Pelvic fracture-related urethral and bladder injury.

Major pelvic ring fracture (PRF) due to blunt trauma results in lower urinary tract injury (LUTI) in up to 10% of cases. Significant comorbidity may result and this is particularly the case for unrecognised injury. The increase in military injuries due to improvised explosive devices in recent conflicts has revealed a complex injury cohort. The incidence of pelvic fracture related LUTI in these casualties is up to three times higher than that seen in civilian patients with pelvic fracture. A complete understanding of LUTI following pelvic fracture is still lacking. Complex fractures of the anterior pelvic arch are associated with LUTI and initial management is largely conservative. In battlefield injuries, the combination of the blast wave, penetrating fragment and bodily displacement results in open pelvic fracture combined with gross perineal and pelvic soft-tissue destruction and traumatic femoral amputations. These are some of the most challenging injuries that any surgical team will manage and life saving measures are the priority. There are established pathways for the management of LUTI following blunt trauma related pelvic fracture. Military injuries are more complex and require a significantly different approach. This paper outlines the developments in the understanding and management of pelvic fracture-related LUTI, focussing primarily on injury mechanisms and early management. Recent military surgical experience is discussed, highlighting the significant differences to civilian practice.

Aggressive soft tissue infections and amputation in military trauma patients.

Due to the nature of IED injuries, during the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan The traditional, two-stage amputation for unsalvageable combat lower limb injuries has evolved into a strategy of serial debridement and greater use of plastic surgical techniques in order to preserve residual limb length. This study aimed to characterise the current treatment of lower limb loss with particular focus on the impact of specific wound infections. The UK military trauma registry and clinical notes were reviewed for details of all lower limb amputation identifying: 51 patients with 70 lower limb amputations. The mean number of debridements per stump prior to closure was 4.1 (95% CI 3.5-4.7). A final more proximal amputation level was required in 21 stumps (30%). Recovery of A. hydrophillia from wounds was significantly associated with a requirement for a more proximal amputation level (p=0.0038) and greater number of debridements (p=0.0474) when compared to residual limb wounds withoutA. hydrophillia.

Endoscopic evaluation of a complex ballistic injury.

The current conflict in Afghanistan is characterised by significant injuries resulting from the use of Improvised Explosive Devices. Increasing survivability from battlefield injury, escalating musculoskeletal ballistic trauma and the use of blast weaponry combine to produce an injury profile which defines contemporary combat casualty care. Such complex multi-system trauma challenges current wound care rationale. Ballistic injury of the perineum, often associated with proximal femoral injury and significant tissue loss, raises particular management difficulties. These cases demand an individualised, flexible approach due both to the extent of their wounds, logistical issues with positioning and often limited surgical approaches. Routine positioning and approaches around the pelvis may not be available to the surgical team due to presence of external fixators and tenuous skin bridges. The availability of donor skin to cover soft tissue defects is limited and as such, approaches to wounds with minimal additional tissue trauma are of particular use. We describe the benefits of endoscopic techniques and equipment in the evaluation and management of such an injury.

PVL Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis complicating septic arthritis in a UK soldier serving in Iraq.

Musculoskeletal infections caused by Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) secreting Stapylococcus aureus in children and adolescents have previously been reported. We report the first adult case in a 26 year-old British Army soldier who presented with a S. aureus septic arthritis. He was treated by surgical washout and antibiotics and discharged but was readmitted five months later with an ipsilateral femoral osteomyelitis requiring debridement. The causative S. aureus grown from tissue biopsy taken at time of surgery was found to encode the PVL gene. Whilst there is evidence that soldiers in Iraq have a greater rate of S. aureus colonisation on their skin, the proportion that encode the PVL gene is similar to that observed in the UK. Soldiers are however, subject to the known risk factors that increase vulnerability to PVL secreting S. aureus infection. Military clinicians need to be aware of PVL secreting S. aureus and have a low threshold for requesting specific testing in aggressive musculoskeletal S. aureus infections.

A complication of the use of an intra-osseous needle.

