• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• 제36권3호
• /
• pp.196-205
• /
• 2023

Purpose: Surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) is widely used in patients with flail chests, and several studies have reported the efficacy of SSRF even in multiple rib fractures. However, few reports have discussed the hardware failure (HF) of implanted plates. We aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics of patients with HF after SSRF and further investigate the related factors. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of patients who underwent SSRF for multiple rib fractures at a level I trauma center in Korea between January 2014 and January 2021. We defined HF as the unintentional loosening of screws, dislocation, or breakage of the implanted plates. The baseline characteristics, surgical outcomes, and types of HF were assessed. Results: During the study period, 728 patients underwent SSRF, of whom 80 (10.9%) were diagnosed with HF. The mean age of HF patients was 56.5±13.6 years, and 66 (82.5%) were men. There were 59 cases (73.8%) of screw loosening, 21 (26.3%) of plate breakage, 17 (21.3%) of screw migration, and seven (8.8%) of plate dislocation. Nine patients (11.3%) experienced wound infection, and 35 patients (43.8%) experienced chronic pain. A total of 21 patients (26.3%) underwent reoperation for plate removal. The patients in the reoperation group were significantly younger, had fewer fractures and plates, underwent costal fixation, and had a longer follow-up. There were no significant differences in subjective chest symptoms or lung capacity. Conclusions: HF after SSRF occurred in 10.9% of the cases, and screw loosening was the most common. Further longitudinal studies are needed to identify risk factors for SSRF failure.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• 제25권4호
• /
• pp.356-360
• /
• 1999

PURPOSE : This is to review the complicated jaw fractures that had been referred for revision of the unsatisfactory results, and to provide proper managements for the easily complicated jaw fractures. MATERIALS & METHODS : Twenty-nine patients who had been revised due to malunion or complicated fractures of facial bones for last 3 years were reviewed. The main problems required for revision, type of fractures complicated, the primary managements to be reclaimed, the specialties to be involved, the management to be reclaimed, time elapsed to seek reoperation, type of revision surgeries, residual complication were analysed with medical records, radiographs and final examinations. RESULTS: The major complaints were malocclusion(79.3%), facial disfigurement(41.3%), TMJ problems (13.7%), neurologic problems(10.3%), non-union(10.3%), and infection(6.8%). Unsatisfactory results were occurred most frequently after improper management of the multiple fractures of the mandible (62.2%), combined fractures of maxilla and mandible (20.6%), fracture of zygomatico-maxillary complex and midpalate (17.2%). The complications to be corrected were widened or collapsed dental arches (79.3%), improperly reduced condyles (41.3%), painful TMJ (34.4%), limited jaw excursion (31.0%), over-reduction of zygoma (13.7%), and nonunion with infection(13.7%). and dysesthesia (10.3%). The primary managements were nendereet by plastic surgeons in 82.7%(24/29) and by oral surgeons in 7.6%(2/29). Main causes of malunion are inadequate ORIF in 76%, unawareness & delay in 17%, and delayed due to systemic cares in 17%. 76% of 29 patients had been in state of intermaxillary fixation for over 4 weeks. Revision were done by means of "refracture and ORIF"in 48.2%(14/29), orthognathic osteotomies with bone grafts in 55.1%(16/29), and camouflage countering & alloplastic implantations in 37.9%(11/29), TMJ surgeries in 17.2%, micro-neurosurgeries in 11.6%. Residual complications were limited mouth opening in 24.1% (7/29), paresthesia in 13.7%, resorption of reduced condyle in 10.3%. CONCLUSIONS : Failure of initial treatment of jaw fractures is due to improper diagnosis and inadequate treatment with lack of sufficient knowledge of stomatognathic system. It is crucial to judge jaw fracture and patients accurately, moreover, the best way of treatments has to be selected. Consideration of these factors in treatment could minimize the complication of jaw fractures.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• 제12권4호
• /
• pp.411-417
• /
• 1979

