• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.215-218
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• 2022

The rectum is the least frequently injured organ in trauma, with an incidence of about 1% to 3% in trauma cases involving civilians. Most rectal injuries are caused by gunshot wounds, blunt force trauma, and stab wounds. A 46-year-old male patient was crushed between two vehicles while he was working. He was hemodynamically unstable, and the Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma showed hemoperitoneum and hemoretroperitoneum; therefore, damage control surgery with pelvic packing was performed. A subsequent whole-body computed tomography scan showed a displaced pelvic bone and sacrum fracture. There was evidence of an anorectal full-thickness laceration and urethral laceration. In second-look surgery performed 48 hours later, the pelvis was stabilized with external fixators, and it was decided to proceed with loop sigmoid colostomy. A tractioned rectal probe with an internal balloon was positioned in order to approach the flaps of the rectal wall laceration. On postoperative day 13, a radiological examination with endoluminal contrast injected from the stoma after removal of the balloon was performed and showed no evidence of extraluminal leak. Rectosigmoidoscopy, rectal manometry, anal sphincter electromyography, and trans-stomic transit examinations showed normal findings, indicating that it was appropriate to proceed with the closure of the colostomy. The postoperative course was uneventful. The optimal management for extraperitoneal penetrating rectal injuries continues to evolve. Primary repair with fecal diversion is the mainstay of treatment, and a conservative approach to rectal lacerations with an internal balloon in a rectal probe could provide a possibility for healing with a lower risk of complications.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.60-66
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• 2024

Purpose: This study investigated changes in interpersonal violence and utilization of trauma recovery services during the COVID-19 pandemic. At an urban level I trauma center, trauma recovery services (TRS) provide education, counseling, peer support, and coordination of rehabilitation and recovery to address social and mental health needs. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted considerable changes in hospital services and increases in interpersonal victimization. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted between September 6, 2018 and December 20, 2020 for 1,908 victim-of-crime patients, including 574 victims of interpersonal violence. Outcomes included length of stay associated with initial TRS presentation, number of subsequent emergency department visits, number of outpatient appointments, and utilization of specific specialties within the year following the initial traumatic event. Results: Patients were primarily female (59.4%), single (80.1%), non-Hispanic (86.7%), and Black (59.2%). The mean age was 33.0 years, and 247 patients (49.2%) presented due to physical assault, 132 (26.3%) due to gunshot wounds, and 76 (15.1%) due to sexual assault. The perpetrators were primarily partners (27.9%) or strangers (23.3%). During the study period, 266 patients (mean, 14.9 patients per month) presented before the declaration of COVID-19 as a national emergency on March 13, 2020, while 236 patients (mean, 25.9 patients per month) presented afterward, representing a 74.6% increase in victim-of-crime patients treated. Interactions with TRS decreased during the COVID-19 period, with an average of 3.0 interactions per patient before COVID-19 versus 1.9 after emergency declaration (P<0.01). Similarly, reductions in length of stay were noted; the pre-COVID-19 average was 3.6 days, compared to 2.1 days post-COVID-19 (P=0.01). Conclusions: While interpersonal violence increased, TRS interactions decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, reflecting interruption of services, COVID-19 precautions, and postponement/cancellation of elective visits. Future direction of hospital policy to enable resource and service delivery to this population, despite internal and external challenges, appears warranted.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.604-609
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• 1998

Trauma to the thorax represents a significant portion of injuries seen in an inner-city emergency room. Although most of these patients may be sucessfully managed without thoracotomy, a certain percentage requires operative intervention either immediately or within several hours. 126 records of patients who had early thoracotomy for chest trauma from March 1986, to June 1997, in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in Masan Samsung General Hospital were reviewed. There were 96 males and 30 females whose ages ranged from 4 to 72 years, with a mean age of 32.8 years. The modes of injury were as follows : stab wounds, 55 cases(44%), blunt trauma, 70 cases(55%), and gunshot wound, 1 case(1%). Immediate operation was performed in 105 cases(84%) and delayed operation in 21 cases(16%). Indications that operation was necessary were hemorraging and shock in 66 cases(52%), cardiac tamponade in 27 cases(21%), and rupture of the diaphragm in 33 cases(27%). Most of these patients were sucessfully treated but 21 cases were resulted in death. The mortality rate was 16.6% and common causes of death were irreversible shock and hypoxia.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.376-384
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• 2023

