• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.167-171
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• 2009

Purpose: It is important to begin a transfusion safely and appropriately as soon as possible in a hemorrhagic shock patient. A group $O^+$ unmatched pack red blood cell (universal $O^+$) transfusion may satisfy that requirement. We report our experiences with universal $O^+$ to compare its usefulness for hemorrhagic shock patients with that of a matched pack red blood cell transfusion in the emergency department (ED). Methods: This is a retrospective study. Patients who had systolic blood pressure of less than 90 mmHg or a pulse rate of more than 120 beats per minute in the ED were included, and their medical records were reviewed. The collected data were demographic data, vital signs, blood test results, time to transfusion, the amount of transfusion, complications, and diagnoses. We calculated the emergency transfusion score (ETS) based on the patients' medical records. Results: Two hundred thirty-five patients were included. Forty-eight patients (36 trauma and 12 non-trauma patients) were transfused with a universal $O^+$. These patients had less time to transfusion compared with the cross-matched transfusion groups (35${\pm}$42 versus $170{\pm}187$ minutes, p<0.001). There were no differences in complications between groups (p=0.076). Of the patients who were transfused with universal $O^+$, 94.4% got more than 3 ETS. Conclusion: The universal $O^+$ transfusion, compared with matched pack red blood cell transfusion, should be a useful treatment for ED hemorrhagic shock patient due to its having a shorter time to transfusion without an increase in complications.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.14-17
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• 2013

Purpose: The open abdomen is now the standard of care in various clinical situations, especially it is used to treat abdominal compartment syndrome. Many techniques have been reported for closure after an open abdomen, but most take a long time for complete definitive closure and are associated with various problems. We describe a technique using biologic mesh that can achieve early definitive closure after an open abdomen. Methods: A 45-year-old man presented to the emergency room with a painful hip and painful lower extremities after a fall from 80 feet. Radiologic examination revealed multiple fractures of the pelvis and low extremities. Abdominal compartment syndrome caused by a retroperitoneal hematoma developed during the orthopedic surgery. We performed exploration immediately and closed abdomen temporarily. A peritoneal graft of porcine dermal collagen with anterior myofascial approximation of the rectus abdominis muscles and sliding skin flap was performed three days after the previous surgery. Results: There were no complications related to the wound. The patient was transferred to the Department of Orthopedic Surgery seven days after the initial surgery. Conclusion: Early definitive closure using porcine dermal collagen is a feasible method that can reduce the length of hospitalization and the number of operations for an open abdomen.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.248-251
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• 2013

Introduction: A post-traumatic mesenteric arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is extremely rare. Case Report: A previously healthy 26-year-old male was injured with an abdominal stab wound. Computed tomography (CT) showed liver injury, pancreas injury and a retropancreatic hematoma. We performed the hemostasis of the bleeding due to the liver injury, a distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy and evacuation of the retropancreatic hematoma. On the 5th postoperative day, an abdominal bruit and thrill was detected. CT and angiography showed an AVF between the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and the inferior mesenteric vein with early enhancement of the portal vein (PV). The point of the AVF was about 4 cm from the SMA's orifice. After an emergent laparotomy and inframesocolic approach, the isolation of the SMA was performed by dissection and ligation of adjacent mesenteric tissues which was about 6 cm length from the nearby SMA orifice, preserving the major side branches of the SMA, because the exact point of the AVF could not be identified despite the shunt flow in the PV being audible during an intraoperative hand-held Doppler-shift measurement. After that, the shunt flow could not be detected by using an intraoperative hand-held Doppler-shift measuring device. CT two and a half months later showed no AVF. There were no major complications during a 19-month follow-up period. Conclusion: Early management of a post-traumatic mesenteric AVF is essential to avoid complications such as hemorrhage, congestive heart failure and portal hypertension.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.233-237
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• 2013