Intraosseous needles provide an important alternative to intravenous access for administration of drugs, fluids and blood products in the emergency management of trauma patients. This case report highlights one potential complication of the use of one brand of IO needle.

Outcomes following limb salvage after combat hindfoot injury are inferior to delayed amputation at five years.

OBJECTIVES: The surgical challenge with severe hindfoot injuries is one of technical feasibility, and whether the limb can be salvaged. There is an additional question of whether these injuries should be managed with limb salvage, or whether patients would achieve a greater quality of life with a transtibial amputation. This study aims to measure functional outcomes in military patients sustaining hindfoot fractures, and identify injury features associated with poor function. METHODS: Follow-up was attempted in all United Kingdom military casualties sustaining hindfoot fractures. All respondents underwent short-form (SF)-12 scoring; those retaining their limb also completed the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Foot and Ankle (AAOS F&A) outcomes questionnaire. A multivariate regression analysis identified injury features associated with poor functional recovery. RESULTS: In 12 years of conflict, 114 patients sustained 134 fractures. Follow-up consisted of 90 fractures (90/134, 67%), at a median of five years (interquartile range (IQR) 52 to 80 months).The median Short-Form 12 physical component score (PCS) of 62 individuals retaining their limb was 45 (IQR 36 to 53), significantly lower than the median of 51 (IQR 46 to 54) in patients who underwent delayed amputation after attempted reconstruction (p = 0.0351).Regression analysis identified three variables associated with a poor F&A score: negative Bohler's angle on initial radiograph; coexisting talus and calcaneus fracture; and tibial plafond fracture in addition to a hindfoot fracture. The presence of two out of three variables was associated with a significantly lower PCS compared with amputees (medians 29, IQR 27 to 43 vs 51, IQR 46 to 54; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: At five years, patients with reconstructed hindfoot fractures have inferior outcomes to those who have delayed amputation. It is possible to identify injuries which will go on to have particularly poor outcomes.Cite this article: P. M. Bennett, T. Stevenson, I. D. Sargeant, A. Mountain, J. G. Penn-Barwell. Outcomes following limb salvage after combat hindfoot injury are inferior to delayed amputation at five years. Bone Joint Res 2018;7:131-138. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.72.BJR-2017-0217.R2.

Tetraplegia following cervical spine cord contusion from indirect gunshot injury effects.

We present the case of a 31 year old British soldier who sustained a high energy gunshot injury to the neck with delayed onset tetraplegia. The bullet's transcervical track was subsequently shown to have had no direct contact with the spinal cord, but four to five minutes after injury the patient developed tetraplegia. Subsequent Magnetic Resonance Imaging confirmed this to be due to contusion of the cervical spinal cord. This case illustrates the high levels of energy potentially transferred to surrounding tissues by the passage of a high available energy projectile, causing significant injury to nearby structures not actually impacted by the missile.

Factors influencing infection in 10 years of battlefield open tibia fractures.

The aim of this study was to characterise severe open tibial shaft fractures sustained by the UK military personnel over 10 years of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. The UK military Joint Theatre Trauma Registry was searched for all such injuries, and clinical records were reviewed for all patients. One hundred Gustilo-Anderson III tibia fractures in 89 patients were identified in the 10 year study period; the majority sustained injuries through explosive weapons (63, 68 %) with the remainder being injured from gunshot wounds. Three fractures were not followed up for 12 months and were therefore excluded. Twenty-two (23 %) of the remaining 97 tibial fractures were complicated by infection, with S. aureus being the causative agent in 13/22 infected fractures (59 %). Neither injury severity, mechanism, the use of an external fixator, the need for vascularised tissue transfer nor smoking status was associated with subsequent infection. Bone loss was significantly associated with subsequent infection (p < 0.0001, Fisher's exact test). This study presents 10 years of open tibial fractures sustained in Iraq and Afghanistan. Most infection in combat open tibia fractures is caused by familiar organisms, i.e. S. aureus. While the overall severity of a casualty's injuries was not associated with infection, the degree of bone loss from the fracture was.

The management and outcome of open fractures of the femur sustained on the battlefield over a ten-year period.

