machinery have been decreasing, but mortality is still high due to a lack of safety devices such as seat belts. Furthermore, secondary damage, such as abdominal impalement injury caused by loaded materials, is more likely to occur, and this type of injury leads to a poor prognosis. Impalement with pipes is often more fatal than other penetrating injuries because the diameter of the pipe is usually larger in size than other loaded materials. We report a case of a 72-year-old man with secondary abdominal impalement injury caused by a scaffolding pipe following a traffic accident.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.215-218
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• 2015

Traumatic iliac vessel injuries constitute approximately 25% of all abdominal vascular injuries. Hospital mortality has been reported at 25~60% and is a result of uncontrolled hemorrhage and hypovolemic shock caused by extensive blood loss. We report the case of a 25-year-old female patient who experienced an external iliac artery injury caused by abdominal minimal stab wound. Traumatic iliac vessel injuries are life-threatening complication of abdominal or pelvic injuries and prompt diagnosis and accurate treatment are important.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1167-1173
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• 1995

We evaluated fifty three cases of traumatic diaphragmatic injuries that we have experienced from Jan.1973 to Oct.1994. The age distribution of the pateint was ranged from 1 to 74 years. Sex ratio is 39:14 with male dominence. The traumatic diaphragmatic injuries were due to blunt trauma in 37[Left 22, Right 15 cases and penetrating trauma in 16[Left 9, Right 7 cases. In blunt trauma, Preoperative diagnosis of the diaphragmatic injuries was possible in 27 patients[72% , and in penetrating trauma, 14 patients[88% . Among 37 in blunt traumas, 22[58% cases, and among 16 in penetrating traumas, 13[88% cases were operated within 24 hours. The most common herniated abdominal organ in the thorax was stomach[14/53 . The traumatic diaphragmatic repair of 50 cases were performed by thoracic approach in 23 cases, thoracoabdominal approach in 8 cases and abdominal approach in 19 cases, and in 3 cases, not operated. Hospital mortality [including not operated patients[3 was 17%[9/53 and the causes of death were intracranial hematoma[1 , hypertensive encephalopathy[1 and asphyxia[1 , and among operated patients[6 , combined head injury[2 , multiorgan failure[2 , hypovolemic shock[1 , and pulmonary edema & renal failure[1 . All deaths had related to the severity of associated injuries.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.262-265
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• 2015

An arteriovenous fistula (AVF) from the renal artery following a penetrating abdominal trauma is not common. We report the case of a 19-year-old male who presented with a knife stab wound in the right upper quadrant. Due to unstable vital signs and to the protrusion of the mesentery through the stab wound, providing definite evidence of peritoneal violation, an emergent exploratory laparotomy was carried out. There were injuries at the proximal transverse mesocolon and the second portion of the duodenum, with bile leakage. There was also a mild amount of retroperitoneal hematoma near the right kidney, without signs of expansion or pulsation. The mesocolon and the duodenum were repaired. After the operation, abdominal computerized tomography (CT) was performed, which revealed contrast from the right renal artery shunting directly into the vena cava. Transcatheter arterial embolization with a coil and vascular plug was performed, and the fistula was repaired. The patient recovered completely and was discharged without complication. For further and thorough evaluation of an abdominal trauma, especially one involving the retroperitoneum, a CT scan is recommended, when possible, either prior to surgery or after surgery when the patient is stabile. Furthermore, a lateral retroperitoneal hematoma and an AVF after a penetrating trauma may not always require exploration. Sometimes, it may be safely treated non-operatively or with embolization.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.471-478
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• 1988

We evaluated forty cases of traumatic diaphragmatic injuries that we have experienced from Jan. 1972 to Dec. 1987. 28 patients were male and 12 were female[M:F=2.3:1]. The age distribution was ranged from 4 to 71 years with mean age of 26. The diaphragmatic injuries were due to blunt trauma in 27 cases[traffic accident 22, fall down 3, others 2] and penetrating trauma in 13 cases[stab wound 11, gun shot 1, other 1]. In the blunt injury,14 cases of 17 were diagnosed and treated within 24 hours in the left diaphragmatic injury but only 3 cases of 7 cases in the right diaphragmatic injury were diagnosed and treated within 24 hours. All cases except one in penetrating injury were diagnosed and treated within 12 hours. In the blunt injury, the rupture site was located in the left in \ulcorner7 cases and in the right in 7 cases. In the penetrating injury, the rupture site was located in the left in 11 cases and in the right in 2 cases. The repair of 37 cases were performed with thoracic approach in 20 cases, thoracoabdominal approach in 12 cases and abdominal approach in 5 cases. Over all mortality was 17.5%[7/40] and postoperative mortality was 11%[4/37]. The causes of death were hypovolemic shock[3], combined head injury[2], acute renal failure[1] and septic shock with ARDS[1].