• 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 Trauma and Injury
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.82-86
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• 2018

Craniocerebral gunshot injuries (CGIs) are extremely seldom happened in Korea because possession of individual firearm is illegal. So, CGIs are rarely encountered by Korean neurosurgeons or Korean trauma surgeons, though in other developing countries or Unites states of America their cases are indefatigably increasing. Management goal should focus on early aggressive, vigorous resuscitation. The treatments consist of immediate life salvage through correction of coagulopathy, intracranial decompression, prevention of infection and preservation of nervous tissue. There have been few studies involving penetrating CGIs in Korea. Here we present a case of penetrating gunshot wound in Korea. We present a 58-year-old man who was unintentionally shot by his colleague with a shotgun. The patients underwent computed tomography (CT) for assessment of intracranial injury. The bullet passed through the left parietal bone and right lateral ventricle and exited through the posterior auricular right temporal bone. After CT scan, he arrested and the cardiopulmonary resuscitation was conducted immediately. But we were unable to resuscitate him. This case report underscores the importance of the initial clinical exam and CT studies along with adequate resuscitation to make the appropriate management decision. Physicians should be familiar with the various injury patterns and imaging findings which are poor prognostic indicators.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.243-246
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• 2024

Traumatic ureteral injuries account for fewer than 1% of traumatic urologic injuries, and those caused by blunt trauma are even rarer than those caused by penetrating trauma. The symptoms associated with ureteral injury may be subtle, with or without hematuria, making it difficult to diagnose. We report the case of a 31-year-old man with a delayed diagnosis of proximal ureter injury after abdominal blunt trauma sustained in a motorcycle traffic accident. The patient underwent emergency laparotomy on admission for liver injury, mesenteric injury, and resultant hemoperitoneum. On postoperative day 6, he underwent angioembolization for suspected remnant intra-abdominal bleeding. Persistent symptoms of flank pain and leukocytosis led to follow-up imaging studies that revealed proximal ureter injury, and the patient underwent unilateral nephrectomy. This case stresses the importance of clinical suspicion for genitourinary injuries in the presence of abdominal trauma.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.421-424
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• 2023

This case report presents the case of a 49-year-old man who presented to our level I trauma center after sustaining injuries in an altercation with local law enforcement in which he was shot with a less lethal bean bag and tased. In a primary survey, a penetrating left supraclavicular wound was noted in addition to a taser dart lodged in his flank. No other traumatic findings were noted in a secondary survey. Given hemodynamic stability, completion imaging was obtained, revealing a foreign body in the left lung, a left open clavicle fracture, a C5 tubercle fracture, a possible grade I left vertebral injury, and a left first rib fracture. Soft tissue gas was seen around the left subclavian and axillary arteries, although no definitive arterial injury was identified. The bean bag projectile was embedded in the parenchyma of the left lung on cross-sectional imaging. The patient underwent thoracotomy for removal of the projectile and hemostasis. A thoracotomy was chosen as the operative approach due to concerns about significant bleeding upon foreign body removal. A chest tube was placed and subsequently removed on postoperative day 5. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 7. At a 2-week outpatient follow-up visit, the patient was doing well. This case report is the first to describe this outcome for a drag-stabilized bean bag. Although law enforcement officers utilize bean bag projectiles as a "less lethal" means of crowd control and protection, these ballistics pose significant risk and can result in serious injury.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.12
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• pp.999-1002
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• 2004

Thirteen year old boy who had been stabbed in his left chest by the knife was transferred to our department from a general hospital, because of the massive bleeding from the intercostal tube drainage. Chest X-ray showed homogeneous density in the left lung field. He was confused and his vital signs were unstable. He was moved into a operating room as soon as possible. After resuscitation, his lacerated left ventricle wound was sutured through median sternotomy. The interventricular shunt was detected with intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography. The traumatic ventricular septal defect was closed via left ventricle using Dacron patch. His postoperative course was uneventful, and he was discharged with small residual shunt.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.147-150
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• 2015

