• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.210-219
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• 2019

Purpose: Traumatic diaphragmatic injury (TDI) is no longer considered to be a rare condition in Korea. This study investigated differences in the prevalence of accompanying injuries and the prognosis in patients with traumatic diaphragmatic damage according to the mechanism of injury. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with TDI who were seen at a regional emergency medical center from January 2000 to December 2018. Among severe trauma patients with traumatic diaphragmatic damage, adults older than 18 years of age with a known mechanism of injury were included in this study. Surgery performed within 6 hours after the injury was sustained was defined as emergency surgery. We assessed the survival rate and likelihood of respiratory compromise according to the mechanism of injury. Results: In total, 103 patients were analyzed. The patients were categorized according to whether they had experienced a penetrating injury or a blunt injury. Thirty-five patients had sustained a penetrating injury, and traffic accidents were the most common cause of blunt injuries. The location of the injury did not show a statistically significant difference between these groups. Severity of TDI was more common in the blunt injury group than in the penetrating injury group, and was also more likely in patients with respiratory compromise. However, sex, the extent of damage, and the initial Glasgow coma scale score had no significant relationship with severity. Conclusions: Based on the findings of this study, TDI should be recognized and managed proactively in patients with blunt injury and/or respiratory compromise. Early recognition and implementation of an appropriate management strategy would improve patients' prognosis. Multi-center, prospective studies are needed in the future.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.242-248
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• 2018

Bicycle fittings have been used to ride bicycles comfortably while minimizing non-traumatic injuries. To analyze the cause of non-traumatic injuries, it is necessary to measure the body weight distribution in various biking positions. In this study, a weight distribution measurement system was implemented by installing five weighable devices on the saddle, both pedals, and both handle grips of a bicycle. To measure the body weight applied through the saddle, the structure of a commercial seat post was modified and a load cell was installed inside. Weighable pedals and handle grips were designed using a 3D modeling program and fabricated by employing a 3D printer. The body weight distribution for ten bicycle riders was measured when the two pedals were aligned horizontally and vertically. Experimental results showed that the body weight distribution varied significantly depending on human body shape, even after the bicycle fitting was completed. The difference between the body weight measured by the proposed system and a commercial scale was less than 3 %.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.270-278
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to analyze the results of surgical treatment of patients with brain and torso injury for 5 years in a single regional trauma center. Methods: We analyzed multiple trauma patients who underwent brain surgery and torso surgery for chest or abdominal injury simultaneously or sequentially among all 14,175 trauma patients who visited Dankook University Hospital Regional Trauma Center from January 2015 to December 2019. Results: A total of 25 patients underwent brain surgery and chest or abdominal surgery, with an average age of 55.4 years, 17 men and eight women. As a result of surgical treatment, there were 14 patients who underwent the surgery on the same day (resuscitative surgery), of which five patients underwent surgery simultaneously, four patients underwent brain surgery first, and one patient underwent chest surgery first, four patients underwent abdominal surgery first. Among the 25 treated patients, the 10 patients died, which the cause of death was five severe brain injuries and four hemorrhagic shocks. Conclusions: In multiple damaged patients require both torso surgery and head surgery, poor prognosis was associated with low initial Glasgow Coma Scale and high Injury Severity Score. On the other hand, patients had good prognosis when blood pressure was maintained and operation for traumatic brain injury was performed first. At the same time, patients who had operation on head and torso simultaneously had extremely low survival rates. This may be associated with secondary brain injury due to low perfusion pressure or continuous hypotension and the traumatic coagulopathy caused by massive bleeding.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.155-158
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• 2011

Mechanical ventilation is usually the treatment of choice for severe respiratory failure associated with trauma. However, in case of severe hypoxia, mechanical ventilation may not be sufficient for gas exchange in lungs. Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) undergo difficulties in oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange. Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is the ideal therapeutic option for those patients with severe traumatic injuries. ECMO allows lungs to reserve their functions and decreases further lung injuries while increasing survival rate at the same time. We report two cases of patients with traumatic ARDS and Multiple Organ Failure including compromised heart function. The preservation of lung function was successful using ECMO therapy.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.66-69
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• 2008

Traumatic bilateral abducens nerve palsy is rare and is associated with intracranial, skull and cervical spine injuries. We report a case of bilateral abducens nerve palsy in a 40-month-old patient with a skull base fracture. The injury mechanism was associated with direct nerve injury caused by a right petrous bone fracture and indirect injury by frontal impact on the abducens nerve at the point of fixation to the petrous portion and Dorello's canal. The emergency physician should be aware of injuries and the mechanism of abducens nerve palsy in head trauma.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.26 no.3
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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 Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.9
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• pp.774-780
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• 2004