During the period of 4 years from August 1, 1975 to August 1, 1979, authors have experienced 100 cases of multiple rib fractures by nonpenetrating injury at Department of Thoracic Surgery, Paik Foundation Hospital in Seoul, Korea. 1. The ratio of male to female patients with multiple rib fracture was 2.6:1 with male predominance and 84% of the total cases were between 20 and 50 years of age. 2. The most common cause of multiple rib fracture was traffic accident and falls accounted for the next largest group. 3. The most common site of rib fracture was 4th rib to 7th rib level on both hemithorax [52%]. 4. Associated injuries were cerebral contusion in 26%, clavicular fracture in 22%, long bone fracture in 22%, pelvic bone fracture in 10%, and scapular fracture in 8%. 5. Early complications and/or result of the multiple rib fractures were lung contusion in 23 cases, subcutaneous emphysema in 21 cases, hemothorax in 21 cases, hemopneumothorax in 6 cases, and flail chest in 12 cases. 6. The flail chests were managed by strapping the chest with adhesive plaster, external traction of flail segment with towel clip, ventilatory assistance for marginal clinical indications, and in cases of complicated with intrathoracic hemorrhage, wire fixation of flail segment through open thoraco-tomy. 7. The principles of therapy for hemothorax and/or pneumothorax were rapid reexpansion of the lungs by thoracentesis [11%] and closed thoracostomy [22%], but open thoracotomy had to be done on 3 cases because of massive bleeding or intrapleural hematoma and diaphragmatic rupture. 8. The over all mortality was 4% [4 among 100 cases] and the cause of all deaths was head injury.

• 대한두개안면성형외과학회지
• /
• 제10권1호
• /
• pp.33-36
• /
• 2009

Purpose: Fractures of the mandibular condylar area are common injuries that account for 29% to 40% of fractures of the facial bones and represent 20% to 62% of all mandibular fractures. Currently 3 main methods are being used in the treatment of mandibular subcondylar fractures: closed reduction; open reduction and internal fixation; Endoscopic reduction and internal fixation. Each method has its proponents and opponent as well as advantages and disadvantages, and indications for each vary among surgeons. There are six approaches of open reduction: submandibular, retromandibular, preaurilcular, postauricular, intraoral, transparotid approach. Among them, transparotid approach has been described for subcondylar exposure with dissection in the direction of facial nerve fibers to expose the bone through the parotid gland. This approach carries the risk of a parotid glandular fistula as well as facial nerve injury but has the advantage of being directly over the fracture site. We report safety and efficacy of surgical treatment using a transparotid approach for direct plating. Methods: A 43-year-old man sustained multiple facial bone fractures by driver traffic accident. Mandibular subcondyle was fractured and dislocated internally. We performed open reduction and internal fixation by transparotid approach. Fractured site was fixed by titanium mini plate & screw. We applicated arch bar for approximately 3 weeks. Results: Follow-up length was about 5months. Scar of surgical incision was indistinct, there was no symptoms and signs of facial nerve and parotid gland injury, and maximal mouth opening was measured 49.5 mm. Conclusion: Transparotid approach has high risks of facial nerve and parotid gland injury, but paradoxically it is the most effective technique in saving facial nerve. Open reduction and internal fixation of mandibular subcondylar fracture by transparotid approach with precise and versed procedure, best outcome can be expected.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• 제38권3호
• /
• pp.263-272
• /
• 2011

