• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.140-144
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• 2017

Purpose: The optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) measured by ultrasonography is among the indicators of intracranial pressure (ICP) elevation. However, whether ONSD measurement is useful for initial treatment remains controversial. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between ONSD measured by computed tomography (CT) and ICP in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: A total of 246 patients with severe trauma from January 1, 2015 until December 31, 2015 were included in the study. A total of 179 patients with brain damage with potential for ICP elevation were included in the TBI group. The remaining 67 patients comprised the non-TBI group. A comparison was made between the two groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to determine the accuracy of ONSD when used as a screening test for the TBI group including those with TBI with midline shift (with elevated ICP). Results: The mean injury severity score (ISS) and glasgow coma scale (GCS) of all patients were $24.2{\pm}6.1$ and $5.4{\pm}0.8$, respectively. The mean ONSD of the TBI group ($5.5{\pm}1.0mm$) was higher than that of the non-TBI group ($4.7{\pm}0.6mm$). Some significant differences in age ($55.3{\pm}18.1$ vs. $49.0{\pm}14.8$, p<0.001), GCS ($11.7{\pm}4.1$ versus $13.3{\pm}3.0$, p<0.001), and ONSD ($5.5{\pm}1.0$ vs. $4.7{\pm}0.6$, p<0.001) were observed between the TBI and the non-TBI group. An ROC analysis was used to assess the correlation between TBI and ONSD. Results showed an area under the ROC curve (AUC) value of 0.752. The same analysis was used in the TBI with midline shift group, which showed an AUC of 0.912. Conclusions: An ONSD of >5.5 mm, measured on CT, is a good indicator of ICP elevation. However, since an ONSD is not sensitive enough to detect an increased ICP, it should only be used as one of the parameters in detecting ICP along with other screening tests.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.415-422
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• 2018

Objective: This study compared the prognosis of patients who visited the trauma center directly (direct visit group) with those transferred from the non-trauma center (transferred group). Methods: The patients, who were 18 or older with Injury Severity Score of 15 or more in the trauma center at Busan, were studied from October 2015 to October 2016. To compare the treatment time between the direct visit and transferred group, first treatment time, final treatment time, and time to visit the trauma center were examined. To compare the prognosis, this study compared the 48-hour, 7-day, and in-hospital mortality rate as well as the duration of intensive care unit (ICU) and total hospital stay. To analyze the factors affecting the outcome of transferred group, the physician's level and procedures that had been performed at the non-trauma center were examined. Results: The mortality was similar in the direct visit and transferred group (48-hour 7.6% vs. 4.6%, P=0.111; 7-day 11.1% vs. 7.2%, P=0.89; and in-hospital 14.6% vs. 11.3%, P=0.214). The length of ICU and total hospital stay were similar in the two groups. The mortality was higher in the patients in the transferred group when using intubation, transfusion, and pressure intensifier. The intubated patients showed higher mortality according to logistic regression. Conclusion: The mortality, length of ICU, and hospital stay were similar but the time to visit the trauma center and the final treatment time were longer in transferred group. Stabilizing the patient at the near non-trauma center may be more helpful for some patients.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.150-158
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• 2006

Purpose: There are two theories about the relationships between facial fractures and cranial injuries. One is that facial bones act as a protective cushion for the brain, and the other is that facial fractures are the marker for increased risk of cranial injury. They have been debated on for many years. The purpose of this study is to identify the relationship between facial fractures and cranial injuries. Methods: A retrospective study was performed on 242 patients with facial fractures. The data were analyzed based on the medical records of the patients: age, gender, cause of injury, Injury Severity Score (ISS), alcohol intake, type of facial fractures, and type of cranial injury. The patients were divided into two groups: facial fractures with cranial injury and facial fractures without cranial injury. We compared the general characteristics between the two groups and evaluated the relationship between each type of facial fracture and each type of cranial injury. Results: Among the 242 patients with facial bone fractures, 96 (39.7%) patients had a combination of facial fractures and cranial injuries. Gender predilection was demonstrated to favor males: the ratio was 3:1. The mean age was $36.51{\pm}19.63$. As to the injury mechanism, traffic accidents (in car, out of car, motorcycle) were statistically significant in the group of facial fractures with cranial injury (p=0.038, p=0.000, p=0.003). The ISS was significant, but alcohol intake was not significant. No significant relationship between facial fractures and skull fractures was found. Only maxilla fractures, zygoma fractures, and cerebral concussion had a significant difference in cranial injury (p=0.039, p=0.025). Conclusion: There is a no correlation between facial fractures and skull fractures, which suggests that the cushion effect is the predominent relationship between facial fractures and cranial injuries.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.220-225
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• 2019