Delayed traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage (DT-ICH) is a rare event in head trauma patients. However, it develops unexpectedly and results in very severe brain damage. Thus, close monitoring of the neurologic status is needed for every trauma patient. Sometimes, however, neurologic monitoring cannot be done because of sedation, especially in cases of abdominal surgery. In this case report, we describe the case of a 37-yr-old, male patients who had hemoperitoneum because of spleen and renal injury. At the initial operation, massive bleeding was found, so gauze-packing surgery was done first. After the first operation, we sedated the patient for about two days, after which the packed gauze was removed, and the abdominal wound was closed. Immediately after the second operation, we found pupil dilation. Emergent CT was performed. The CT revealed DT-ICH with severe brain edema and midline shifting. However, the patient condition deteriorated progressively despite emergency operation, he expired 2 days after hematoma evacuation.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.6-13
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• 2013

Purpose: Sulforaphane is a naturally-occurring isothiocyanate abundant in broccoli. It has been suggested as a promising antioxidant. In this study, the therapeutic effect of sulforaphane in paraquat intoxication was investigated. Methods: Paraquat was administered via the tail vein, after which sulforaphane or a vehicle (4% DMSO) was administered intraperitoneally 15 minutes after paraquat administration. Histological injury, lipid peroxidation, plasma cytokine (IL-6, IL-10), and nitric oxide were measured. In addition, the effect of sulforaphane on survival in paraquat-intoxication was observed. Results: Regarding histological injury, lipid peroxidation, and plasma cytokine and nitric-oxide response, sulforaphane administration showed no protective effects in paraquat-intoxicated rats. Rather, it increased mortality (log rank p=0.03) and caused lipid peroxidation, as well as plasma cytokine and nitric-oxide production, to be increased. Conclusion: Sulforaphane had no therapeutic effect on paraquat-intoxicated rats; rather, it increased mortality.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.175-182
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• 2013

Purpose: Crushing injuries by car tires result from a combination of friction, shearing, and compression forces and the severity of injury is influenced by the acceleration. Because car-tire injuries of the lower leg in children are common these days but they have received little attention; thus, our purpose was to look closely into this problem. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of data from children under 15 years old age who visited an emergency department because of a car-tire-related crushing injury to the lower leg in pedestrian traffic accident from January 2008 to September 2012. The patient's age, sex, site of injury, degree of injury, associated injuries, type of surgery, and complications were reviewed. Results: There were 39 children, the mean age was 8.0 years, and 71.8% were boys. The dorsal part of the leg was involved most frequently. According to the severity classification, 15 children were grade I, 6 were grade II, and 18 were grade III. Among 24 patients, 13 were treated with skin graft and 3 were treated using a sural flap. Twelve patients developed complications, such as hypertrophic scarring, contractures, and deformities with significant bone loss. Conclusion: Various degrees of skin or soft tissue defects were caused in children by car tires. In this study, patients were often also had tendon or bone damage. Proper and timely initial treatments are needed to reduce the incidence of infection, the number of operative procedures, and the hospital stay.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.207-213
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• 2013

Purpose: Traumatic pancreas injuries are rare conditions that result in high morbidity and mortality. Thus, early diagnosis and intervention are very important to manage pancreatic injuries. The purpose of this study is to review the management and outcomes of the pancreatic injuries in the Korean population. Methods: Original articles published from January 2001 to December 2012 and addressing the Korean population were selected by using indices such as 'pancreas injury', 'traumatic pancreas injury', and 'pancreatic trauma' to search KoreaMed and PubMed. Nine reports were selected to review the management options for surgery or endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography. We assessed the injury mechanisms, injury severities, associated injuries, types of operation, and outcomes. Results: Two hundred fifty of the 332 patients included in the 9 selected reports were men, and the mean age of all patients was 36.4 years. The main injury mechanism was traffic accidents(65.6%). Most patients had grade II or III injuries(68.9%). The most common extra-pancreatic injury site was the liver, followed by the chest and spleen. Operative management, including distal pancreatectomies(129), drainage procedures(64), pancreaticoduodenectomies(23), and others(60), was used for 276 patients. The reported mortality rate was 10.2%, and the morbidity rate ranged from 38% to 76.9%. The average length of hospital stay was 39.5 days. Risk factors for mortality were amount of transfusion, injury severity, base deficit, age, and presence of shock. Conclusion: In this study, we found neither significant data nor a consensus. If national guidelines are to be developed and established, a national data bank or registry, and nationwide data collection are required.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.151-156
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• 2013