Purpose: The human face is the most exposed part of the body, and in patients with simple or complex trauma from traffic accidents, industrial calamities, sports injuries, human assaults, and daily accidents, facial trauma occupies an important portion. The etiology of facial trauma vary on a society's economic, cultural, and environmental status. Methods: Regarding patients who were admitted from between the years 2000 to 2009 at the Hanyang University hospital, the authors studied how the changes in the economic status in the past 10 years of our country influences the incidence of facial bone fractures. Results: In this study, 1) The unemployment rate showed a strong negative relationship with the total number of inpatients with facial bone fractures, the number of male patients, the number of female patients, the number of patients with facial bone fractures caused by fall down, the number of patients who were admitted for shorter than 7 days, and the number of the facial bone fracture patients with their age in the twenties. 2) The consumer price index showed a strong positive relationship with the number of female patients, the number of patients who were admitted for shorter than 7 days, and the number of the facial bone fracture patients with their age in the teens and fifties. Conclusion: Looking at the results of correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis with economic indicators, the unemployment rate showed negative influence to the total number of inpatients with facial bone fractures, and the number of inpatients with facial bone fractures caused by fall down, with statistical significance.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• /
• 제34권1호
• /
• pp.53-57
• /
• 2012

Purpose: This study considered the effects and proper treatments of mandibular condyle fractures by comparing clinical differences and complications according to analysis and treatment plan. Methods: From September 2007 to August 2010, patients who were diagnosed with condylar fracture and monitored for more than 3 months were selected. Cases were divided in a reductive manner and evaluated by type and period of intermaxillary fixation (IMF), status of occlusion and trismus according to the Spiessle/Schroll method. A total 50 patients were examined. Results: The number of the unilateral condyle fractures was 45 and 30 patients had multiple fractures. Type of fracture was categorized by the Spiessle/Schroll method. There were 21 patients with type I, 11 patients with type II, 3 patients with type 3, 10 patients with type V and 5 patients with type VI; there were no patients with a type IV fracture. 11 patients were operated on with open reduction. Among them, 9 patients were type II and 2 patients were type I. For type I patients, an intra-oral approach was conducted with an endoscope and trocar. For 3 of the type II patients, an retromandibular approach was conducted and for the rest of the type II patients, the same approach as type I was used. The periods of IMF were 2.36 weeks (mean) in open reduction group and 2.9 weeks (mean) in closed reduction group and the total mean period is 2.78 weeks. All patients had stable occlusion after removing the IMF. Trismus occurred in 1 patient for open reduction and 5 patients for closed reduction. Facial nerve palsy was observed in one patient postoperatively that resolved after 6 months. Conclusion: In this study, similar prognosis was shown after an open and closed reduction was conducted. Therefore, treatments need to be planned depending on the degree of condyle fracture and the amount of displacement. Additionally, the period of IMF could be shortened with open reduction.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• 제34권2호
• /
• pp.105-111
• /
• 2021

Purpose: Open extremity fractures require prompt antibiotic medication and initial debridement surgery to reduce the infection rate and restore functional stabilization. We aimed to report the effects and positive outcomes of a trauma team approach on the management of open extremity fractures in polytrauma patients. Methods: This retrospective review included all polytrauma patients with open extremity fractures admitted between March 2009 and December 2019. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether they were treated before or after the implementation of the trauma team approach (March 2014). We analyzed the outcomes in each group with respect to the time interval until the doctor's arrival, total length of stay in the emergency department, the time interval until initial antibiotic treatment and operation, whether the initial operation was performed within 24 hours, and the rate of deep infections. Results: A total of 123 patients met the inclusion criteria. There were no statistically significant differences in demographic characteristics. The time interval until the doctor's arrival (64.12±49.2 minutes vs. 19.82±15.23 minutes; p=0.035) and initial antibiotic treatment (115.47±72.12 minutes vs. 48.78±30.12 minutes; p=0.023) significantly improved after implementing the trauma team approach. The union rate was not significantly different. However, the time interval until initial debridement, opportunity for initial debridement within 24 hours, and the rate of deep infections demonstrated better results. Conclusions: The reduced time interval until initial antibiotic treatment and debridement could be attributed to the positive effect of the trauma team approach on the management of open extremity fractures in polytrauma patients.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• 제31권2호
• /
• pp.103-106
• /
• 2018