Purpose: Mechanical ventilation (MV) is an essential life-saving modality for severely injured patients. However, the long-term use of MV is a major risk factor for late mortality. The surgical correction of long bone fractures plays a critical role not only in improving functional outcomes, but also in reducing physiological derangements, including MV duration. This study investigated the factors affecting prolonged MV (PMV) in severely injured patients with femur fractures. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated all severely injured patients (injury severity score >15) with femur fractures who were taken to the emergency department within 12 hours of the causative accidents between January 2016 and December 2018. PMV was defined as MV lasting for ≥7 days. We analyzed the factors affecting PMV. Results: In total, 35 patients were enrolled and 21 (33.3%) were included in the PMV group. The PMV group required more red blood cell (RBC) transfusions within 7 days RBC (7dRBC) (12.8 vs. 6.8 units; p=0.03) and the time to femur fracture fixation (TFFF) was longer (7.9 vs. 2.7 days; p=0.018). The area under the curve (AUC) for TFFF was 0.740 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.572-0.908; p=0.018) and the AUC for 7dRBC was 0.718 (95% CI: 0.546-0.889; p=0.031). Conclusions: This study indicates that TFFF is an independent risk factor for PMV. Early fixation of femur fractures might prevent PMV and its associated complications.

• Journal of Auto-vehicle Safety Association
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.7-12
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• 2018

Injury mechanisms of lower extremity injuries in motor vehicle accidents are focused on fractures, sprains, and contusions. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the analysis of lower extremity injury mechanism in occupant motor vehicle accident by using Hospital Information System (HIS) and reconstruction program, based on the materials related to motor vehicle accidents. Among patients who visited the emergency department of Wonju Severance Christian Hospital due to motor vehicle accidents from August 2012 to February 2014, we collected data on patients with agreement for taking the damaged vehicle's photos. After obtaining the verbal consent from the patient, we asked about the cause of the accident, information on vehicle involved in the accident, and the location of car repair shop. The photos of the damaged vehicle were taken on the basis of front, rear, left side and right side. Damage to the vehicle was presented using the CDC code by analytical study of photo-images of the damaged vehicle, and a trauma score was used for medical examination of the severity of the patient's injury. Among the 1,699 patients due to motor vehicle crashes, 88 (5.2%) received a diagnosis of lower extremity fracture and 141 (8.3%) were the severe who had ISS over 15. Nevertheless during 19 months for research, it was difficult to build up in-depth database about motor vehicle crashes. It has a limitation on collecting data because not only the system for constructing database about motor vehicle crash is not organized but also the process for demanding materials is not available due to prevention of personal information. For accurate analysis of the relationship between occupant injury and vehicle damage in motor vehicle crashes, build-up of an in-depth database through carrying out various policies for motor vehicle crashes is necessary for sure.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.57-64
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• 2007

Purpose: Clinically, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) occurs within 72 hours after acute exposure of risk factors. Because of its high fatality rate once ARDS progresses, early detection and management are essential to reduce the mortality rate. Accordingly, studies on early changes of ARDS were started, and serum ferritin, as well the as injury severity score (ISS), which has been addressed in previous studies, thought to be an early predictive indicator for ARDSMethods: From March 2003 to March 2005, we investigated 50 trauma patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit in Dongguk University Medical Center, Gyeongju. The patients were characterized according to age, sex, ISS, onset of ARDS, time onset of ARDS, serum ferritin level (posttraumatic $1^{st}\;&\;2^{nd}$ day), amount of transfused blood, and death. Abdominal computed topography was performed as an early diagnostic tool to evaluate the onset of ARDS according to its diagnostic criteria. The serum ferritin was measured by using a $VIDAS^{(R)}$ Ferritin (bioMeriux, Marcy-1' Etoile, France) kit with an enzyme-linked fluorescent assay method. For statistical analysis, Windows SPSS 13.0 and MedCalc were used to confirm the probability of obtaining a predictive measure from the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve. Results: The ISS varied from 14 to 66 (mean: 33.8) whereas the onset of ARDS could be predicted with the score above 30 (sensitivity: 90.0%, specificity: 60.0%, p<0.05). On the posttraumatic $1^{st}$ day, the serum ferritin levels were measured to be from 31 mg/dL to 1,200 mg/dL (mean: 456 mg/dL), and the onset of ARDS could be predicted when the value was over 340 mg/dL (sensitivity: 80.0%, specificity: 65.0%, p<0.05). On the posttraumatic $2^{nd}$ day, the serum ferritin levels were measured to be from 73 mg/dL to 1,200 mg/dL (mean: 404 mg/dL), and the onset of ARDS could be predicted when the value was over 627 mg/dL (sensitivity: 60.0%, specificity: 92.5%, p<0.05). The serum ferritin levels and the ISS were significantly higher on the posttraumatic $1^{st}$ and $2^{nd}$ day in the ARDS group, suggesting that they are suitable indices predicting the onset of ARDS, however relationship between the serum ferritin levels and the ISS was not statistically significant. Conclusion: In this study, we discovered increasing serum ferritin levels in multiple- trauma patients on the posttraumatic $1^{st}$ & $2^{nd}$ day and concluded that both the serum ferritin level and the ISS were good predictors of ARDS. Although they do not show statistically significant relationship to each other, they can be used as independent predictive measures for ARDS. Since ARDS causes high mortality, further studies, including the types of surgery and the methods of anesthesia on a large number of patients are essential to predict the chance of ARDS earlier and to reduce the incidence of death.