• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.8-13
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• 2016

Purpose: Specialized general trauma surgeons play an important role in the care of trauma patients. Hemoperitoneum is a severe, but representative, condition following a life-threatened trauma. The objective of this study was to compare the outcomes for polytrauma patients with hemoperitoneum between the periods during which a trauma surgeon was available and that unavailable. Methods: Thirty-one trauma patients with hemoperitoneum who were treated at Korea University Guro Hospital over a period of 4 years were included in this study, and their case records were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups, the 2011 and 2012 group and the 2013 and 2014 group corresponding, respectively, to the periods that a trauma surgeon was not and was working. Vital signs on admission, scores on the injury severity scale and, Glasgow coma scale, elapsed time to diagnostic, and therapeutic, and/or operative interventions were studied. The effects on intensive care unit and hospital lengths of stay, as well as mortality, were also studied. Results: The study population consisted of 16 and 15 patients in group 1 and 2, respectively. The patients in both groups had six unstable hemodynamic on admission. The time to the main procedure (intervention, operation etc.) was longer during the periods when a trauma surgeon was not working than it was during the period when working. This difference did not reached statistical significance. The mortality rates for the two groups were not statistically different either (18.75% vs 26.67%; p=0.928). Conclusion: Having at least one specialized general trauma surgeon on duty may reduce the time to intervention and surgery for severe trauma patients with hemoperitoneum, but appears to have no effect on the mortality rates. In conclusion, having only one trauma surgeon on duty does not improve the quality of care for trauma patients.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2008

When man first walked on this planet, injury must have been a close encounter of the first kind. The outbreak of World War I, during a period of rapid scientific growth in the basic sciences, demonstrated the need to develop better methods of care for the wounded, methods that were later applicable to the civilian population. Trauma is a multisystem disease and, as such, benefits from almost any advance in medical science. As we learn more about the physiology and the biochemistry of various organ systems, we can provide better management for trauma victims. Improved imaging techniques, better appreciation of physiologic tolerance, and increased understanding of the side effects of specific surgical procedures have combined to reduce operative intervention as a component of trauma patient care. On the other hand, because of this rapid development of medical science, only a few doctors still have the ability to treat multisystem injuries because almost doctor has his or her specialty, which means a doctor tends to see only patients with diagnoses in the doctor's specialty. Trauma Surgeons are physicians who have completed the typical general surgery residency and who usually continue with a one to two year fellowship leading to additional board certification in Surgical Critical Care. It is important to note that trauma surgeons do not need to do all kinds of operations, such as neurosurgery and orthopedic surgery. Trauma surgeons are not only a surgeon but also general medical practitioners who are very good at critical care and coordination of patient. In order to achieve the best patient outcomes, trauma surgeons should be involved in prehospital Emergency Medical Services, the Trauma Resuscitation Room, the Operating Room, the Surgical Intensive Care and Trauma Unit, the Trauma Ward, the Rehabilitation Department, and the Trauma Outpatient Clinic. In conclusion, according to worldwide experience and research, the trauma surgeon is the key factor in the trauma care system, so the trauma surgeon should receive strong support to accomplish his or her role successfully.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.254-259
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• 2009

Purpose: Pelvic trauma is a serious skeletal injury with high mortality. Especially in cases of severe injury trauma, treatment outcomes depend on early diagnosis and intervention. We expect trauma surgeon to play an important role in the management of severe multiple trauma patients. Methods: A retrospective study was performed on pelvic trauma patients with hemodynamic instability between March 2005 and September 2009. We divided the time period into period I (March 2005~Feburary 2009) and period II (March 2009~September 2009). The trauma surgeon and team started to work from period II. Data were collected regarding demographic characteristics, mechanism of injury, type of pelvic fracture, ISS(injury severity score), treatment modality, transfusion requirement, time to definitive treatment, and mortality. Results: During period I, among 7 hemodynamically unstable patients, 4(57.1%) patients died. However during Period II, only one of 6(16.6%) patients died. The demographic data and injury scores showed no differences between the two time periods, but the time to definitive treatment was very short with trauma team intervention(14.4 hrs vs. 3.9 hrs). Also, the amount of transfusion was less(41.1 U vs. 13.9 U). With arterial embolization, early pelvic external fixation led to less transfusion and made patients more stable. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the importance of the trauma surgeon and the trauma team in cases of hemodynamically unstable pelvic trauma. Even with the same facility and resources, an active trauma team approach can increase the survival of severely injured multiple trauma patients.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.28-36
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• 2024

