Evaluation of the interhospital patient transfer after implementation of a regionalized trauma care system (TraumaNetzwerk DGU®) in Germany.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate how many patients are being transferred between trauma centers and and their characteristics in the 2006 initiated TraumaNetzwerk DGU® (TNW). We further investigated the time point of transfer and differences in outcome, compared to patients not being transferred. We wanted to know how trauma centers judged the performance of the TNW in transfer. Method: (1) We analyzed the data of the TraumaRegister DGU® (TR-DGU) from 2014-2018. Included were patients that were treated in German trauma centers, maximum AIS (MAIS) >2 and MAIS 2 only in case of admission on ICU or death of the patient. Patients being transferred were compared to patients who were not. Characteristics were compared, and a logistic regression analysis performed to identify predictive factors. (2) We performed a survey in the TNW focussing on frequency, timing and communication between hospitals and improvement through TNW. Results: Study I analyzed 143,195 patients from the TR-DGU. Their mean ISS was 17.8 points (SD 11.5). 56.4% were admitted primarily to a Level-I, 32.2% to a Level-II and 11.4% to a Level-III Trauma Center. 10,450 patients (7.9%) were transferred. 3,667 patients (22.7%) of the admitted patients of Level-III Center and 5,610 (12.6%) of Level-II Center were transferred, these patients showed a higher ISS (Level-III: 18.1 vs. 12.9; Level-II: 20.1 vs. 15.8) with more often a severe brain injury (AIS 3+) (Level-III: 43.6% vs. 13.1%; Level-II: 53.2% vs. 23.8%). Regression analysis showed ISS 25+ and severe brain injury AIS 3+ are predictive factors for patients needing a rapid transfer. Study II: 215 complete questionnaires (34%) of the 632 trauma centers. Transfers were executed within 2 h after the accident (Level-III: 55.3%; Level-II: 25.0%) and between 2-6 h (Level-III: 39.5%; Level-II: 51.3%). Most trauma centers judged that implementation of TNW improved trauma care significantly (Level III: 65.0%; Level-II: 61.4%, Level-I: 56.7%). Conclusion: The implementation of TNW has improved the communication and quality of comprehensive trauma care of severely injured patients within Germany. Transfer is mostly organized efficient. Predictors such as higher level of head injury reveal that preclinical algorithm present a potential of further improvement.

[Comparison of ICD 10 and AIS with the Development of a Method for Automated Conversion]. / Vergleich von ICD-10 und AIS mit der Entwicklung einer Methode zur automatisierten Umwandlung.

BACKGROUND: Most of the current scores and outcome prediction calculations in traumatology are based on the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS). However, this is not routinely used for documentation and coding of injuries in many countries, including Germany. Instead of the AIS, the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is used. While the ICD functions as the basis for automated calculating of the diagnosis-related groups (DRG), no possibility of simple conversion of the 10th version of the ICD into AIS is available so far. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this work is to develop and apply a methodology for simple conversion from ICD 10 to current AIS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The developed mapping procedure was based on a 1 : n relationship between trauma codes of ICD-10-GM and the codes of the AIS2005. Calculated ISS from the conversion codes were then compared with the actual ISS coding available from the clinical trauma documentation. RESULTS: It can be shown that, despite the considerable differences in the structure and systematic of both classification systems, an automated translation is technically possible. CONCLUSIONS: The preliminary result of the mapping suggests, however, that despite the technical feasibility of a reliable conversion and comparability of ICD 10 and AIS in the required quality is still questionable. An automated conversion is still possible and quality would possibly improve by inclusion of additional information.

[Ligament reconstruction in extensor tendon dislocation]. / Bandplastik bei Strecksehnenluxation über dem Fingergrundgelenk.