This is a retrospective study of survivors of recent conflicts with an open fracture of the femur. We analysed the records of 48 patients (48 fractures) and assessed the outcome. The median follow up for 47 patients (98%) was 37 months (interquartile range 19 to 53); 31 (66%) achieved union; 16 (34%) had a revision procedure, two of which were transfemoral amputation (4%). The New Injury Severity Score, the method of fixation, infection and the requirement for soft-tissue cover were not associated with a poor outcome. The degree of bone loss was strongly associated with a poor outcome (p = 0.00204). A total of four patients developed an infection; two with S. aureus, one with E. coli and one with A. baumannii. This study shows that, compared with historical experience, outcomes after open fractures of the femur sustained on the battlefield are good, with no mortality and low rates of infection and late amputation. The degree of bone loss is closely associated with a poor outcome.

Medium-term outcomes following limb salvage for severe open tibia fracture are similar to trans-tibial amputation.

Extremity injuries define the surgical burden of recent conflicts. Current literature is inconclusive when assessing the merits of limb salvage over amputation. The aim of this study was to determine medium term functional outcomes in military casualties undergoing limb salvage for severe open tibia fractures, and compare them to equivalent outcomes for unilateral trans-tibial amputees. Cases of severe open diaphyseal tibia fractures sustained in combat between 2006 and 2010, as described in a previously published series, were contacted. Consenting individuals conducted a brief telephone interview and were asked to complete a SF-36 questionnaire. These results were compared to a similar cohort of 18 military patients who sustained a unilateral trans-tibial amputation between 2004 and 2010. Forty-nine patients with 57 severe open tibia fractures met the inclusion criteria. Telephone follow-up and SF-36 questionnaire data was available for 30 patients (61%). The median follow-up was 4 years (49 months, IQR 39-63). Ten of the 30 patients required revision surgery, three of which involved conversion from initial fixation to a circular frame for non- or mal-union. Twenty-two of the 30 patients (73%) recovered sufficiently to complete an age-standardised basic military fitness test. The median physical component score of SF-36 in the limb salvage group was 46 (IQR 35-54) which was similar to the trans-tibial amputation cohort (p=0.3057, Mann-Whitney). Similarly there was no difference in mental component scores between the limb salvage and amputation groups (p=0.1595, Mann-Whitney). There was no significant difference in the proportion of patients in either the amputation or limb salvage group reporting pain (p=0.1157, Fisher's exact test) or with respect to SF-36 physical pain scores (p=0.5258, Mann-Whitney). This study demonstrates that medium term outcomes for military patients are similar following trans-tibial amputation or limb salvage following combat trauma.

A cost analysis of Nd:YAG laser ablation versus endoscopic intubation for the palliation of malignant dysphagia.

Although endoscopic intubation is the mainstay of non-surgical palliation of malignant dysphagia, Nd:YAG laser ablation has been shown to provide good palliation with few complications. The study reported here incorporates data from published and unpublished sources into a cost model which estimates the lifetime cost of palliation with the two therapies. It is estimated that, depending on the assumptions used, laser palliation costs between 153 pounds and 710 pounds more per patient than endoscopic intubation. Sensitivity analysis is used to assess whether variation in clinical practice and in the unit costs of resources will change the conclusions of the study. This indicates that, under most alternative sets of assumptions, intubation retains its cost advantage. However, factors that might reduce, or even eliminate, this cost differential include undertaking more laser procedures as day-cases, using more expensive expanding metal stents for intubation and reducing the need for follow-up laser procedures with palliative radiotherapy.

British-Czech co-operation in a mass casualty incident, Sipovo. From aeromedical evacuation from Bosnia to discharge from Central Military Hospital, Prague.

On Thursday 8 January 1998, a Czech Hip helicopter with 21 personnel on board crashed in Bos Krupa, northwest Bosnia, resulting in one of the largest mass casualty incidents involving peacekeepers in Bosnia since conflict broke out there in 1992. Seventeen patients were airlifted from the scene to the British Hospital Squadron in Sipovo, central Bosnia for resuscitation and initial treatment. The next day, six severely injured patients underwent aeromedical evacuation to the Central Military Hospital in Prague. The role of the British Defence Medical Services in this incident was documented in the first article of this two part series. This second article highlights the role of the Czech medical services following aeromedical evacuation of these six patients, and closes the audit trial by documenting the patients' progress and final outcome in Prague.

