• 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.33 no.3
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• pp.186-190
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• 2020

Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) has been increasingly used in recent years as a resuscitative adjunct for trauma patients with life-threatening non-compressible torso hemorrhage. By blocking the aorta temporarily with an inflated balloon, REBOA preserves cerebral and coronary perfusion while diminishing exsanguination below the balloon, thereby providing time for resuscitation and definitive bleeding control. When determining the occlusion zone during the REBOA procedure, factors such tortuosity of the aorta, co-occurring minor chest injuries, and the severity of shock must be considered, as well as the main injury site. This paper describes a case of high Zone I REBOA in an elderly patient with a tortuous aorta who had concomitant injuries of the chest and pelvis.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.220-226
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• 2017

Traumatic dissection of the celiac artery without aortic dissection is a rare event. Here we describe two cases of celiac artery dissection after blunt abdominal trauma managed conservatively without surgical or endovascular intervention.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.34-37
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• 2013

Although a majority of patients with splenic rupture present acutely, up to 15% present with a delayed rupture days to weeks following a substantial abdominal injury. The mortality for patients presenting with acute splenic rupture is approximately 1% whereas that associated with delayed rupture approaches 15%. Although many cases of delayed splenic rupture have been reported, the majority of those reports present delayed splenic rupture associated with an underlying systemic disorder such as liver or kidney disease, or another hematologic disorder. We found a delayed splenic rupture case that documented the normal spleens of young healthy soldiers after trivial abdominal trauma, and we have had successful treatment experience with delayed rupture of a normal spleen after trivial trauma. Therefore, we want to review the literature and discuss the phenomenon of delayed rupture of the spleen following trivial trauma.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.28-32
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• 2016

Blunt traumatic vertebral artery injury (TVAI) is relatively rare, but it may frequently be associated with head and neck trauma. TVAI is difficult to diagnose with diverse outcomes, thus it is a clinical challenge. There are no widely accepted guidelines for treatment and diagnosis, so that the diagnosis of TVAI can be easily delayed. Therefore, any clinical suspicion from clues on the initial imaging is important for diagnosis of TVAI. The authors report on the case of a patient diagnosed as having a TVAI with a transverse foramen fracture.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.31-33
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• 2015

Traumatic aortic injury is well recognized as a primary cause of instantaneous death in victims of thoracic blunt trauma presenting with an aortic rupture or dissection, particularly after a deceleration injury. However, a direct aortic injury caused by a fractured rib segment after blunt thoracic trauma is extremely rare. We report the case of a 43-year-old male patient who experienced an aortic injury caused by the sharp edge of a fractured rib after multiple rib fractures due to blunt thoracic trauma.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.192-196
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• 2017

Purpose: Blunt injury accounts for 80-95% of renal injury trauma in the United States. The majority of blunt renal injuries are low grade and 80-85% of these injuries can be managed conservatively. However, there is a debate on the management of patients with high-grade renal injury. We reviewed our experience of renal trauma at our trauma center to assess management strategy for high-grade blunt renal injury. Methods: We reviewed blunt renal injury cases admitted at a single trauma center between August 2007 and December 2015. Computed tomography (CT) scan was used to diagnose renal injuries and high-grade (according to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma [AAST] organ injury scale III-V) renal injury patients were included in the analysis. Results: During the eight-year study period, there were 62 AAST grade III-V patients. 5 cases underwent nephrectomy and 57 underwent non-operative management (NOM). There was no difference in outcome between the operative group and the NOM group. In the NOM group, 24 cases underwent angioembolization with a 91% success rate. The Incidence of urological complications correlated with increasing grade. Conclusions: Conservative management of high-grade blunt renal injury was considered preferable to operative management, with an increased renal salvage rate. However, high-grade injuries have higher complication rates, and therefore, close observation is recommended after conservative management.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2013

Purpose: The base deficit (BD) at admission in severely injured patients has been shown to predict the adequacy of resuscitation and outcome, but this relationship is not well established in the Korean experience. The purpose of this study was to define the association between arterial blood gas (ABG) values and the mortality for patients with severe blunt trauma at a developing trauma center in Korea. Methods: A retrospective review of 415 adult patients with severe blunt trauma was conducted using electronic medical records from Jan. 2010 to Dec. 2011. Results: A total of 256 patients had ABG drawn within 1 hour of arrival. Patients who expired displayed a higher lactate level (4.86 vs. 3.31, p<0.0001), a worse BD (-7.99 vs. -5.37, p=0.001), and a lower pH (7.31 vs. 7.34, p=0.011) at arrival compared with those who survived. A statistically significant association was also observed between BD and blood product usage (p=0.001). Conclusion: The base deficit at admission is a useful marker of mortality and outcome in severely injured patients with blunt trauma in Korea.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.81-90
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• 2017

Purpose: The regional trauma center should be a trauma treatment center equipped with facilities, equipment, and manpower capable of providing optimal treatment such as emergency surgery to a severely traumatized patient upon arrival at the hospital. In order to establish a medical system for effective severe diseases, it is necessary to prepare architectural planning guidelines for the regional trauma centers. Methods:: Analyze the spatial configuration, and the area composition of the regional trauma center, And to provide basic data for building a more efficient regional trauma center. The spatial composition analysis divides the space into initial care, resuscitation, patient area, nursing area, diagnostic test, staff training, staff support, public, and analyzes the area and interconnection of each space. Results: The area that must be included in the regional trauma center is the resuscitation area, the patient area, the diagnostic examination area, architectural planning should be designed to enhance the interconnection of the areas. IIn addition, a regional trauma center should be planned as a separate from the existing facility so that it can be installed and operated independently. Implications: A regional trauma center should be built as a stand alone operation and the space should be planned as a more efficient route.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.261-267
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• 2022

Purpose: With the increasing number of polytrauma patients treated at high-level trauma centers, plastic surgery has entered the specialty of traumatology. Plastic surgeons specialize in the simultaneous surgical care of patients with facial or hand trauma and soft tissue injuries requiring microsurgery. The purpose of this study was to introduce the role of plastic surgery in a high-level trauma center. Methods: Between January 2020 and December 2020, 5,712 patients with traumatic injuries were admitted to the emergency department of a tertiary hospital. Of these 5,712 patients, 1,578 patients were hospitalized for surgical treatment and/or critical care. Among the 1,578 hospitalized trauma patients, 551 patients (35%) required at least one plastic surgery procedure. The patient variables included age, sex, etiology, the injured area, and injury characteristics. We also retrospectively investigated surgical data such as the duration of the operation, hospital stay, length of time from injury to surgery, and collaboration with other departments. Results: The most common injury referred to plastic surgery was facial trauma (41%), followed by hand trauma (36%), and soft tissue injuries requiring microsurgery in various parts of the body other than the hand (7%). The majority of facial and hand traumas were concomitant injuries. Sixteen percent of patients underwent collaborative surgical management for polytrauma involving both plastic surgery and another department. Conclusions: The role of plastic surgery in multidisciplinary teams at high-level trauma centers has become increasingly important. The results of this study may help in the development of multidisciplinary trauma team strategies and future workforce planning.