OBJECTIVE: Stabile recentering the extensor tendon over the top of the head of the metacarpal to restore the exact tension and the direction. INDICATIONS: Dislocation of the extensor tendon at the metacarpophalangeal (MP) joint with functional disabilities of the fingers. CONTRAINDICATIONS: Severe osteoarthritis of the MP joint. Accompanying injuries of collateral ligaments. Fibrosis of the MP joint or contractures of the intrinsic muscles. SURGICAL TECHNIQUE: Curved 8 cm skin incision at distal metacarpal, MP joint, and proximal phalanx. A distally pedicled central tendon strip from the extensor digitorum communis (EDC) tendon is removed. Centralization of the tendon by reconstructing the sagittal ligament and the proximal part of the extensor hood. The tendon strip is wrapped around the tendon of the interossous muscle. POSTOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT: Immobilization of the MP joint in 30° flexion with free proximal interphalangeal (PIP) and distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints for 4 weeks. Full fist after 5 weeks. RESULTS: In all 16 patients good or very good results were achieved. There were no recurrences of tendon dislocations, no MP joint contractures, and only a few minor extensor tendon adhesions.

[Pulley reconstruction in the hand]. / Ringbandrekonstruktion an der Hand.

BACKGROUND: To ensure proper function of the flexor tendons, pulleys are extremely important. Pulleys can be impaired by injury, infection, but also sometimes iatrogenically. The consequences of this failure are often poorly understood. OBJECTIVES: What is the impact of pulley insufficiency, what are the clinical signs, and what are the reconstruction options? METHODS: The experiences of 64 patients with different forms of pulley insufficiency are presented. RESULTS: All patients benefit from a ring ligament reconstruction. A phalanx fracture can be one complication. CONCLUSIONS: Pulley reconstructions are very beneficial operations.

Blunt cerebrovascular injuries in acute trauma care: a screening protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Blunt cerebrovascular injuries (BCVI) of the extra- or intracerebral vessels are frequently observed lesions which may lead to thrombembolic events with focal neurological deficits, stroke or death particularly in patients <60 years. However, a comprehensive standardised clinical algorithm for screening and management of these secondary injuries is still lacking. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We developed a standardised screening protocol applicable for mild as well as severely injured patients. In this prospective cohort study, we evaluated the feasibility of this diagnostic algorithm in a level 1 trauma centre setting. Trauma patients who met the inclusion criteria underwent a computed tomographic angiography (CTA) as part of standard diagnostic procedure at admission. All suspicions or positive findings were reevaluated by a conventional four-vessel catheter angiography within the first 72 h after trauma. Within this period, anticoagulation with low-dose heparin was started. BCVI confirmation indicated a shift to systemic heparinisation with overlapping phenprocoumon therapy for at least 6 months. All patients were reevaluated after 6 months by another four-vessel angiography. Depending on the diagnostic findings, oral anticoagulation may be discontinued or continued for another 6 months. RESULTS: A total of 44 patients (8 male, 6 female, age range 19-95 years) were included in the study. 20 BCVIs were detected in 16 patients (36.3%). The most common injuries identified were Biffl Type II (40%) and Type IV lesions (30%). 86.4% of the patients received a CTA upon admission, 93.2% of which were conducted within 12 h posttrauma. None of the patients had a secondary thrombembolic neurological event during the hospital stay or within 3 months postdischarge. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that implementation of the screening protocol can prevent strokes in patients without primary thrombembolic neurological deficits.

Current concepts in the treatment of Anderson Type II odontoid fractures in the elderly in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Although currently there are many different recommendations and strategies in the therapy of odontoid fractures in the elderly, there are still no generally accepted guidelines for a structured and standardised treatment. Moreover, the current opinion of spine surgeons regarding the optimal treatment of odontoid fractures Type II of the elderly is unknown. In order to have an objective insight into the diverging strategies for the management of Anderson Type II odontoid fractures and form a basis for future comparisons, this study investigated the current concepts and preferences of orthopaedic, neuro- and trauma surgeons. Spine surgeons from 34 medical schools and 8 hospitals in Germany, 4 university hospitals in Austria and 5 in Switzerland were invited to participate in an online survey using a 12-item 1-sided questionnaire. A total of 44 interviewees from 34 medical institutions participated in the survey, consisting of trauma (50%), orthopaedic (20.5%) and neurosurgeons (27.3%). Out of these, 70.5% treated 1-20 fractures per year; 63.6% favoured the anterior screw fixation as therapy for Type II odontoid fractures, the open posterior Magerl transarticular C1/C2 fusion, the posterior Harms C1/C2 fusion, and conservative immobilisation by cervical orthosis was preferred by 9.1% in each case. 59.1% preferred the anterior odontoid screw fixation as an appropriate treatment of Anderson Type II odontoid fractures in the elderly. 79.5% chose cervical orthosis for postsurgical treatment. Following operative treatment, nonunion rates were reported to be <10% and <20% by 40.9% and 70% of the surgeons, respectively. 56.8% reported changing from primary conservative to secondary operative treatment in <10% of cases. The most favoured technique in revision surgery of nonunions was the open posterior Magerl transarticular fusion technique, chosen by 38.6% of respondents. 18.2% preferred the posterior Harms C1/C2 fusion technique, 11.4% the percutaneous posterior Magerl technique and the anterior odontoid screw fixation in each case. This study discovered major variations in the treatment of Anderson Type II odontoid fractures in the elderly in terms of indication for conservative and operative treatment between several treatment centres in 3 European countries. Difficulty and complexity in formulating general guidelines based on multicenter studies is conceivable.

