• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.125-128
• /
• 2011

Purpose: Blunt small bowel injury (SBI) is frequently combined other organ injury. So, clinical outcome and characteristics of SBI are influenced by other combined injuries. Thus, we analyzed isolated SBI patients and studied clinical outcome and characteristics. Methods: Between 2005 and 2010, 36 consecutive patients undergoing laparotomy due to isolated SBI were identified in a retrospectively collected. Database. Clinical outcome and characteristics were analyzed. Results: Laparotomy was performed in 36 patients. Primary repair was performed 17 patients. Segmental resection of small bowel was performed 19 patients. Median time gap from trauma to operation was 9 hours. In 24 hours from trauma, operation was performed 31 patients. Post operative death was 5 patients. Mean hospital stay was 18 days and median hospital stay was 12 days. There were significant differences between operation type and minor complication and hospital stay. And there were significant differences between time gap in 24 hours and minor complication. But, there were no significant between time gap and mortality. Conclusion: Although this study had many limitations, some valuable information was produced. When operation above 24 hours was delayed in SBI, minor complications were significantly increased. Segmental resection of small bowel in SBI were significantly increased minor complications and hospital stay. So, preventive measures for surgical site infection was important to reduce wound complication and hospital stay. Further continuous study and multi-center study were should be performed to improve clinical outcome in SBI.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.159-163
• /
• 2011

Massive bleeding due to traumatic pelvic bone fracture is a leading cause of death. Thus, several methods to control bleeding have been attempted, but none of these has yet been clearly established. After an automobile accident, a 34-year-old motorist was admitted to the Emergency Department for right hip,leg and abdominal pain. Because the patient's pressure remained consistently low and pelvic bone fracture and abdominal bleeding were found on radiologic examination, an explorative laparotomy was performed. After pelvic packing and bleeding control, bleeding still continued, so Angiography was performed, and arterial embolization for bleeding was performed.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.164-167
• /
• 2011

Trauma is an important risk factor for a pulmonary thromboembolism, and anticoagulation is essential to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients with trauma. Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is excreted in the kidney; therefore, using LMWH in patients with renal insufficiency may increase the risk of bleeding complication. The following case describes a 55-year-old traffic accident victim who had massive bleeding and underwent a laparotomy for bleeding control. The patient had acute renal failure, and enoxaparin was administered for the prophylaxis of DVT. Although the patient suffered from serious complications such as pericardial hematoma, the patient recovered without sequellae and was discharged at day 84.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.25-27
• /
• 2012

A 30-year-old, male truck driver had a traffic accident and visited a hospital due to left hip pain. The patient's femoral head was fractured, and he was treated conservatively. For 14 years afterwards, he walked without a limp, had no pain, and drove his truck. He was involved in another traffic accident and experienced a comminuted fracture of the left distal femur 14 years after the initial injury. Although he was symptom-free, while being treated by open reduction and internal fixation for the distal femur fracture, he was concerned about the status of his left femoral head. Pelvis radiographs and reconstructed CT images were done, and they showed a spur change around the femoral head which had a dense sclerotic band within and revealed a slight depression of subchondral bone of the medial portion of the femoral head. The diagnosis was a Pipkin type-II fracture of the femoral head.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.38-42
• /
• 2018

A case of surgically treated intervertebral disc extrusion with intraoperatively confirmed intradiscal hematoma in a 30-year-old physical trainer is presented. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging revealed downward migrating disc herniation, without definite suggestive findings of intradiscal hematoma. Intervertebral disc herniation with concomitant intradiscal hematoma is extremely rare, but could occur in patients who have excessive axial stress to the spine occupationally. In our case, the patient was an occupational physical trainer who had repetitive minor trauma to the lumbar spine. Although the patient did not have any clear history of major trauma to the spine, the intraoperative findings revealed intradiscal hematoma, which is very rare. The presence of intradiscal hematoma is to be suspected even when preoperative imaging studies shows indefinite findings of hematoma, considering the change in signal intensity of hematoma by time.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.48-52
• /
• 2020