Mass casualty incident at Hospital Squadron Sipovo, Bosnia following a Czech hip helicopter crash, 8 Jan 1998.

On Thursday 8 January 1998, a Czech Hip helicopter with 21 personnel on board crashed shortly after take off from Bos Krupa, northwest Bosnia. Seventeen casualties (including six with severe injuries) were airlifted from the scene for treatment at the British Hospital Squadron in Sipovo before aeromedical evacuation the next day to Prague, or discharge to their unit. This was the largest mass casualty incident dealt with by the British Defence Medical Services since British troops deployed to Bosnia in 1992.

Acute bilateral leg amputation following combat injury in UK servicemen.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to characterise the injuries and surgical management of British servicemen sustaining bilateral lower limb amputations. METHODS: The UK Military Trauma Registry was searched for all cases of primary bilateral lower limb amputation sustained between March 2004 and March 2010. Amputations were excluded if they occurred more than 7 days after injury or if they were at the ankle or more distal. RESULTS: There were 1694 UK military patients injured or killed during this six-year study period. Forty-three of these (2.8%) were casualties with bilateral lower limb amputations. All casualties were men with a mean age of 25.1 years (SD 4.3): all were injured in Afghanistan by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). Six casualties were in vehicles when they were injured with the remaining 37 (80%) patrolling on foot. The mean New Injury Severity Score (NISS) was 48.2 (SD 13.2): four patients had a maximum score of 75. The mean TRISS probability of survival was 60% (SD 39.4), with 18 having a survival probability of less than 50% i.e. unexpected survivors. The most common amputation pattern was bilateral trans-femoral (TF) amputations, which was seen in 25 patients (58%). Nine patients also lost an upper limb (triple amputation): no patients survived loss of all four limbs. In retained upper limbs extensive injuries to the hands and forearms were common, including loss of digits. Six patients (14%) sustained an open pelvic fracture. Perineal/genital injury was a feature in 19 (44%) patients, ranging from unilateral orchidectomy to loss of genitalia and permanent requirement for colostomy and urostomy. The mean requirement for blood products was 66 units (SD 41.7). The maximum transfusion was 12 units of platelets, 94 packed red cells, 8 cryoprecipitate, 76 units of fresh frozen plasma and 3 units of fresh whole blood, a total of 193 units of blood products. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings detail the severe nature of these injuries together with the massive surgical and resuscitative efforts required to firstly keep patients alive and secondly reconstruct and prepare them for rehabilitation.

Unilateral lower limb loss following combat injury: medium-term outcomes in British military amputees.

This is a case series of prospectively gathered data characterising the injuries, surgical treatment and outcomes of consecutive British service personnel who underwent a unilateral lower limb amputation following combat injury. Patients with primary, unilateral loss of the lower limb sustained between March 2004 and March 2010 were identified from the United Kingdom Military Trauma Registry. Patients were asked to complete a Short-Form (SF)-36 questionnaire. A total of 48 patients were identified: 21 had a trans-tibial amputation, nine had a knee disarticulation and 18 had an amputation at the trans-femoral level. The median New Injury Severity Score was 24 (mean 27.4 (9 to 75)) and the median number of procedures per residual limb was 4 (mean 5 (2 to 11)). Minimum two-year SF-36 scores were completed by 39 patients (81%) at a mean follow-up of 40 months (25 to 75). The physical component of the SF-36 varied significantly between different levels of amputation (p = 0.01). Mental component scores did not vary between amputation levels (p = 0.114). Pain (p = 0.332), use of prosthesis (p = 0.503), rate of re-admission (p = 0.228) and mobility (p = 0.087) did not vary between amputation levels. These findings illustrate the significant impact of these injuries and the considerable surgical burden associated with their treatment. Quality of life is improved with a longer residual limb, and these results support surgical attempts to maximise residual limb length.

