• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.172-175
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• 2019

Although thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has grown to become the standard of care to treat blunt thoracic aortic injury (BTAI), the long-term effects of TEVAR are still unclear. We here present a 72-year-old man with BTAI due to a traffic accident. He successfully underwent TEVAR and was transferred to another rehabilitation hospital 2 months after the accident. However, 1 month later, he underwent gastroscopy with fever and hematemesis and was diagnosed with aorto-esophageal fistula (AEF). After being re-transferred to Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital, we tried to convince him to undergo surgical treatment, but he strongly refused. He received palliative care and died due to rupture of the aortic pseudoaneurysm 3 days after the hospital transfer. Fatal complications like AEF may occur after TEVAR, so clinicians need to carefully follow patients who underwent TEVAR.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.260-263
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• 2020

Necrotizing fasciitis is an infection of the subcutaneous tissue that results in destruction of the fascia and is disproportionately common in patients with chronic liver disease or diabetes. Necrotizing fasciitis of the head and neck is rare, but has a high fatality rate. A 50-year-old man with a past medical history of diabetes reported a chief complaint of a wound in the posterior neck due to trauma. The wound had grown and was accompanied by pus and redness, and the patient had a fever. When the patient was referred to department of plastic & reconstructive surgery, the sternocleidomastoid muscle, semispinalis capitis muscle, splenius capitis muscle, and trapezius muscles were exposed, and the size of the defect was about 25×20 cm. Dead tissue resection was performed before negative-pressure wound therapy, followed by a split-thickness skin graft (STSG). After a 2-week course of aseptic dressing post-STSG, the patient recovered completely. No postoperative complications were observed for 1 year. Necrotizing fasciitis is a life-threatening, rapidly spreading infection, requiring early diagnosis and active surgical treatment. In addition, broad-spectrum antibiotics are required due to the variety of types of causative bacteria. Broad necrotizing fasciitis of the posterior neck is rare, but can quickly progress into a life-threatening stage.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.281-285
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• 2023

Traumatic uterine rupture is uncommon but can be fatal and life-threatening for both the mother and infant. In addition to complications caused by trauma itself, such as pelvic fracture, gestational complications such as placental abruption, abortion, premature labor, rupture of membranes, maternal death, and stillbirth can occur. In particular, fetuses have been reported to have a high mortality rate in cases of traumatic uterine rupture. A 35-year-old pregnant female patient fell from the fourth floor and was admitted to our trauma center. We observed large hemoperitoneum, pelvic fractures, and spleen laceration, and the fetus was presumed to be located outside the uterus. The pregnant woman was hemodynamically unstable. Although the fetus was stillborn, angioembolization and surgical treatment were properly performed through collaboration with an interventional radiologist, obstetrician, and trauma surgeons. After two orthopedic operations, the patient was discharged after 34 days. This case report suggests the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of pregnant trauma patients.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.298-303
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• 2023

Unstable pelvic ring injuries are potentially life-threatening and associated with high mortality and complication rates in polytrauma patients. The most common cause of death in patients with pelvic ring injuries is massive bleeding. With resuscitation, external fixation can be performed as a temporary stabilization procedure for hemostasis in unstable pelvic fractures. Internal fixation following temporary external fixation of the pelvic ring yields superior and more reliable stabilization. However, a time-consuming extended approach to open reduction and internal fixation of the pelvic ring is frequently precluded by an unacceptable physiologic condition and/or concomitant injuries in patients with multiple injuries. Conservative treatment may lead to pelvic ring deformity, which is associated with various functional disabilities such as limb length discrepancy, gait disturbance, and sitting intolerance. Therefore, if the patient is not expected to be suitable for additional surgery due to a poor expected physiologic condition, definitive external fixation in combination with various percutaneous screw fixations to restore the pelvic ring should be considered in the acute phase. Herein, we report a case of unstable pelvic ring injury successfully treated with definitive external fixation and percutaneous screw fixation in the acute phase in a severely injured polytrauma patient.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.204-208
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• 2016

For an orthopaedic surgeon, the critical decisions to either amputate or salvage a limb with severe crushing injury with progressive ischemic change due to arterial rupture or occlusion can become a clinical dilemma at the Emergency Department (ED). And reperfusion injury is one of the fetal complications after vascular reconstruction. The authors present a case which was able to save patient's life by rapid vessel ligation at bedside to prevent severe reperfusion injury. A 43-year-old male patient with no pre-existing medical conditions was transported by helicopter to Level I trauma center from incident scene. Initial result of extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma (eFAST) was negative. The trauma series X-rays at the trauma bay of ED showed a multiple contiguous rib fractures with hemothorax and his pelvic radiograph revealed a complex pelvic trauma of an Anterior Posterior Compression (APC) Type II. Lower extremity computed tomography showed a discontinuity in common femoral artery at the fracture site and no distal run off. Surgical finding revealed a complete rupture of common femoral artery and vein around the fracture site. But due to the age aspect of the patient, the operating team decided a vascular repair rather than amputation even if the anticipated reperfusion time was 7 hours from the onset of trauma. Only two hours after the reperfusion, the patient was in a state of shock when his arterial blood gas analysis (ABGA) showed a drop of pH from 7.32 to 7.18. An imminent bedside procedure of aseptic opening the surgical site and clamping the anastomosis site was taken place rather than undergoing a surgery of amputation because of ultimately unstable vital sign. The authors would like to emphasize the importance of rapid decision making and prompt vessel ligation which supply blood flow to the ischemic limb to increase the survival rate in case of profound reperfusion injury.

