• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.523-528
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• 2014

Background: Numerous statistical models have been developed to accurately predict outcomes in multiple trauma patients. However, such trauma scoring systems reflect the patient's physiological condition, which can only be determined to a limited extent, and are difficult to use when performing a rapid initial assessment. We studied the predictive ability of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) score compared to other scoring systems. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 229 patients with multiple trauma combined with chest injury from January 2006 to June 2011. A SIRS score was calculated for patients based on their presentation to the emergency room. The patients were divided into two groups: those with an SIRS score of two points or above and those with an SIRS score of one or zero. Then, the outcomes between the two groups were compared. Furthermore, the ability of the SIRS score and other injury severity scoring systems to predict mortality was compared. Results: Hospital death occurred in 12 patients (5.2%). There were no significant differences in the general characteristics of patients, but the trauma severity scores were significantly different between the two groups. The SIRS scores, number of complications, and mortality rate were significantly higher in those with a SIRS score of two or above (p<0.001). In the multivariant analysis, the SIRS score was the only independent factor related to mortality. Conclusion: The SIRS score is easily calculated on admission and may accurately predict mortality in patients with multiple traumas.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.119-126
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• 2005

Background: Blunt thoracic trauma in children has a high morbidity and mortality. In this study, we assessed the significance of the injury pattern, mechanism and initial status in emergency department on severity and prognosis in pediatric blunt thoracic trauma patients. Method: We retrospectively reviewed medical records and chest X-ray and CT images of 111 pediatric blunt thoracic trauma patients from October 2000 to June 2005. Data recorded age, gender, season, injury mechanism, injury pattern, associated injury, length of hospital stay and cause of death. Result: Of all 111 patients, 68 patients were injured by motor vehicle accidents, 30 were falls, 5 were motorcycle accidents, 3 were sports accidents and 5 were miscellaneous. In thoracic trauma, single injury of lung contusion were 35 patients and 32 patients had multiple thoracic injuries. Hospital stay in school age group were longer than preschool age group. The causes of death were brain injury in 9, respiratory distress in 4, and hypovolemic shock in 2 patients. Emergently transfused and mechanically ventilated patients had higher mortality rates than other patients. Patients required emergency operation and patients with multiple thoracic injuries had higher mortality rates. Conclusion: In this study, patients with combined injury, emergency transfusion, mechanical ventilation, emergency operation, multiple injuries in chest X-ray had higher mortality rates. Therefore in these pediatric blunt thoracic trauma patients, accurate initial diagnosis and proper management is required.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.181-185
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• 2020

Damage control surgery (DCS) is an abbreviated laparotomy procedure that focuses on controlling bleeding to limit the surgical insult. It has become the primary treatment modality for patients with exsanguinating truncal trauma. Herein, we present the case of a 47-year-old woman with liver, kidney, and superior mesenteric vein (SMV) injuries caused by a motor vehicle collision. The patient underwent DCS following resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA). In this case report, we discuss the importance of priority setting in DCS for the treatment of multisystem damage of several abdominal organs, particularly when the patient has incurred a combination of major vascular injuries. We also discuss the implications of damage control of the SMV, perihepatic packing, and right-sided medial visceral rotation. Further understanding of DCS, along with REBOA as a novel resuscitation strategy, can facilitate the conversion of uniformly lethal abdominal injuries into rescuable injuries.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.87-90
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• 2012

Blunt diaphragmatic rupture (BDR) is a relatively rare injury and occurs in 0.8% to 7% of all thorocoabdominal blunt trauma. Especially right diaphragmatic rupture after blunt abdominal trauma is a rarer than left. The diagnosis of BDR can be missed while evaluating the multiple trauma patient. Other severe injuries may mask BDR during the primary resuscitation and survey. We experienced two cases of traumatic rupture of right diaphragm, one diagnosed immediately and the other diagnosed delayed. In this paper we present two cases of traumatic diaphragmatic rupture.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.12-15
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• 2017

A 58-year-old male visited our emergency room for multiple traumas from explosion. On initial evaluation, hemopneumoperitoneum with liver laceration (grade 4) and colon perforation was identified. Hemopericardium with cardiac tamponade was also identified. Shrapnel was detected in the right ventricle. Damage control surgery was planned due to condition of hypotension. In operation room, control over bleeding was achieved after sternotomy, pericardiotomy, and laparotomy. Massive transfusion was done during operation. After gauze packing, operation was terminated with temporary closure (TC). Sanguineous fluid was drained profusely. Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy was confirmed through laboratory findings. No extravasation was discovered at hepatic angiogram. On re-operation, there was no active bleeding but oozing from sternotomy site was identified. Bone bleeding was impossible to control. Finally, reoperation was ended after gauze packing and TC all over again. The patient could survive for only a day after re-operation.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.122-125
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• 2019

