Dermal Fenestration With Negative Pressure Wound Therapy: A Technique for Managing Soft Tissue Injuries Associated With High-Energy Complex Foot Fractures.

Military casualties can sustain complex foot fractures from blast incidents. This frequently involves the calcaneum and is commonly associated with mid-foot fracture dislocations. The foot is at risk of both compartment syndrome and the development of fracture blisters after such injuries. The amount of energy transfer and the environment in which the injury was sustained also predispose patients to potential skin necrosis and deep infection. Decompression of the compartments is a part of accepted practice in civilian trauma to reduce the risk of complications associated with significant soft tissue swelling. The traditional methods of foot fasciotomy, however, are not without significant complications. We report a simple technique of dermal fenestration combined with the use of negative pressure wound therapy, which aims to preserve the skin integrity of the foot without resorting to formal fasciotomy.

Evaluation of Prehospital Blood Products to Attenuate Acute Coagulopathy of Trauma in a Model of Severe Injury and Shock in Anesthetized Pigs.

Acute trauma coagulopathy (ATC) is seen in 30% to 40% of severely injured casualties. Early use of blood products attenuates ATC, but the timing for optimal effect is unknown. Emergent clinical practice has started prehospital deployment of blood products (combined packed red blood cells and fresh frozen plasma [PRBCs:FFP], and alternatively PRBCs alone), but this is associated with significant logistical burden and some clinical risk. It is therefore imperative to establish whether prehospital use of blood products is likely to confer benefit. This study compared the potential impact of prehospital resuscitation with (PRBCs:FFP 1:1 ratio) versus PRBCs alone versus 0.9% saline (standard of care) in a model of severe injury. Twenty-four terminally anesthetised Large White pigs received controlled soft tissue injury and controlled hemorrhage (35% blood volume) followed by a 30-min shock phase. The animals were allocated randomly to one of three treatment groups during a 60-min prehospital evacuation phase: hypotensive resuscitation (target systolic arterial pressure 80 mmHg) using either 0.9% saline (group 1, n = 9), PRBCs:FFP (group 2, n = 9), or PRBCs alone (group 3, n = 6). Following this phase, an in-hospital phase involving resuscitation to a normotensive target (110 mmHg systolic arterial blood pressure) using PRBCs:FFP was performed in all groups. There was no mortality in any group. A coagulopathy developed in group 1 (significant increase in clot initiation and dynamics shown by TEG [thromboelastography] R and K times) that persisted for 60 to 90 min into the in-hospital phase. The coagulopathy was significantly attenuated in groups 2 and 3 (P = 0.025 R time and P = 0.035 K time), which were not significantly different from each other. Finally, the volumes of resuscitation fluid required was significantly greater in group 1 compared with groups 2 and 3 (P = 0.0067) (2.8 ± 0.3 vs. 1.9 ± 0.2 and 1.8 ± 0.3 L, respectively). This difference was principally due to a greater volume of saline used in group 1 (P = 0.001). Prehospital PRBCs:FFP or PRBCs alone may therefore attenuate ATC. Furthermore, the amount of crystalloid may be reduced with potential benefit of reducing the extravasation effect and later tissue edema.

UK specialist cardiothoracic management of thoracic injuries in military casualties sustained in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

OBJECTIVES: Outcomes of casualties with thoracic wounding at the deployed UK military field hospital (Role 3(R3)) have been previously described. The level of cardiothoracic specialist input required on repatriation to the UK is less clear. This study aimed to assess the outcomes of casualties with thoracic injuries repatriated to the UK (Role 4 (R4)) and evaluate the impact of specialist cardiothoracic care. METHODS: Casualties were identified through the UK Joint Theatre Trauma Registry. Casualties coded for pulmonary contusions and/or thoracotomy between March 2006 and March 2011 were identified and case-notes reviewed. Subgroup analysis was performed for patients with a documented thoracic abbreviated injury score ≥3. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty-two UK patients were admitted to UK R4 coded to have a thoracic injury; overall mortality 4.9%. Ninety-three were classified as a thoracic AIS of ≥3; mortality 6.5%. Sixty-four were coded for pulmonary contusions and/or thoracotomy; mortality 1.6, and 66% had thoracic AIS ≥3. Improvised explosive devices injured 54 and 62% had a penetrating injury. Pulmonary contusions were present in 70%; 43% developed a chest infection. Thoracotomy/sternotomy was performed in 13 casualties in R3; 3 re-explored in R4. Oscillatory ventilation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was required in 1 case. Cardiothoracic surgery was involved in managing 39% (n = 24) of cases; 11 (45%) required surgical intervention and 19 (79%) had cardiothoracic outpatient follow-up. CONCLUSION: Morbidity and mortality associated with significant thoracic injury is low at UK R4. Follow-up is required to assess long-term outcomes. Specialist cardiothoracic support and intervention was required in the management of complex thoracic trauma. Early specialist support at R4 may improve morbidity and outcomes associated with life-threatening thoracic injury.