Fat embolism refers to the presence of fat droplets within the peripheral and lung microcirculation with or without clinical sequelae. However, early diagnosis of fat embolism is very difficult because the embolism usually does not show at the computed tomography as a large fat complex within vessels. Forty-eight-year-old male with pedestrian traffic accident ransferred from a local hospital by helicopter to the regional trauma center by two flight surgeons on board. At the rendezvous point, he had suffered with dyspnea without any airway obstruction sign with 90% of oxygen saturation from pulse oximetry with giving 15 L of oxygen by a reserve bag mask. The patient was intubated at the rendezvous point. The secondary survey of the patient revealed multiple pelvic bone fracture with sacrum fracture, right femur shaft fracture and right tibia head fracture. Abdominal computed tomography was performed in 191 minutes after the injury and fat embolism with Hounsfield unit of -86 in his right common iliac vein was identified. Here is a very rare case that mass of fat embolism was shown within common iliac vein detected in computed tomography. Early detection of the fat embolus and early stabilization of the fractures are essential to the prevention of sequelae such as cerebral fat embolism.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• 제21권2호
• /
• pp.91-99
• /
• 2008

Purpose: Multiple rib fracture (MRF) and a hemopneumothorax accompany with most blunt chest traumas. We aimed to analyze the factors increasing the probability of a hemopneumothorax. In addition, other injuries accompanying MRF were analyzed. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 154 mutiple rib fracture patients who visited our hospital between January 2005 and December 2007. The medical records were reviewed for sex, age, mechanism of injury, location, number of fractures, distance of dislocated rib fragments, and presence of complications. We measured the distance of bony dislocations by using the PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System). Results: The average number of rib fractures was $3.7{\pm}2.1$, and the number of rib fractures significantly influenced the incidence of a hemothorax (p<0.001). The risk of a hemothorax was increased in a bilateral MRF compared to a unilateral MRF (p=0.027). The distance of dislocated rib fragments influenced the probability of a hemothorax significantly (p=0.018), and subcutaneous emphysema and lung contusion were significantly associated with a pneumothorax (p=0.021, p=0.036). Conclusion: The number of MRFs did not influence the risk for a pneumothorax, but did influence the risk for a hemothorax. The laterality, distance of dislocation, also had an influence on the risk for a hemothorax. Also, subcutaneous emphysema and lung contusion were increased in cases with a pneumothorax. We must consider the possibility of a hemothorax even when the initial chest X-ray shows no evidence of a hemothorax. If a lung contusion is present, then an occult pneumothorax must be considered.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• 제62권3호
• /
• pp.90-94
• /
• 2019

Purpose: Several published policy statements have warned against the risks associated with trampoline use and recommended safety guidelines. However, few studies have focused on trampoline-related injuries in Korea. This study aimed to assess the incidence and characteristics of pediatric trampoline-related injuries presented to Ulsan University Hospital. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of children aged <16 years with trampoline-related injuries who visited our Emergency Department between 2008 and 2017. Results: Over the 10-year period, 178 trampoline-related injuries were reported, which represented a significant increase (P=0.016). Most (87.6%) of the injuries occurred during the last 5 study years, and a rapid increase in injuries was observed in children aged <6 years. Lower extremity injuries (62.4%) were the most common, followed by injuries of the upper extremities, head and face, and trunk, including injuries to the neck and spine. Sixty-seven children (37.6%) had fractures, and proximal tibia fractures were the most common. Fractures were significantly more common in younger children (<6 years old) than in older children (P=0.026). Conclusion: In Korea, the mechanism of trampoline injury is similar to that of injuries incurred in indoor trampoline parks but is characterized by smaller spaces and multiple users. Trampoline use and the incidence of trampoline-related injuries in children aged <6 years are increasing rapidly. Prohibiting the use of trampolines for children aged <6 years, restricting simultaneous use by multiple children, and ensuring adult supervision should be strictly emphasized. Public awareness and policy guidelines are needed to reduce the incidence of trampoline-related injuries.