• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.126-130
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• 2017

Purpose: Preventable Trauma Death Rate (PTDR) using Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS) has been most widely used as a quality indicator in South Korea. However, this method has a small number of deaths corresponding to the denominator. Therefore, it is difficult to check the change of quality improvement for annual mortality, and there is a disadvantage that variation is severe. Therefore, we attempted to improve the quality of the mortality evaluation by reducing the variation by applying the PARK Index (preventable major trauma death rate, PMTDR) which can increase the number of denominator significantly. And the Save score (S-score) was also examined as another quality indicator. Methods: In the PARK Index, the denominator is number of all patients who have survival probability (Ps) larger than 0.25. Numerator is the number of deaths among these. The PARK Index includes only patients with ISS >15. The S-score is calculated in the same way as the W-score, but the S-score includes only patients with ISS >15, which is a difference from the W-score. Results: PARK Index decreased annually and was 12.9 (37/287) in 2014, 9.6 (33/343) in 2015, and 7.3 (52/709) in 2016. S-score increased annually and was -0.29 in 2014, 4.21 in 2015, and 8.75 in 2016. Conclusions: PARK Index and S-score improved annually. This shows that both quality indicators are improving year by year. PARK Index (PMTDR) has 9.5-fold increase in denominator overall compared to PTDR by TRISS. The S-score used only ISS >15 patients as a denominator. Therefore, there is an advantage that the numerical value change is larger than the W-score. In addition, S-score is not affected by the ratio of major trauma patients to minor trauma patients.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.173-178
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• 2017

Purpose: Most patients with acute low back pain visit emergency room (ER). They mostly need beds, and if their length of stay is longer, it can become difficult to accommodate new patients at the ER. We analyzed the treatment process of patients with back pain and tried to find method for shortening of the length of stay at the ER. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients with back pain who visited at our ER for one year. Patients were divided into two groups according to their length of stay at ER and were compared the charateristcs of between two groups. Results: A total of 274 patients were included in the study. Eigthy-nine patients (32.5%) were in the group with less than 3 hours and 185 patients (67.5%) were in the other group. In the comparison of the two groups according to the medical departments, the number of patients who were in group with more than 3 hours were 25 (14.0%) in the emergency department, 94 (50.5%) in neurosurgery, 66 (35.5%) in orthopedic surgery. Length of stay was significantly increased in orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery (p=0.014). In addition, the length of stay was longer when computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging examinations were performed (p=0.000). Regardless of the type of analgesic agent, the median time to the analgesic treatment was shorter in the group with less than 3 hours (p=0.034). Conclusions: In patients with back pain who visit the ER, the emergency medicine doctor will early control the pain and do not unnecessary image examination to reduce a length of stay at the ER.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.238-241
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• 2017

A 52-year-old man experienced blunt trauma upon falling from a height of 40 m while trying to repair the elevator. The patient's systolic blood pressure and hemoglobin levels were 60 mmHg and 7.0 g/dL, respectively, upon admission. A large volume of bloody discharge was observed in the open wound of the perianal area and sacrum. A computed tomography scan revealed an open comminuted sacral fracture with multiple contrast blushes. He underwent emergency laparotomy. Both internal iliac artery ligations were performed to control bleeding from the pelvis. Protective sigmoid loop colostomy was performed because of massive injury to the anal sphincters and pelvis. Pad packing was performed for a sacral open wound and perineal wound at the prone position. After resuscitation of massive transfusion, he underwent the second operation 2 days after the first operation. The pad was removed and the perineal and sacral open wounds were closed. After the damage-control surgery, he recovered safely. In this case, the hemodynamically unstable, open comminuted sacral fracture was treated safely by internal iliac artery ligation with pad packing.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.145-157
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• 2017