A 73-year-old man, who, in an inebriated state, had slipped in a flowerbed and was wounded on the left flank, was transferred to Trauma Center, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine. Based on the chest and abdominopelvic computed tomography, he was diagnosed with multiple rib fractures and hemopneumothorax on the left hemithorax and was found to have a bony fragment in the spleen. He had not presented peritonitis and exsanguinous symptoms during the observation period. Seven days later, computed tomography of the abdomen showed suspected diaphragmatic injury and a retained foreign body in the spleen. On exploration by video assisted thoracoc surgery (VATS), a herniated omentum through the lacerated site of the diaphragm was observed. After omentectomy using Endo Gia, the foreign body in the spleen was observed through the lacerated site of the diaphragm. Traumatic diaphragm rupture with a foreign body, in the spleen, was successfully managed by video assisted thoracic surgery via the lacerated site of the diaphragm.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.284-291
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• 2015

The aim of this study is to present a nonoperative treatment for abdominal injuries in patients with multiple traumas and to discuss the role of metropolitan tertiary hospital, non-regional trauma centers. We collected data from patients with multiple traumas including abdominal injuries from 2009 to 2014. Patient characteristics, associated injuries, short-term outcomes and departments that managed the patients overall were analyzed. Based on treatment modalities for abdominal injury, patients were divided into two groups: the operative treatment group and the nonoperative treatment group. We compared differences in patient characteristics, injury mechanisms, initial vital signs, detailed injury types, lengths of hospital and ICU stays. Of the 167 patients with multiple traumas, abdominal injuries were found in 57 patients. The injury mechanism for 44 patients (77.2%) was traffic accidents, and associated extra-abdominal injuries were shown in 45 patients (78.9%). The mean lengths of hospital and ICU stays for the 57 patients were 36.4 days and 8.3 days, respectively. The in-hospital mortality rate was 8.8%. Ten patients (17.5%) were treated operatively, and 47 patients (82.5%) were treated nonoperatively. Among the 47 patients in the nonoperative treatment group, 17 patients received embolization, and 3 patients underwent a percutaneous drainage procedure. Operative treatments were used more in patients with injuries to the pancreas and bowel. No patient required additional surgery or died due to the failure of nonoperative treatment. No differences in the clinical characteristics except for the detailed injury type were observed between the two groups. In appropriately selected patients with multiple traumas including abdominal injuries, nonoperative treatment is a safe and feasible. For rapid and accurate managements of these patients, well-trained trauma surgeons who can manage problems with the various systems in the human body and who can decide whether nonoperative treatment is appropriate or not are required.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 2018

Background: The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of acupuncture treatment for the management of subacute and chronic post-thoracotomy pain in patients with traumatic multiple rib fractures. Methods: A total of 30 participants who have undergone thoracotomy after traumatic multiple rib fractures will be recruited. Participants will be invited and equally randomised into acupuncture plus usual care and usual care alone groups. A computer-generated random number sequence will be used and concealed using opaque, sealed, sequentially numbered envelopes. Twelve sessions of manual and electrical acupuncture performed by Korean medicine doctors will be provided over a span of 3 months to participants allocated to the acupuncture group. Participants in the usual care group will continue pain medication, exercise and physical therapy as required. Study feasibility will be measured based on the proportion of patients who complete the measurement of pain at 12 or 24 weeks after baseline. The clinical outcomes will include; the average pain intensity over the recent week at rest, movement and cough, quality of life, patient's global assessment of recovery, respiratory function measured by the pulmonary function test and use of pain medication at 4, 8, 12 and 24 weeks after enrolment. Adverse events will be recorded for all participants. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. The local ethics committee has approved the study. This pilot trial will inform further studies investigating the potential role of acupuncture for subacute and chronic post-thoracotomy pain in patients with traumatic multiple rib fractures.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.65-68
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• 1999

Multiple facial trauma patient should be carefully treated because of severe bleeding on extraoral and intraoral wound, possibilty of airway obstruction and hypovolemic shock. Hypovolemic shock may be divided to hemorrhagic shock and non-hemorrhagic shock. Also hemorrhagic shock is divided to mild, moderate and severe shock according to the degree of blood volume depletion. Mild shock occurs in blood loss of less than 20% of blood volume and moderate shock does in blood loss of 20-40% of blood volume. And Severe shock occurs in blood loss of more than 40% of blood volume. The goal of emergency care of trauma patient is that respiration and perfusion should be recovered to satisfactory level and that normal vital sign is maintained. We reported the case of multiple facial trauma patient with severe bleeding and hopovolemic shock and metabolic acidosis who was treated with adequate supply of fluid transfusion, intubation, tracheostomy and emergency operation.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.24-28
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• 2018

Ascending aortic injury after blunt chest trauma is an emergency condition that requires urgent diagnosis and treatment. The authors report the case of a patient with traumatic ascending aortic injury who received ascending aorta replacement under cardiopulmonary bypass after failure of primary repair.