• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• 제34권2호
• /
• pp.119-125
• /
• 2021

Purpose: The present study aimed to analyze the effect of trauma-related shock on myocardial function in the early stages of trauma through transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) findings. Methods: We performed a retrospective review and analysis of the medical records of patients aged ≥18 years who were evaluated by TTE within 2 days of admission for trauma-related shock (n=72). Patients were selected from a group of 739 patients admitted with trauma-related shock between January 2014 and December 2016. Results: The incidence rate of myocardial dysfunction in the left ventricle (LV) was 6.8% (5/72), with rates of 7.7% (4/52) in the thoracic injury group and 5.0% (1/20) in the non-thoracic injury group. In the diastolic function of LV, relaxation abnormality was present in 55.8% (29/52) of patients in the thoracic injury group and 50% (10/20) of patients in the non-thoracic injury group. Conclusions: This study may suggest that traumatic shock without thoracic injury may influence myocardial function in the early stages after trauma. Therefore, evaluation of myocardial function may be needed for patients experiencing shock after trauma, regardless of the presence of thoracic injury.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• 제18권1호
• /
• pp.1-16
• /
• 2005

An ideal trauma care system would include all the components identified with optimal trauma care, such as prevention, access, acute hospital care, rehabilitation, and research activities. Central to an ideal system is a large resource-rich trauma center. The need for resources is primarily based on the concept of being able to provide immediate medical care for unlimited numbers of injured patients at any time. Optimal resources at such a trauma center would include inhouse board-certified emergency medicine physicians, general surgeons, anesthesiologists, neurosurgeons, and orthopedic surgeons. Other board-certified specialists would be available, within a short time frame, to all patients who require their expertise. This center would require a certain volume of injured patients to be admitted each year, and these patients would include the most severely injured patients within the system. Additionally, certain injuries that are infrequently seen would be concentrated in this special center to ensure that these patients could be properly treated and studied, providing the opportunity to improve the care of these patients. These research activities are necessary to enhance our knowledge of the care of the injured. Basic science research in areas such as shock, brain edema, organ failure, and rehabilitation would also be present in the ideal center. This trauma center would have an integrated concurrent performance improvement program to ensure optimal care and continuous improvement in care. This center would not only be responsible for assessing care delivered within its trauma program, but for helping to organize the assessment of care within the entire trauma system. This ideal trauma center would serve as a total resource for all organizations dealing with the injured patient in the regional area.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• 제35권2호
• /
• pp.123-127
• /
• 2022

Iatrogenic vascular injury (IVI) can occur with any technique or type of surgery performed around a blood vessel. Patients with severe trauma are at risk of IVI. In this study, we describe our experiences of IVI in the trauma field. We reviewed five patients who were diagnosed with an IVI and received either surgical or endovascular treatment. Of the five patients, one had an arterial injury, three had venous injuries, and one had an arteriovenous fistula, a form of combined arterial and venous injuries. Of the five patients, four had undergone orthopedic surgery. The IVIs of three patients were immediately identified in the operating room and simultaneous vascular repair was performed. The remaining one patient underwent additional surgery for occlusion related to entrapment of the superficial femoral artery by a surgical wire used during orthopedic surgery. Complications presumably related to the IVI were identified in two patients. IVI in trauma patients can be successfully managed, but significant morbidity can occur. If an IVI is suspected, immediate evaluation and management are required.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• 제35권4호
• /
• pp.248-254
• /
• 2022

Purpose: To analyze the data of trauma patients with undetected injuries at the time of initial resuscitation during the primary and secondary surveys. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 807 patients who were hospitalized at the National Trauma Center, Seoul, Korea from June 1, 2019 to June 30, 2021. Results: In trauma patients with an Injury Severity Score ≥16 accounted for 27.5% in the non-missed injury group (non-MIG), but this rate was considerably higher at 71.2% in MIG. The mean hospitalization longer in MIG (50.90±39.56) than in non-MIG (24.74±26.11). The proportion of patients with missed injuries detected through tertiary trauma survey (TTS) was 28 patients (23.5%) within 24 hours, 90 patients (75.6%) after 24 hours to before discharge. The majority of missed injuries were fractures (82.4%) and ligament tears (8.4%), which required consultation with the orthopedic department. The final diagnoses of missed injuries were confirmed by computed tomography (44.5%), magnetic resonance imaging (19.3%), X-ray (19.3%), bone scan (11.8%), and physical examination (5.0%). Conclusions: TTS is considered a useful process for detecting missed injuries that were not identified at the time of initial resuscitation in the primary and secondary surveys. In the future, to detect missed injuries quickly, it is necessary to develop a suitable TTS program for each trauma center. In addition, further research is needed to verify the effectiveness of the protocolized TTS and survey chart to improve the effectiveness of TTS.