Purpose: Recent advancements in interventional radiology have made angioembolization an invaluable modality in trauma care. Angioembolization is typically performed by interventional radiologists. In this study, we aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of emergency angioembolization performed by trauma surgeons. Methods: We identified trauma patients who underwent emergency angiography due to significant trauma-related hemorrhage between January 2020 and June 2023 at Jeju Regional Trauma Center. Until May 2022, two dedicated interventional radiologists performed emergency angiography at our center. However, since June 2022, a trauma surgeon with a background and experience in vascular surgery has performed emergency angiography for trauma-related bleeding. The indications for trauma surgeon-performed angiography included significant hemorrhage from liver injury, pelvic injury, splenic injury, or kidney injury. We assessed the angiography results according to the operator of the initial angiographic procedure. The term "failure of the first angioembolization" was defined as rebleeding from any cause, encompassing patients who underwent either re-embolization due to rebleeding or surgery due to rebleeding. Results: No significant differences were found between the interventional radiologists and the trauma surgeon in terms of re-embolization due to rebleeding, surgery due to rebleeding, or the overall failure rate of the first angioembolization. Mortality and morbidity rates were also similar between the two groups. In a multivariable logistic regression analysis evaluating failure after the first angioembolization, pelvic embolization emerged as the sole significant risk factor (adjusted odds ratio, 3.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-10.33; P=0.041). Trauma surgeon-performed angioembolization was not deemed a significant risk factor in the multivariable logistic regression model. Conclusions: Trauma surgeons, when equipped with the necessary endovascular skills and experience, can safely perform angioembolization. To further improve quality control, an enhanced training curriculum for trauma surgeons is warranted.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.372-375
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• 2019

A 55-year-old man was admitted to the trauma center after a car accident. Cardiac tamponade, traumatic aortic injury, and hemoperitoneum were diagnosed by ultrasonography. The trauma surgeon, cardiac surgeon, and interventional radiologist discussed the prioritization of interventions. Multi-detector computed tomography was carried out first to determine the severity and extent of the injuries, followed by exploratory sternotomy to repair a left auricle rupture. A damage control laparotomy was then performed to control mesenteric bleeding. Lastly, a descending thoracic aorta injury was treated by endovascular stenting. These procedures were performed in the hybrid-angio room. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 135, without complications.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.248-256
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• 2021

Purpose: Laparoscopy has various advantages over laparotomy in terms of postoperative recovery. The number of surgeons using laparoscopy as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in abdominal trauma patients is increasing, whereas open conversion is becoming less common. This report summarizes a single surgeon's experience of laparoscopy at a level I trauma center and evaluates the feasibility of laparoscopy as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool for abdominal trauma patients. Methods: In total, 30 abdominal trauma patients underwent laparoscopy by a single surgeon from October 2014 to May 2020. The purpose of laparoscopy was categorized as diagnostic or therapeutic. Patients were classified into three groups by type of surgery: total laparoscopic surgery (TLS), laparoscopy-assisted surgery (LAS), or open conversion (OC). Univariate analysis was performed to determine the advantages and disadvantages. Results: The mechanism of injury was blunt in 19 (63.3%) and penetrating in 11 patients (36.7%). Eleven (36.7%) and 19 patients (63.3%) underwent diagnostic and therapeutic laparoscopy, respectively. The hospital stay was shorter for patients who underwent diagnostic laparoscopy than for those who underwent therapeutic laparoscopy (5.0 days vs. 13.0 days), but no other surgical outcomes differed between the groups. TLS, LAS, and OC were performed in 12 (52.2%), eight (34.8%), and three patients (13.0%), respectively. There was no significant difference in morbidity and mortality among the three groups. Conclusions: Laparoscopic surgery for selected cases of abdominal trauma may be feasible and safe as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in hemodynamically stable patients due to the low OC rate and the absence of fatal morbidity and mortality.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.261-265
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• 2013