Is there a way to diagnose spinal instability in acute burst fractures by performing ultrasound?

The aim of this study is to examine the predictive value of ultrasound diagnostics for the assessment of traumatic lesions of the posterior ligament complex (PLC) in burst fractures of the thoracolumbar spine. This was a prospective validating cohort study. Judgment about instability and treatment of burst fractures depends on the condition of the PLC. There have been some studies describing underdiagnosis of PLC injuries due to classification problems in ligamentary distraction type fractures. The gold standard for assessing these lesions is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Even then, there are often limits in contemporary operational availability and technical limitations of MRI. Ultrasound was described being an alternative. In a prospective study, 54 levels of 18 patients with acute burst fractures of the thoracic and lumbar spine have been examined by ultrasound and additional MRI scans preoperatively. The condition (intact vs. ruptured) of supraspinous ligament (SSL) and the interspinous ligament has been assessed for the ligaments separately. Hematoma below the SSL has also been evaluated as an indirect sign of an injured PLC. In all the patients the primary performed operative treatment was a posterior spinal instrumentation. Postoperatively the blinded results of the ultrasound procedures have been matched against intraoperative and MRI findings. Assessments of all target structures have been contributed to the calculation of the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound. A total of 18 patients, 14 males and 4 females, with acute burst fractures have been qualified for inclusion in the study. The patients' mean age was 43.4 years. Comparing intraoperative findings with preoperatively performed investigations, ultrasound archived a sensitivity of 0.99 and a specificity of 0.75 (P < 0.05) to detect traumatic lesions to the PLC. As hypothesized the obtained predictive value using ultrasound correlates closely with intraoperative findings. Anyway MRI still seems to be the superior diagnostic method for examining the PLC. However, ultrasound can be considered to be an adequate alternative method in cases with contraindications for MRI such as ferromagnetic side effects, claustrophobia, availability or emergency diagnostics in multiple injuries.

Telematics in acute trauma care.

Each year, 20,000 people in Germany die because of a traffic accident. Altogether, yearly productivity loss caused by these injuries is estimated to be around 5 billion Euros. International and national studies revealed the trauma center level of the primary hospital as the major predictor for trauma related mortality. In 2006 the German Society for Trauma Surgery (DGU) called its members to form regionally based networks for the exchange of data among hospitals engaged in trauma care. In April 2008 the north-west region of Germany with 49 hospitals, three hospitals in the Netherlands, and local emergency services founded the "TraumaNetwork NorthWest (TNNW). The major goals of the TNNW are: 1) to shorten the time between accident and admission to the appropriate hospital, 2) to create effective means of communication, and 3) to implement common pre- and in-hospital standards for trauma care. Since the needed application software is not commercially available, a team of computer and medical specialists has been formed for its development. Once the software is in place, a pre- and post-analysis will be performed to study the consequences of the application on transportation time and injury-related mortality within the region. The project is recognized as a pilot project by the DGU and if it is successful is meant to be adapted across Germany.

[Persistent dysphagia and mechanical glottic paralysis. Complications of a ventral fracture spondylodesis with Forestier's disease]. / Persistierende Dysphagie und mechanische Glottisparese: Komplikation einer ventralen Frakturspondylodese bei Morbus Forestier.

Persistent dysphagia after ventral instrumentation of a patient with a cervical spine fracture and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH, or Forestier's disease) is a rare but dramatic complication. In this case report some pathogenetic factors are discussed. Accurate resection of the spondylophytes should be considered to avoid a ventral protrusion of the plate.