• 한국응급구조학회지
• /
• 제15권2호
• /
• pp.27-42
• /
• 2011

Purpose: This study intended to improve quality of prehospital emergency care for trauma patients by figuring out its current situations and problems based on run-sheets and questionnaires of 119 emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Methods: This study conducted a research of 425 trauma patients transferred to the 3rd hospital in G-city by 119 ambulances from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009. We aslo utilized 114 copies with questionnaires of 119 EMTs working in J-province. The data were analyzed with SPSS 18.0. Results: There were 425 trauma patients including 272 men and 137 patients with traffic accident. When it comes to types of 119 EMTs who delivered cares to patients, there were 206 (48.5%) advanced EMTs, 101 (23.8%) basic EMTs, 50 (11.8%) nurses and 43 (10.2%) rescue education receivers. The most frequent measured vital sign was pulse rate (54.1%). Regarding assessment of systolic blood pressure, pulse rate and respiration rate, there were some significant differences in accordance with type of 119 EMTs. Among the 317 patients evaluated 'emergency' in field, 137 patients returned to their home. Prehospital emergency cares accounted for 861, around 2.0 treatments per a patient. In view of questionnaire, the 74.6% of 119 EMTs hoped supplement of man power for proper prehospital care to trauma patients. Conclusion: This study suggested that it is necessary to develop detailed guidelines for trauma patients so as to improve quality of trauma patient evaluation and prehospital care. Furthermore, improvement of emergency care systems will reduce mortality of trauma patients and lead to their good outcome.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• 제34권3호
• /
• pp.162-169
• /
• 2021

Purpose: For severe lung injuries or acute respiratory distress syndrome that occurs during critical care due to trauma, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) may be used as a salvage treatment. This study aimed to describe the experiences at a single center with the use of ECMO in trauma patients. Methods: We enrolled a total of 25 trauma patients who were treated with ECMO between January 2015 and December 2019 at a regional trauma center. We analyzed and compared patients' characteristics between survivors and non-survivors through a medical chart review. We also compared the characteristics of patients between direct and indirect lung injury groups. Results: The mean age of the 25 patients was 45.9±19.5 years, and 19 patients (76.0%) were male. The mean Injury Severity Score was 26.1±10.1. Ten patients (40.0%) had an Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) 3 score of 4, and six patients (24.0%) had an AIS 3 score of 5. There were 19 cases (76.6%) of direct lung injury. The mortality rate was 60.0% (n=15). Sixteen patients (64.0%) received a loading dose of heparin for the initiation of ECMO. There was no significant difference in heparin use between the survivors and non-survivors (70% in survivors vs. 60% in non-survivors, p=0.691). When comparing the direct and indirect lung injury groups, there were no significant differences in variables other than age and ECMO onset time. Conclusions: If more evidence is gathered, risk factors and indications will be identified and we expect that more trauma patients will receive appropriate treatment with ECMO.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• 제25권4호
• /
• pp.241-246
• /
• 2012

Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate the appropriateness of the cross table lateral cervical X-ray used in the emergency department for severely traumatized Korean patients. Methods: Patients visiting our institution from May 2011 to May 2012, who had injury severity score (ISS) > 15 and who received a cervical X-ray in the emergency department, were included in this study. Data including demographics, ISS score, GCS score, and place where the x-ray was taken were collected to evaluate their relationship with appropriate coverage of the cervical X-ray. The appropriateness of a cervical cross lateral view X-ray was evaluated using exposure of the basion, and the opisthion, as well as the distal level of exposure. Results: Fifty-two patients were included in this study. The identification rate of the basion was 79.2%, and the identification rate of the opisthion was 88.7%. Complete exposure of C7/T1 was accomplished in 3.8% of the patients. The ISS was higher for X-ray taken in the trauma bay, but the range of exposure showed no difference between the places where the X-rays taken. Patients who had exposure of C 5/6 or more had lower body weight and body mass index (BMI) compared with unexposed patients. Conclusion: In severely traumatized Korean patients, the adequacy of the cross table lateral cervical X-ray was inappropriate in most cases. No difference was observed in the exposure range between the places where the X-rays were taken, and patients with less exposure showed higher body weight and higher BMI.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• 제34권3호
• /
• pp.177-182
• /
• 2021