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the transfer pattern of multiple trauma patients after acute phase management and to determine whether the time between the surgeon's decision and the actual transfer correlates with the patient's insurance type. Methods: Three hundred ninety-two(392) multiple trauma patients visited the emergency room from January 2011 to April 2013. Among the 143 patients who were admitted by a trauma surgeon, 47 were transferred to another hospital after acute phase management. The age, gender, trauma mechanism, Revised trauma score (RTS), Injury severity score (ISS), insurance type, length of ICU stay and hospital stay were analyzed through a retrospective chart review. Results: The mean age was 47.7 years, and traffic accident was the most common mechanism(26, 55.3%). The mean RTS and ISS were 6.93 and 22.7, respectively. Twenty-five patients(53%) were covered by National health insurance, and 20 patients(42.6%) were covered by automobile insurance. Patients were transferred to primary (4.3%), secondary(80.9%), tertiary(4.3%) and care(10.6%) hospitals. The mean time from transfer decision to actual transfer was significantly longer for patients who were covered by automobile insurance than it was for patients who were covered by national health insurance (p=0.038). Conclusion: An appropriate transfer system at the end of acute phase care is essential for managing trauma centers with limited staffing and facilities. In addition, the mean time from transfer decision to actual transfer seemed to be definitely related to the type of insurance covering the patient.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2011

Purpose: Recently, social interest in an organized trauma system for the treatment of patients has been increasing in government and academia and the establishment of trauma center is being considered across the country. However, establishing such a system has not been easy in Korea, because enormous experiences and resources are necessary. The objectives of this study were (1) to estimate a trauma patient's demands during the course of treatment and (2) to provide appropriate direction for trauma centers to be established in Korea. Methods: The records of 207 patients who were admitted to the Department of Trauma Surgery in Ajou University Medical Center due to trauma were retrospectively reviewed for a 1 year period from March 2010 to February 2011. Patients were reviewed for general characteristics, number of hospital days, numbers and kinds of surgeries, numbers and kinds of consultations, ISS (Injury Severity Score) and number of patients with ISS more than 15. Results: All 207 patients were enrolled. The average number of hospital days was 36.7 days. The ICU stay was 15.9 days, and the general ward stay was 20.8 days. Admitted patients occupied 9.02 beds in ICU and 11.80 beds in the general ward per day. The average number of surgeries per patient was 1.4, and surgery at the Department of Trauma Surgery was most common. Number of consultations per patient was 14.23, and consultations with orthopedic surgeons were most common. The average ISS was 18.6. The number of patients with ISS more than 15 was 141 (61.8%) and the average number of patients treated per trauma surgeon as a major trauma patient was 94.3. The number of mortalities was 20, and the mortality rate was 9.7%. Conclusion: To reduce mortality and to provide proper treatment of patients with major trauma, hospitals need some number of beds, especially in the ICU, to treat patients and to prepare them for emergent surgery. An appropriate number of trauma surgeons and various specialists for consultation are also needed.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.42
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• pp.39.1-39.5
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• 2020

Background: Head or scalp injury is a life-threatening and typically accidental human injury. Most medical departments require immediate medical treatment and proper treatment with specialized medical personnel and facilities. However, in low-resource environments, such as the rural region of West Africa, the authors have treated emergency trauma patients and provided immediate treatment despite lack of resources. Case presentation: We reviewed three cases of scalp injury patients, with representative clinical information, and used these cases to outline feedback on scalp trauma treatment based on the specialty knowledge of general and emergency surgeon. Conclusions: Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are medical specialists that can immediately diagnose and treat these scalp injuries based on their medical knowledge and experience with the maxillofacial region.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.107-111
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• 2018

Segmental bone defects of the tibia present a challenging problem for the orthopedic trauma surgeon. These injuries are often complicated by soft tissue defects and infection. Many techniques are reported, from bone graft to bone transport. To our knowledge, bone transport over the plate in the distraction site has not been described for the treatment of tibial bone defect. We report an instance including procedure and subsequent complications after bone transport over the plate, to restore a tibial bone defect.