Purpose: We accessed epidemioloy of 908 acute burns (7 years) in the military, of injuries and propose proper educational programs to suit community. Methods: We surveyed burn demographics, circumstances of injuries, size, result of treatment. Results: The mean age was 20.6 years. The flame burns (FB) (325, 35.8%) were most common, followed scald (SB) (305, 33.6%), contact (CB) (219, 24.1%), electric (EB) (45, 5.0%) and chemical burns (ChB) (14, 1.5%). The more occurred during winter (29.7%). SB had mean 3.9% total body surface area (TBSA). The 251 (82.3%) had superficial burns by spillage of hot water/food on lower limbs (45.6%), feet (33.8%) in summer (34.8%), treated with simple dressing (92.8%). Morbidity rate was 5.6%; post traumatic stress disease (PTSD) (0.7%). FB had large wound (9.3% TBSA). The 209 (64.3%) had superficial burns by ignition to flammable oils (31.7%) and bomb powders (29.2%) on head/neck (60.3%), hands (58.6%) in summer (31.7%), autumn (30.2%). They underwent simple dressing (83.4%) and skin graft (16.0%). Morbidity rate was 18.8%; PTSD (10.5%), inhalation injuries (4.0%), corneal injury (3.7%), amputations (0.9%), and mortality rate (1.2%). CB had small (1.1% TBSA), deep burns (78.5%) by hotpack (80.4%) on lower limbs (80.4%). The more (59.8%) underwent skin graft. EB had 6.8% TBSA. The 29 (64.4%) had superficial burns by touching to high tension cable (71.1%) on hand (71.1%), upper limbs (24.4%) in autumn (46.8%). They underwent simple dressing (71.1%) and skin graft (24.4%). They showed high morbidity rate (40.0%); loss of consciousness (13.3%), nerve injuries (11.1%), neuropathy (8.9%), amputations (2.2%), and mortality rate (2.2%). Conclusions: The cook should wear apron over the boots during work. The lighter or smoking should be strictly prohibited during work with flammable liquids or bomb powders. Don't directly apply hotpack to skin for a long time. Use insulating glove during electric work. Keep to the basic can prevent severe injury and proper education is important.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.166-172
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• 2017

Purpose: Thoracic traumas represent 10-15% of all traumas and are responsible for 25% of all trauma mortalities. Traumatic cardiac injury (TCI) is one of the major causes of death in trauma patients, rarely present in living patients who are transferred to the hospital. TCI is a challenge for trauma surgeons as it provides a short therapeutic window and the management is often dictated by the underlying mechanism and hemodynamic status. This study is to describe our experiences about emergency cardiac surgery in TCI. Methods: This is a retrospective clinical analysis of patients who had undergone emergency cardiac surgery in our trauma center from January 2014 to December 2016. Demographics, physiologic data, mechanism of injuries, the timing of surgical interventions, surgical approaches and outcomes were reviewed. Results: The number of trauma patients who arrived at our hospital during the study period was 9,501. Among them, 884 had chest injuries, 434 patients were evaluated to have over 3 abbreviated injury scale (AIS) about the chest. Cardiac surgeries were performed in 18 patients, and 13 (72.2%) of them were male. The median age was 47.0 years (quartiles 35.0, 55.3). Eleven patients (61.1%) had penetrating traumas. Prehospital cardiopulmonary resuscitations (CPR) were performed in 4 patients (22.2%). All of them had undergone emergency department thoracotomy (EDT), and they were transferred to the operating room for definitive repair of the cardiac injury, but all of them expired in the intensive care unit. Most commonly performed surgical incision was median sternotomy (n=13, 72.2%). The majority site of injury was right ventricle (n=11, 61.1%). The mortality rate was 22.2% (n=4). Conclusions: This study suggests that penetrating cardiac injuries are more often than blunt cardiac injury in TCI, and the majority site of injury is right ventricle. Also, it suggests prehospital CPR and EDT are significantly responsible for high mortality in TCI.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.131-139
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• 2017

Purpose: Trauma systems have been shown to decrease injury-related mortality. The present study aimed to compare the mortality rates of patients with major trauma (injury severity score >15) treated before and after the establishment of a level I trauma center. Methods: During this 20-month study, participants were divided into pre-trauma center and trauma center groups, and trauma and injury severity score (TRISS) method was used to compare mortality rates during 10-month periods before and after the establishment of the trauma center (October 2013 to July 2014 vs. October 2014 to July 2015). Results: Of the 541 total participants, 278 (51.5%) visited after the establishment of the trauma center. The Z and W statistics indicated better outcomes in the trauma center group than in the pre-trauma center group (Z statistic, 2.635 vs. -0.700; W statistic, 4.640). The trauma center group also exhibited meaningful reductions in the time interval from the emergency department (ED) visit to emergency surgery (118.0 minutes vs. 142.5 minutes, p=0.020) and the interval from the ED visit to intensive care unit admission (202.0 minutes vs. 259.0 minutes, p=0.035) relative to the pre-trauma center group. Conclusions: The TRISS and multivariate analysis revealed significant improvements in survival rates in the trauma center group, compared to the pre-trauma center group.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.186-191
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• 2017