Cuffed esophageal prosthesis: a useful device in desperate situations in esophageal malignancy.

Sixteen patients (three groups) underwent endoscopic intubation with cuffed Wilson-Cook esophageal endoprostheses. Group 1 comprised 10 patients with spontaneous esophago-respiratory fistulas due to malignancy. Six primaries were esophageal, three bronchial and one ovarian. One patient could not tolerate a cuffed tube. All other fistulas closed with intubation but two tubes displaced later. Seven patients managed a soft diet after intubation, but two liquids only. Median survival was 4 weeks (range, 0 to 9 weeks). Group 2 comprised three patients with large endoscopic instrumental tears. Two had definite perforations with extensive surgical emphysema. All had satisfactory contrast swallows the day after intubation and were started on semi-solid diets; median survival was 10 weeks (one still alive). Group 3 included three patients with life-threatening arterial bleeding from cancers of the gastric cardia. No further bleeding occurred in any of the three after intubation and two survived for extended periods (15 and 26 weeks). Cuffed tubes are invaluable in these desperate situations and are worth considering for symptomatic relief even when prognosis is short.

Radiation enhancement of laser palliation for advanced rectal and rectosigmoid cancer: a pilot study.

Laser palliation for advanced rectal or rectosigmoid cancer requires repeat treatments every four to six weeks. Thirteen patients (seven men, six women) age range 65-91 (median 81) received additional external beam radiotherapy in an attempt to reduce the frequency of laser treatments required. After successful laser recanalisation, patients were treated with a dose of 30-55 Gy in 10-20 fractions. Bowel symptoms were well controlled for prolonged periods in 11 patients (85%) and further laser procedures were only required every 19 weeks median (range 6-53 weeks). The laser energy required after radiotherapy was only 800 J/month (median). Survival was 14 months (median, range 2.5-20 months) for the seven patients who have died. Seven patients received laser treatment only for three months or more (median 14 weeks, range 13-39). In this group control of symptoms required procedures every four weeks (median) before radiotherapy and 20 weeks (median) afterwards. The laser energy required before radiotherapy was 15,000 J/month and 2000 J/month afterwards (Wilcoxon rank sum test, p < 0.01 for both). Radiotherapy was well tolerated in all but one patient. Three patients developed strictures after radiotherapy but all were dealt with endoscopically. There were no complications solely due to endoscopic procedures. Additional radiotherapy enhances laser palliation for inoperable rectal or rectosigmoid cancer.

Non-optic endosonography in advanced carcinoma of the esophagus.

The assessment of advanced esophageal cancer with a 5-MHz steerable non-optic ultrasound probe is described. Non-optic endosonography was performed on 80 occasions in 50 patients; the probe could be passed successfully on 75 occasions. In all cases, good visualization of the extent of esophageal tumor was obtained and discrimination between the tumor mass and discrete peri-esophageal lymph nodes was possible. The technique was valuable in monitoring tumor response to laser therapy and radiotherapy, and in guiding the laser endoscopist away from areas of minimal thickening.

Recanalization of tube overgrowth: a useful new indication for laser in palliation of malignant dysphagia.

Overgrowth of an esophageal prosthesis by cancer is a late complication of insertion which presents a difficult management problem. We have treated 14 such patients; 9 had Celestin tubes and 5 Atkinson tubes in situ for a median of 7 months. The median patient age was 75 years; 3 had squamous cell carcinomas and 11 adenocarcinomas; 12 were at the lowest thoracic esophagus or cardia, and 2 were anastomotic. Eleven tubes were overgrown at the top, two at the bottom only, and one at both ends. Dysphagia was graded from 0 to 4 (0 = normal; 4 = dysphagia for liquids). All patients but one improved with treatment. The median pre-treatment grade was 4 (range, 2 to 4) and post-treatment was 2 (0 to 3). This improvement was significant (p less than 0.01) Wilcoxon-signal rank). Most patients required only one or two endoscopies. The median survival was 9 weeks from first laser session (range, 3 to 36 weeks). We feel these results justify laser treatment in most patients in whom cancer overgrowth causes blockage of an esophageal prosthesis.