Although traumatic thoracic aortic rupture is potentially a fatal condition requiring surgical attention, the presence of concomitant injury involving other parts of the body may greatly increase the risk of cardio-pulmonary bypass. We report our experience of treating associated injuries prior to the thoracic aortic rupture in these patients. Material and Method: From 1997 to 2003, the medical records of 24 traumatic aortic rupture patients were retrospectively reviewed and checked for the presence of associated injury, surgical method, postoperative course, and complications. Surgical technique comprised thoracotomy with proximal anastomosis under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest followed by side arm perfusion to reestablish cerebral circulation. CSF drainage was performed to prevent lower extremity paraplegia. Result： Major concomitant injuries (n=83) were noted in all of the reviewed patients, Of these, there were 49 thoracic injuries, 18 musculoskeletal injuries, and 13 abdominal injuries, Operations for associated injuries (n=16) were performed in 12 patients on mean 7.6$\pm$12.6 days following the injury. The diagnosis of aortic rupture at the time of injury was detected in only 18 patients. Delayed surgery of the thoracic aorta was performed on average 695$\pm$1350 days after injury and there were no deaths or progression of rupture in any of these patients during the observation period. There were no operative deaths and no major postoperative complications. Conclusion: Treating concomitant major injuries prior to the aortic injury in traumatic aortic rupture may reduce surgical mortality and morbidity.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.916-921
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• 1990

Clinical observations were performed on 17 cases of the traumatic sternal fracture, those were admitted and treated at the department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery in Chosun University Hospital during the past 6 years 5months period from January 1983 to May 1989. Obtained results were as follows: 1. The frequency was about 4.8% of the nonpenetrating chest trauma. 2. The ratio of male to female was 16: 1 in male predominance and age distribution was from 24 to 62 years old. 3. The common cause were high decelerating injury [impact of the steering column] and falling down[more than 3 m in high]. 4. The most common fracture site was sternal body and next was sternomanubrial junction. 5. Associated intrathoracic organ injuries were cardiac contusion [6 cases], hemopneumothorax[1 Case], mediastinal bleeding[1 case], and thoracic cage and extrathoracic organ injuries were rib fracture, head injuries, thoracic spinal fracture, and long bone fracture. 6. Abnormal EGG findings were sinus bradycardia[1 case], bundle branch block [2 cases], and sinus tachycardia[3 cases]. 7. The operative reduction and fixation was necessary in only one case and the others were treated with conservative treatment.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.364-370
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• 1989

22 Cases of traumatic diaphragmatic injuries treated at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in Chon-Buk National University Hospital from Jan. 1979 to Oct. 1988 were reviewed in this study. Of the 22 cases, 18 were male and 3 were female, a ratio of 4.5:1. This ratio revealed high incidence in male patient. The age distribution ranged from 2 to 60 years and mean age was 31 years. The modes of injury were as follows: 11 stab wound, 5 traffic accident, 2 fall down, 2 fighting injury, 1 compression wound by sand bag, and 1 slip down injury. Useful diagnostic tools were chest X-ray with or without radiopaque dye swallowing, which was the most commonly diagnostic, UGI series, and thoracoscope. Operations were performed in 22 cases, and 18 cases were through thoracotomy. The herniated organs through the ruptured diaphragm were stomach, omentum, liver, spleen, colon, and small bowel. There were associated injuries, and the most commonly associated was rib fracture. There was no postoperative death.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.416-420
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• 2023

Blunt intrathoracic tracheal injuries are rare, even among blunt chest trauma patients. An early diagnosis based on a high index of suspicion allows for timely surgical management of potentially fatal airway trauma, thereby improving overall outcomes. Diagnosing these injuries can be difficult due to their nonspecific clinical features and the occasional difficulty in radiologic diagnosis. If a patient exhibits respiratory compromise with difficult ventilation and poor lung expansion, despite the insertion and management of an intercostal drain following high-energy blunt trauma, there should be a heightened suspicion of potential airway trauma. The aim of primary repair is to restore airway integrity and to minimize the loss of pulmonary parenchyma function. This case report discusses the rare clinical presentation of a patient with blunt trauma to the intrathoracic airway, the surgical management thereof, and his overall outcome. Although blunt traumatic injuries of the trachea are extremely rare and often fatal, early surgical intervention can potentially reduce the risk of mortality.