Use and complications of operative control of arterial inflow in combat casualties with traumatic lower-extremity amputations caused by improvised explosive devices.

BACKGROUND: Proximal traumatic lower-extremity amputation has become the signature injury of the war in Afghanistan. Casualties present in extremis and often require immediate operative control of arterial inflow to prevent exsanguination. This study evaluated the use of this strategy and its complications. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of case notes of UK service personnel, identified from the UK Joint Theatre Trauma Registry, who sustained traumatic lower-extremity amputation requiring suprainguinal vascular control, following improvised explosive device injury in Afghanistan, between July 2008 and December 2010. RESULTS: Fifty-one casualties were identified with a median Injury Severity Score (ISS) of 30. In 10 casualties, control was obtained via an extraperitoneal approach, and in 41, control was obtained via midline laparotomy and intraperitoneal (IP) approach. The most commonly controlled vessel in extraperitoneal control was the external iliac artery, and in IP control, the common iliac artery. Within the 41 patients who had IP control, 13 also required a therapeutic laparotomy, and 9 patients had bilateral injuries at the level of the proximal femur or higher. One patient, who had undergone IP control, experienced an injury to the common iliac vein, which was repaired. There were no other immediate complications recorded, and 39 casualties survived to discharge. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to characterize the methods of proximal control in high wartime lower-extremity amputees. Although some casualties will have abdominal injuries that necessitate laparotomy, the majority in our study did not; however, in the critically ill casualty, rapid proximal control is required. Novel methods of temporary hemorrhage control may reduce the need for, and burden of, cavity surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Epidemiologic study, level III; prognostic study, level IV.

Resuscitative thoracotomy following wartime injury.

BACKGROUND: The evidence for resuscitative thoracotomy (RT) in trauma patients following wartime injury is limited; its indications and timings are less defined in battle injury. The aim of this study was to analyze survival as well as the causes and times of death in patients undergoing RT within the context of modern battlefield resuscitation. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed on consecutive admissions to a Field Hospital in Southern Afghanistan. All patients undergoing RT were identified using the UK Joint Theatre Trauma Registry. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality, and secondary outcomes included location of cardiac arrest, time from arrest to thoracotomy, and proportion achieving a return of spontaneous circulation. RESULTS: Between April 2006 to March 2011, 65 patients underwent RT with 14 survivors (21.5%). Ten patients (15.4%) had an arrest in the field with no survivors, 29 (44.6%) had an arrest en route with 3 survivors, and 26 (40.0%) had an arrest in the emergency department with 11 survivors. There was no difference in Injury Severity Scores (ISSs) between survivors and fatalities (27.3 [7.6] vs. 36.0 [22.1], p = 0.636). Survivors had a significantly shorter time to thoracotomy than did fatalities (6.15 [5.8] minutes vs. 17.7 [12.63] minutes, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: RT following combat injury will yield survivors. Best outcomes are in patients who have an arrest in the emergency department or on admission to the hospital. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Epidemiologic/prognostic study, level III.

Modification of a bifurcated stent graft for aortouniiliac endovascular aneurysm repair in a renal transplant patient.

INTRODUCTION: We describe a case of aortouniiliac (AUI) endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) using combined iliac limb and bifurcated body stent graft modular system. CASE REPORT: This technique is demonstrated in a 58-year-old man with a 6-cm abdominal aortic aneurysm suitable for EVAR. The patient has a functioning cadaveric renal transplant anastamosed to the mid right external iliac artery, an occluded left iliac system and stenosed right iliac system. The renal allograft was protected with minimal passage across the transplant artery origin using this modified approach. The patient was successfully treated with a bifurcated main body deployed within a contralateral limb endoprosthesis. Subsequent scans confirmed no endoleaks or stent migration. CONCLUSIONS: The AUI conversion from existing Gore excluder stent graft system is safe and should be considered when faced with challenging anatomy of a pelvic renal transplant, slender access, and contralateral iliac occlusion.

Endovascular repair for left common iliac artery occlusion following blunt trauma without associated bony injury: image in vascular surgery.

Common iliac artery injury (CIAI), commonly associated with pelvic fractures may present with a potentially fatal combination of haemorrhage and limb ischaemia. We report a case of isolated CIAI from blunt trauma without bony injury treated successfully using endovascular repair.