Composite skull defects in patients with severe head injuries are very challenging to manage. The dilemma when deciding whether to perform a definitive reconstruction is how long to wait for physiological recovery before an intervention complicates the situation. The inability of such patients to tolerate prolonged anesthetic exposure is a driving factor for performing the minimal intervention necessary to facilitate recovery. Herein, we present a case involving the successful immediate reconstructive treatment of a severely head-injured adolescent with a composite scalp defect secondary to trauma. A 14-year-old boy sustained a severe head injury from a motor vehicle accident with a composite scalp defect in the right fronto-parietal region. The frontal lobe was exposed, and the right eye was crushed and devitalized. The patient was deeply unconscious for 3 days, without any significant improvements before reconstructive surgery was proposed due to fear of possible meningitis resulting from the exposure of brain structures. We successfully managed the patient with a fronto-parieto-occipital flap, after which the patient promptly recovered consciousness.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.26-32
• /
• 2005

Purpose: We evaluate the characteristics of vertebral body fractures in two level flexion-distraction injuries of the thoracolumbar spine Methods: The findings of radiographs, computed tomographs, and MRIs of 43 patients with flexion-distraction injuries combined with vertebral body fractures were retrospectively evaluated. We divided the patients with bursting fractures into two groups, the distractive group (posterior vertebral height ratio >1) and the compressive group (vertebral height ratio <1). Results: There were 23 compression fractures and 20 bursting fractures. In bursting fractures, the distractive group had 5 cases, and the compressive group 15 cases. In 24 cases (55.8%), the interspinous distances were widened. The average of the canal encroachment was 4% in the distractive group and 40% in the compressive group. At last follow-up, the average loss of correction was 2.0 degree in compression fractures and 2.7 degree in bursting fractures. Conclusion: The configurations of vertebral body fractures in flexion-distraction injuries of the thoracolumbar spine were varied as to the location of the axis of flexion. Because bursting fractures in flexion-distraction injuries had distractive or compressive features, one should consider that in establishing operative plan.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.41-46
• /
• 2005

Background: We evaluated the clinical and the radiological results of treatment for humeral shaft fractures by using an antegrade intramedullary nail. Methods: Thirty-nine (39) cases of humeral shaft fractures treated with antegrade intramedullary nail were evaluated. Bone union was evaluated with simple radiographic findings, and a functional evaluation was done using the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score. Results: The average duration until union was 14.1 weeks. On the functional evaluation using the ASES score, 15 cases were excellent, 19 cases good, 3 cases fair, and 2 cases poor. Conclusion: We conclude that antegrade intramedullary nailing has a good clinical and radiological result for treatment of humeral shaft fractures.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.52-55
• /
• 2011

The spleen is the most frequently injured organ following blunt abdominal trauma. However, delayed splenic rupture is rare. As the technical improvement of computed tomography has proceeded, the diagnosis of splenic injury has become easier than before. However, the diagnosis of delayed splenic rupture could be challenging if the trauma is minor and remote. We present a case of delayed splenic rupture in a patient with underlying liver cirrhosis. A 42-year-old male visited our emergency department with pain in the lower left chest following minor blunt trauma. Initial physical exam and abdominal sonography revealed only liver cirrhosis without traumatic injury. On the sixth day after trauma, he complained of abdominal pain and diarrhea after eating snacks. The patient was misdiagnosed as having acute gastroenteritis until he presented with symptoms of shock. Abdominal sonography and computed tomography revealed the splenic rupture. The patient underwent a splenectomy and then underwent a second operation due to postoperative bleeding 20 hours after the first operation. The patient was discharged uneventfully 30 days after trauma. In the present case, the thrombocytopenia and splenomegaly due to liver cirrhosis are suspected of being risk factors for the development of delayed splenic rupture. The physician should keep in mind the possibility of delayed splenic rupture following blunt abdominal or chest trauma.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.87-90
• /
• 2012

Blunt diaphragmatic rupture (BDR) is a relatively rare injury and occurs in 0.8% to 7% of all thorocoabdominal blunt trauma. Especially right diaphragmatic rupture after blunt abdominal trauma is a rarer than left. The diagnosis of BDR can be missed while evaluating the multiple trauma patient. Other severe injuries may mask BDR during the primary resuscitation and survey. We experienced two cases of traumatic rupture of right diaphragm, one diagnosed immediately and the other diagnosed delayed. In this paper we present two cases of traumatic diaphragmatic rupture.