Purpose: Recently, as the number of people who enjoy water sports life in river or lake easy to accessible are increasing, that of the patients who are injured in water sports also does gradually. We intend to investigate the type of the injured patients of water sports and the riskiness of the sports in this study. Methods: We retrospectively looked into the medical records of the patients who were injured in water sports and visited a general hospital in Gangwondo-province from 2010 to 2015. Results: Total 146 patients came to the hospital during six years. Patients mostly occurred at younger ages, in summer, and on holidays, rather than weekdays. The most common lesions of injuries were faces (53 patients). The most common types of injuries were contusions (62 patients), followed by fractures (32 patients) and lacerations (26 patients). The most frequent fracture sites were the upper extremities (11 patients). Most of the trauma patients were mild, but a small number of patients with aspiration pneumonia occurred and their severity was higher than trauma patients. Conclusions: In this study, facial injuries were most frequent in water sports injuries. In the fractures, upper extremities were the most common fractured lesions. In addition, even if there is no direct trauma, aspiration pneumonia is serious, so caution should be taken with protective equipment suitable for water sports.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.223-227
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• 2020

Background After the laws regulating emergency medicine were amended in 2012, regional trauma centers were established in South Korea. Plastic surgeons specialize in the simultaneous surgical care of patients with facial trauma, burns, and complicated wounds. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of the plastic surgery department in treating severe trauma patients. Methods From January 2012 to December 2018, we enrolled 366 severe trauma patients with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) over 15 who received treatment by specialists in the plastic surgery department. Of these patients, 298 (81.4%) were male, and their mean age was 51.35 years (range, 6-91 years). The average ISS was 22.01 points (range, 16-75 points). Results The most common diagnosis was facial trauma (95.1%), and facial bone fracture (65.9%) was most common injury within this subgroup. Patients were referred to 1.8 departments on average, with the neurosurgery department accounting for a high proportion of collaborations (37.0%). The most common cause of trauma was traffic accidents (62.3%), and the average length of stay in the general ward and intensive care unit was 36.90 and 8.01 days, respectively. Most patients were discharged home (62.0%) without additional transfer or readmission. Conclusions Through this study, we scoped out the role of the specialty of plastic surgery in the multidisciplinary team at regional trauma centers. These results may have implications for trauma system planning.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.172-177
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• 2012

Purpose: After damage control surgery, abdominal wall closure may be impossible due to increased intra-abdominal pressure (IAP), and primary closure may induce abdominal compartment syndrome. The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in the IAP and the feasibility of abdominal wall closure using artificial mesh. Methods: From July 2010 to July 2011, 8 patients with intra-abdominal hypertension underwent abdominal wall closure using artificial mesh. Medical data such as demographics, diagnosis, operation, IAP, postoperative complications, mortality and length of hospital stays were collected and reviewed, retrospectively. One patient was excluded because of inadequate measurement of the IAP. Results: Seven patients, 4 males and 3 females, were enrolled, and the mean age was 54.1 years old. Causes of operations were six traumatic abdominal injuries and one intra-abdominal infection. The IAP was reduced from $21.9{\pm}6.6mmHg$ before opening the abdomen to $15.1{\pm}7.1mmHg$ after fascial closure. Fascial closure was done on $14.9{\pm}17.5$ days after the first operation. The mean lengths of the hospital and the intensive care unit (ICU) stays were 49.6 days and 29.7 days respectively. Operations were performed $3.1{\pm}1.5$ times in all patients. Two patients expired, and one was transferred in a moribund state. Three patients suffered from complications, such as retroperitoneal abscesses, enterocutaneous fistulas, and bleeding that was related to the negative pressure wound therapy. Conclusion: After abdominal wall closure using artificial mesh, intra-abdominal pressure was well controlled, and abdominal compartment syndrome does not occur. When the abdominal wall in patients who have intra-abdominal hypertension is closed, artificial mesh may be useful for maintaining a lower abdominal pressure. However, when negative pressure wound therapy is used, the possibility of serious complications must be kept in mind.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.145-151
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• 2012

Purpose: The objective of this study was to determine the appropriateness of Emergency Medical Service's (EMS's) triage and transport of severely injured patients in Busan and Kyungnam, Korea. Methods: The medical records of the Emergency Medical Information Center were retrospectively reviewed from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010. We identified the number of patients that should have been transferred from a secondary to a tertiary hospital according to the EMS field triage protocol. Results: In a total of 472 cases requests to be transferred to a third hospital were made through the Emergency Medical Information Center. Of these, 207 patients(43.9%) should have been transferred to a tertiary hospital according to the EMS field triage protocol. Among them, thirty-three(15.9%) patients satisfied step 1, 15(7.0%) satisfied step 2, and 117(56.5%) satisfied step 3. Twenty-three(11.1%) patients satisfied both steps 1 and 3. Conclusion: We found the triage by the EMS in the transfer of severely injured patients to a tertiary hospital to be inappropriate and re-education of EMS personnel regarding the EMS field triage protocol is needed. Because many patients are transferred from a secondary to a third hospital, we suggest changing the EMS field triage protocol to expand the severe injury criteria. A need exists to authorize secondary hospitals to transfer severely injured patients directly because there are no trauma centers in Korea.