Purpose: Traumatic pancreatic injuries are rare, but their diagnosis and management are challenging. The aim of this study was to evaluate and report our experiences with the management of pancreatic injuries. Methods: We identified all adult patients (age >15) with pancreatic injuries from our trauma registry over a 7-year period. Data related to patients' demographics, diagnoses, operative information, complications, and hospital course were abstracted from the registry and medical records. Results: A total of 45 patients were evaluated. Most patients had blunt trauma (89%) and 21 patients (47%) had pancreatic injuries of grade 3 or higher. Twenty-eight patients (62%) underwent laparotomy and 17 (38%) received nonoperative management (NOM). The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 24% (n=11), and only one patient died after NOM (due to a severe traumatic brain injury). Twenty-two patients (79%) underwent emergency laparotomy and six (21%) underwent delayed laparotomy. A drainage procedure was performed in 12 patients (43%), and pancreatectomy was performed in 16 patients (57%) (distal pancreatectomy [DP], n=8; DP with spleen preservation, n=5; pancreaticoduodenectomy, n=2; total pancreatectomy, n=1). Fourteen (31%) pancreas-specific complications occurred, and all complications were successfully managed without surgery. Solid organ injuries (n=14) were the most common type of associated abdominal injury (Abbreviated Injury Scale ≥3). Conclusions: For traumatic pancreatic injuries, an appropriate treatment method should be considered after evaluation of the accompanying injury and the patient's hemodynamic status. NOM can be performed without mortality in appropriately selected cases.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• 제19권2호
• /
• pp.97-104
• /
• 2006

Purpose: Many factors influence the occurrence and severity of geriatric trauma, and regional weather is regarded as one factor that influences geriatric trauma. In this study, to predict the type, severity, and incidence of geriatric trauma patient, we analyzed the influence of regional weather on geriatric trauma. Methods: The subjects of our investigation were trauma patients over sixty-five years of age who visited the Emergency Department (ED) of Yeungnam University Hospital during a one-year period. We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of 436 geriatric trauma patients, and the data were analyzed by using SPSS 12.0 for Window. The weather was based on data from the Korea Meteorological Administration. Results: The average age was 72.8 years old, and the ratio of males to females was 1:1.1. The mean spell out ISS was 10.8, and no difference was found between males and females. Slips were the most common cause of trauma. The largest numbers of aged trauma patients, 46, visited the ED in May, and the smallest number of such patients, 24, visited the ED in December. In addition to, summer saw the largest number of aged trauma patients. The type of trauma, the Injury Severity Score, and the number of patients had no relationship with season. On sunny days, the ISS was larger in patients who had hypotension and who had tachycardia. On rainy day, the ISS was larger in male patients and cultivator accident patients. The number of patients was larger on partly cloudy days. Conclusion: In spring and summer and on partly cloudy days, we must be prepared to treat aged traumatized patients in the E.D. On rainy days, visual sensation, tactual sense, and acoustic sense must be closely examined. In addition,on rainy day, aged male traumatized patients or cultivator accident patients must to be closely observation.

• 대한두개안면성형외과학회지
• /
• 제21권5호
• /
• pp.294-300
• /
• 2020

Background: Mandibular fractures are one of the most common types of facial fractures, the treatment of which can be delayed due to the severity of the trauma resulting in an increase of complications; thus, early evaluation of trauma severity at the time of visit is important. In South Korea, trauma patients are triaged and intensively treated in designated regional trauma centers. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between trauma severity and mandibular fracture patterns. Methods: A medical records review was performed on patients who visited the regional trauma center at our hospital for mandibular fracture between 2009 and 2018. Epidemiologic data and mandibular fracture patterns were analyzed and compared with the conventional facial injury severity scale (FISS). Results: Among 73 patients, 51 were classified as non-severe trauma patients and 22 as severe trauma patients. A higher trauma severity was associated with older age (odds ratio [OR], 1.164; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.057-1.404) and lower risk was associated with fractures located in the angle (OR, 0.001; 95% CI, 0-0.022), condylar process (OR, 0.001; 95% CI, 0-0.28), and coronoid process (OR, 0.004; 95% CI, 0-0.985). The risk was lower when the injury mechanism was a pedestrian traffic accident (OR, 0.004; 95% CI, 0-0.417) or fall (OR, 0.004; 95% CI, 0-0.663) compared with an in-car traffic accident. Higher FISS (OR, 1.503; 95% CI, 1.155-2.049) was associated with a higher trauma severity. The proposed model was found to predict the trauma severity better than the model using FISS (p< 0.001). Conclusion: Age, location of mandibular fractures, and injury mechanism showed significant relationships with the trauma severity. Epidemiologic data and patterns of mandibular fractures could predict the trauma severity better than FISS.