Purpose: Traumatic cervical SCI is frequently accompanied by dural tear and the resulting cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak after surgery can be troublesome and delay rehabilitation with increasing morbidity. This study evaluated the incidence of intraoperative CSF leaks in patients with traumatic cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) who underwent anterior cervical surgery and described the reliable management of CSF leaks during the perioperative period. Methods: A retrospective study of medical records and radiological images was done on patients with CSF leaks after cervical spine trauma. Results: Seven patients(13.2%) were identified with CSF leaks during the intraoperative period. All patients were severely injured and showed structural abnormalities on the initial magnetic resonance image (MRI) of the cervical spine. Intraoperatively, no primary repair of dural tear was attempted because of a wide, rough defect size. Therefore, fibrin glue was applied to the operated site in all cases. Although a wound drainage was inserted, it was stopped within the first 24 hours after the operation. No lumbar drainage was performed. Postoperatively, the patients should kept their heads in an elevated position and early ambulation and rehabilitation were encouraged. None of the patients developed complications related to CSF leaks during admission. Conclusion: The incidence of CSF leaks after surgery for cervical spinal trauma is relatively higher than that of cervical spinal stenosis. Therefore, one should expect the possibility of a dural tear and have a simple and effective management protocol for CSF leaks in trauma cases established.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.125-130
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was undertaken in order to identify the characteristics of patients diagnosed with occult an hip fracture after hip trauma. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and radiology reports of all patients who underwent hip skeletal computed tomography (CT) for suspected hip fractures but had normal initial X-rays after hip trauma between August 2006 and January 2012. The variables evaluated included age, gender, body mass index (BMI), accident mechanism, previous fracture, independence, late presentation, ability to bear weight, pain on passive rotation, tenderness of the groin area, diagnosis and treatment. Patients were divided into two groups, with hip fracture (occult hip fracture group) and without hip fracture (no fracture group) to evaluate the characteristics associated with an occult hip fracture. Results: The patients, a total of 139, had a mean age of 58.3 years and included 72 male patients(51.8%). The occult hip fracture group included 43 patients(30.9%). Of those 43, 21 patients(48.8%) had intertrochanteric or trochanteric fractures, 8 patients(18.6%) had femur neck fractures and 14 patients(32.6%) had acetabular fractures. Of the 43, 15 patients(34.9%) needed operative treatment. Age was higher in the occult hip fracture group than it was in the no fracture group($64.4{\pm}19.1$ years vs. $55.5{\pm}23.6$ years, p=0.021). A previous fracture was associated with the presence of a new fracture (p=0.014; OR=3.971, 95% CI=1.314-11.997). Conclusion: Further evaluation of patients who are older or have history of fractures is prudent, even though the initial X-rays are normal.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.99-103
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• 2013

Purpose: This hospital has operated a trauma system of the inclusive trauma system under the sponsorship of this hospital and with financial support from the government from 2011, and it has been designated as a specialized trauma center (candidate) since November 2008. Therefore, this emergency medical center evaluated the influence of the inclusive trauma system on the course of healing and on the results for trauma patients within the region. Methods: The medical records of all patients who were registered as trauma patients from among those who visited the emergency medical center of this hospital from April 2009 to May 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. The monthly and the annual averages of important indices, such as the time in the emergency room and preventable mortalities, were calculated, and patterns of change were sought. The preventable mortality rate was calculated by using the Trauma Injury Severity Score (TRISS) for each patient. Results: The total number of patients registered from April 2009 to May 2012 was 601, and male patients accounted for a larger proportion(432 males(71.88%) vs. 169 females(28.12%)). Their average age was 46.2 years, the average Revised Trauma Score (RTS) was 5.74 points, and the average Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 26.99 points. The preventable mortality rate during the entire period, which was calculated using the TRISS, appeared lower than the preventable mortality rates reported in past studies in the Republic of Korea. Conclusion: These results for the operation of a new trauma system are limited in that they are only for a local private university hospital. However, results show greater changes and developments in and out of the hospital due to multilateral endeavors by the trauma team and the hospital. These endeavors include increased communications among the departments and development of a complementary patient registration system.