Impalement injury is the subset of penetrating trauma, defined as fixed, elongated objects penetrate and remain in the human body cavity or region by relatively low velocity. We report an unusual case of facial and neck impalement where two dirty rusted iron bars penetrated forehead bilaterally and exited neck and ear respectively without causing major organ injuries. After thorough radiologic and physical evaluation, the patient got medical and surgical treatment. The patient was discharged without complication after four day of delayed wound closure. There have been no complications and sequelaes related with trauma, wound infection and scar contracture at 3-year follow-up. According to affected organs and pattern of impalement, individualized and multidisciplinary surgical approach should be considered. Following these guidelines as in this case, it was possible to achieve excellent clinical outcome in impalement injury.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.26-29
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• 2013

We describe the case of a 56-year-old man who had been shot by a pneumatic nail gun in the chest during work. He had removed the nail by himself immediately at the accident field. He visited to the emergency department of a local hospital and, after a simple dressing and simple history had been taken, he was referred to our emergency department for penetrating thoracic injury. Immediately, Transthoracic echocardiography were done and showed moderate hemopericardium. Patient had been hydrated and transported to the operating room. After cardiac wound repaired by midsternotomy, the patient was discharged on the 13th postoperative day without complications except mild mitral valve regurgitation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.402-407
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• 1997

The records of 28 patients with traumatic diaphragmatic injuries seen at Masan Samsung Hospital from march 1986 o March 1995 were reviewed. We treated 21 male and 7 female patients ranging in ages from 5 to 68 years. Thc diaphragimatic injuries were due to blunt trauma in'20 cases(Trawc accident 18, compression injury 1, Human trauma 1) and penetrating injuries 8 cases (all stab wound). Most common symptoms were dyspnea 27 (96%), chest pain 26 (93%), abdomianl pain 8 (29%), comatose mentality 36 (11 %). Chest X-ray were elevated diaphragm in 20 cases(71%) find hemothorax in 18 cases (64%) and 25 cascs (89%) were diagnosed or suspected as diaphragmatic inju,rims prcopcrativcly. The repair of 28 cases were performed with thoracic approach in 20 cases, abdominal approach 7, thoracoabdominal approach in 1 cases. There were 5 death (18%) and all death related to the severity of associated injury. (hypovolcmic shock 3, combined head injury 1, renal failure 1).

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.77-82
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• 1997

Sixty children were admitted to he Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital for the treatment of thoracic injuries for about a 10year period ending in August, 1995. We reviewed the hospital records retrospectively, to see the characteristics of the scope and consequences of childhood chest injuries. Mean age was 9 years and forty-six cases(77%) were male. Fifty children(83%) were victims of a blunt trauma. Among the blunt trauma patients, more than 60% were traffic-related. All victims of penetrating trauma were male. Among the blunt trauma patients, rib fracture was the most frequently found (52%) followed by pneumothorax(42%), although significant intrathoracic injuries occurred without rib fractures in )2% of blunt trauma cases. Associated injuries were present in 42% of children reviewed. Most frequently performed surgical procedure was closed thoracostomy(45% ), and ten children required thoracotomy and fifteen needed assisted ventilation. Modified Injury Severi y Scale(MISS) score was measured in the multiple Injured group. MISS score correlated significantly with the length of stay In the intensive care unit. One child(1.7% ), involved in a traffic accident, died of sepsis.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.74-78
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• 2024

Inferior vena cava (IVC) injuries can have fatal outcomes and are associated with high mortality rates. Patients with IVC injuries require multiple procedures, including prehospital care, surgical techniques, and postoperative care. We present the case of a 67-year-old woman who stabbed herself in the abdomen with a knife, resulting in an infrarenal IVC injury. We shortened the transfer time by transporting the patient using a helicopter and decided to perform direct-to-operating room resuscitation by a trauma physician in the helicopter. The patient underwent laparotomy with IVC ligation for damage control during the first operation. The second- and third-look operations, including previous suture removal, IVC reconstruction, and IVC thrombectomy, were performed by a trauma surgeon specializing in cardiovascular diseases. The patient was discharged without major complications on the 19th postoperative day with rivaroxaban as an anticoagulant medication. Computed tomography angiography at the outpatient clinic showed that thrombi in the IVC and both iliac veins had been completely removed. Patients with IVC injuries can be effectively treated using a trauma system that includes fast transportation by helicopter, damage control for rapid hemostasis, and expert treatment of IVC injuries.