Purpose: The Armed Forces Trauma Center of Korea was established in April 2022. This study was conducted to report our 1-year experience of treating soldiers with open fractures of the lower extremity. Methods: In this case series, we reviewed the medical records of 51 Korean soldiers with open fractures of the lower extremity between April 2022 and March 2023 at a trauma center. We analyzed patients with Gustilo-Anderson type II and III fractures and reported the duration of transportation, injury mechanisms, injured sites, and associated injuries. We also presented laboratory findings, surgery types, intensive care unit stays, hospital stays, rehabilitation results, and reasons for psychiatric consultation. Additionally, we described patients' mode of transport. Results: This study enrolled nine male patients who were between 21 and 26 years old. Six patients had type II and three had type III fractures. Transport from the accident scene to the emergency room ranged from 75 to 455 minutes, and from the emergency room to the operating room ranged from 35 to 200 minutes. Injury mechanisms included gunshot wounds, landmine explosions, grenade explosions, and entrapment by ship mooring ropes. One case had serious associated injuries (inhalation burn, open facial bone fractures, and hemopneumothorax). No cases with serious blood loss or coagulopathies were found, but most cases had a significant elevation of creatinine kinase. Two patients underwent vascular reconstruction, whereas four patients received flap surgery. After rehabilitation, six patients could walk, one patient could move their joints actively, and two patients performed active assistive movement. Eight patients were referred to the psychiatry department due to suicidal attempts and posttraumatic stress disorder. Conclusions: This study provides insights into how to improve treatment for patients with military trauma, as well as medical services such as the transport system, by revising treatment protocols and systematizing treatment.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2016

Purpose: Tracheobronchial injuries caused by trauma are rare, but can be life threatening. The objective of this study was to evaluate the surgical outcome for patients with tracheobronchial injuries and to determine the difference, if any, between the outcomes for patients with penetrating trauma and those for patients with blunt trauma. Methods: From January 2010 to June 2015, 40 patients underwent tracheobronchial repair surgery due to trauma. We excluded 14 patients with iatrogenic injuries, and divided the remaining 26 into two groups. Results: In the blunt trauma group, injury mechanisms were motor vehicle accident (9 cases), free falls (3 cases), flat falls (1 case) and mechanical injury (1 case). In the penetrating trauma group, injury mechanisms were stab wounds (10 cases), a gunshot wound (1 case) and a stab wound caused by metal pieces (1 case). The mean RTS (Revised Trauma Score) was $6.89{\pm}1.59$ (range: 2.40-7.84) and the mean ISS (Injury Severity Score) was $24.36{\pm}7.16$ (range: 11-34) in the blunt group; the mean RTS was $7.56{\pm}0.41$ (range: 7.11-7.84), and the mean ISS was $13{\pm}5.26$ (range: 9-25) in the penetrating trauma group. In the blunt trauma group, 9 primary repairs, 1 resection with end-end anastomosis, 2 lobectomies, 1 sleeve bronchial resection and 1 pneumonectomy were performed. In the penetrating trauma group, 10 primary repairs and 2 resections with end-end anastomosis were performed. Complications associated with surgery were found in one patient in the blunt trauma group, and one patient in the penetrating trauma group. No mortalities occurred in either groups. Conclusion: Surgical management of a traumatic tracheobronchial injury is a safe procedure for both patients with a penetrating trauma and those with a blunt trauma.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.60-65
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• 1980

We have experienced 2 cases of the hunshot wound sof the chest involving cardiac injuries at department of the thoracic surgery, Capital Armed Forces General Hospital during I year from April I 1979 to Jan. 1980. In one case of two patients , he was a 22 years old man who was transported to this emergency room 4 hour 10 minutes after having gunshot wound of the left chest by helicopter. Physical examination showed small inlet in left 3rd ICS and left parasternal border, large outlet in left 8th ICS and left scapular line, no breath sound on left side and distant heart sound. chest roentgenography demonstrated marked pleural effusion in left side and mediastinum shifted to right. As soon as chest X-ray was taken, the bleeding through penetrating wound became profuse and cardiac arrest ensued. Closed chest cardiac massage was started and vigorous transfusion continued, but no effective cardiac activity could not be obtained. The patient was pronounced dead due to exsanguinating hemorrhage from wuwpected cardiac wounds. In this critically injured patient with evidence of intrathoracic hemorrhage and suspected cardiac penetration, only emergency thoracic exploration and immediate surgical control of bleeding points might offer the maximum possibility of survival. The other case was a 23 years old man who was transferred to the emergency room 4 hours 50 minutes after having kmultiple communicated fractures of sternum and linear fracture of right mandible by a missile. Examination revealed about 30% skin loss of the anterior chest wall, weak pulse of 96 beats/min., distant heart sound and decreased breath sounds bilaterally. finding on the chest X-ray films showed multiple sternal fractures, marked pericardial effusion indicating hemopericardium. So, the patient was moved immediately to the operation room where, after endotracheal tube inserted, a median sternotomy was performced. A hemorrhagic congestion of the right upper lobe and marked bulging pericardium were disclosed. The pericardium was opened anterior to right phrenic nerve and exsanguinating hemorrhage ensued from the 0.5cm lacerated wound in the auricle of right atrium. The rupture site of right atrium was occluded with non-crushing vascular clamps and then was over sewn with interrupted sutures. It was thought to be highly possible that he was alive long enough to have cardiorrhaphy because of cardiac tamponade, which prevented exsanguinating hemorrhage. He was taken closed reduction for linear fracture of right mandible 2 weeks after repair of ruptured right auricle in dental clinic. This patient's post-operative course was not eventful.