• 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 Trauma and Injury
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.175-178
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• 2005

Fat embolism syndrome is a collection of respiratory, neurological and cutaneous symptoms and signs associated with trauma and other disparate surgical and medical conditions. The incidence of clinical syndrome is low while the embolization of marrow fat appears to be an almost inevitable consequence of long bone fractures. The pathogenesis is a subject of conjecture and controversy. There are two theories which have gained acceptance(mechanical theory, biochemical theory). Onset of symptom is usually within 12 to 72 hours, but may manifest as early as 6 hours to as late as 10 days. The classic triad of fat embolism syndrome involves pulmonary changes, cerebral dysfunction and petechial rash. The cornerstone of treatment is preventing the stress response, hypovolemia and hypoxia and operative stabilization of fractures. Corticosteroid are the only drugs which have repeatedly shown a positive effect on the prevention and treatment of fat embolism syndrome. We report a case of post-traumatic fat embolism syndrome with severe cerebral involvement without respiratory distress. A 55 years old female had a traffic accident. She sustained pelvic bone fracture and both humerus fracture. Approximately 4 hours after the accident, mental status change developed without a focal neurologic deficits. She had no respiratory symptom and sign. Her brain MRI showed multiple cerebral fat embolism lesion. The patients received supportive treatment with corticosteroid, albumin. Her neurologic status stabilized over several days. After orthopedic surgery, she was discharged 62 days after admission.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.258-266
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• 2018

Objective : The diagnosis of insufficiency fractures of the sacrum in an elder population increases annually. Fractures show very different morphology. We aimed to classify sacral insufficiency fractures according to the position of cortical break and possible need for intervention. Methods : Between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2014, all patients with a proven fracture of the sacrum following a low-energy or an even unnoticed trauma were prospectively registered : 117 females and 13 males. All patients had a computer tomography of the pelvic ring, two patients had a magnetic resonance imaging additionally : localization and involvement of the fracture lines into the sacroiliac joint, neural foramina or the spinal canal were identified. Results : Patients were aged between 46 and 98 years (mean, 79.8 years). Seventy-seven patients had an unilateral fracture of the sacral ala, 41 bilateral ala fractures and 12 patients showed a fracture of the sacral corpus : a total of 171 fractures were analyzed. The first group A included fractures of the sacral ala which were assessed to have no or less mechanical importance (n=53) : fractures with no cortical disruption ("bone bruise") (A1; n=2), cortical deformation of the anterior cortical bone (A2; n=4), and fracture of the anterolateral rim of ala (A3; n=47). Complete fractures of the sacral ala (B; n=106) : parallel to the sacroiliac joint (B1; n=63), into the sacroiliac joint (B2; n=19), and involvement of the sacral foramina respectively the spinal canal (B3; n=24). Central fractures involving the sacral corpus (C; n=12) : fracture limited to the corpus or finishing into one ala (C1; n=3), unidirectional including the neural foramina or the spinal canal or both (C2; n=2), and horizontal fractures of the corpus with bilateral sagittal completion (C3; n=8). Sixty-eight fractures proceeded into the sacroiliac joint, 34 fractures showed an injury of foramina or canal. Conclusion : The new classification allowes the differentiation of fractures of less mechanical importance and a risk assessment for possible polymethyl methacrylate leaks during sacroplasty in the direction of the neurological structures. In addition, identification of instable fractures in need for laminectomy and surgical stabilization is possible.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.14-21
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to analyze the results of the combined and posterior approaches for treating thoracolumbar and lumbar burst fractures and to find an adequate method of treatment. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the cases of 46 patients with unstable thoracolumbar and lumbar burst fractures who had been surgically treated. All cases were divided into two groups based on the operation method used. Eleven patients had undergone the combined approach, while 35 patients had undergone the posterior approach. Radiological and clinical evaluations were performed before surgery, after surgery, and at the final follow-up. Results: The stenotic ratios of the area occupied by the retropulsed bony fragments to the estimated area of the original spinal canal were 68.2% and 45.6% for the combined and the posterior approaches, respectively. No significant differences in the neurological improvement or the corrected state of the sagittal index were noted, but the patients who had been treated with the combined approach group had better results than those who had been treated with the posterior approach group in terms of correction and maintenance of the sagittal index. The average kyphosis corrections at the final follow-up were 15.3 degrees for the patients in the combined approach group and 10.0 degrees for those in the posterior approach group. Surgical time and estimated blood loss were all significantly higher for patients in the combined approach group. Conclusion: The combined and the posterior approaches showed similar results in the improvements of the neurologic state and the corrected state of the sagittal index. However, use of the combined approach is recommended for patients with severe kyphosis and with severe canal encroachment.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.37-43
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• 2012

Purpose: A tube thoracostomy is an invasive procedure that places patients at risk for complications. Tube thoracostomies are frequently performed by emergency medicine residents. Thus, the purpose of the study was to assess both the complication rate for tube thoracostomies performed by emergency medicine residents and the factors associated with these complications. Methods: A retrospective chart review of all patients who had undergone a tube thoracostomy performed by emergency medicine residents between January 2008 and February 2009 was conducted at a university hospital. Complications were divided into major and minor complications and into immediate and delayed complications. Complications requiring corrective surgical intervention, requiring the administration of blood products, or involving situations requiring intravenous antibiotics were defined as major. Complications that were detected within 2 hours were defined as immediate. Results: Tube thoracostomies were performed in 189 patients, and 70 patients(37%) experienced some complications. Most complications were immediate and minor. In multiple logistic regressions, BMI, hypotension and resident seniority were significantly associated with complications. Conclusion: The prevalence of complications was similar to these in previous reports on the complications of a tube thoracostomy. Most complications from tube thoracostomies performed by emergency medicine residents were immediate and minor complications. Thus, emergency medicine residents should be allowed to perform closed tube thoracostomies instead of thoracic surgeons.