Spinal Motion Restriction in the Trauma Patient - A Joint Position Statement.

The American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS-COT), American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), and the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP) have previously offered varied guidance on the role of backboards and spinal immobilization in out-of-hospital situations. This updated consensus statement on spinal motion restriction in the trauma patient represents the collective positions of the ACS-COT, ACEP and NAEMSP. It has further been formally endorsed by a number of national stakeholder organizations. This updated uniform guidance is intended for use by emergency medical services (EMS) personnel, EMS medical directors, emergency physicians, trauma surgeons, and nurses as they strive to improve the care of trauma victims within their respective domains.

An evidence-based prehospital guideline for external hemorrhage control: American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma.

This report describes the development of an evidence-based guideline for external hemorrhage control in the prehospital setting. This project included a systematic review of the literature regarding the use of tourniquets and hemostatic agents for management of life-threatening extremity and junctional hemorrhage. Using the GRADE methodology to define the key clinical questions, an expert panel then reviewed the results of the literature review, established the quality of the evidence and made recommendations for EMS care. A clinical care guideline is proposed for adoption by EMS systems. Key words: tourniquet; hemostatic agents; external hemorrhage.

Uncrossmatched blood transfusions for trauma patients in the emergency department: incidence, outcomes and recommendations.

BACKGROUND: Early transfusion of blood products for severely injured patients can improve volume depletion, acidosis, dilution and coagulopathy. There is concern that some patients are unnecessarily exposed to the risks of emergent transfusion with uncrossmatched red blood cell products (URBC) in the emergency department (ED). The goal of this study was to evaluate the transfusion practices in our ED among all patients who received URBC. METHODS: We analyzed all injured patients transfused at least 1 URBC in the ED at a level-1 trauma centre between Jan. 15, 2007, and Jan. 14, 2008. Demographics, injuries and outcomes were reported. We used standard statistical methodology. RESULTS: At least 1 URBC product was transfused into 153 patients (5% of all patients, mean 2.6 products) in the ED (median Injury Severity Score [ISS] 28; hemodynamic instability 94%). Sixty-four percent of patients proceeded to an emergent operation and 17% required massive transfusion. The overall mortality rate was 45%, which increased to 52% and 100% in patients who received 4 and 5 or more URBC products, respectively. Nonsurvivors had a higher median ISS (p=0.017), received more URBC in the ED (p=0.006) and possessed more major vascular injuries (p<0.001). Among nonsurvivors, 67% died of uncontrollable hemorrhage. Unnecessary URBC transfusions in the ED occurred in 7% of patients. CONCLUSION: Overtransfusion was minimal based on clinical acumen triggers. Early transfer of patients receiving URBC products in the ED to the operating room, intensive care unit or angiography suite for ongoing resuscitation and definitive hemorrhage control must be strongly considered.

Guidelines for field triage of injured patients. Recommendations of the National Expert Panel on Field Triage.

In the United States, injury is the leading cause of death for persons aged 1--44 years, and the approximately 800,000 emergency medical services (EMS) providers have a substantial impact on the care of injured persons and on public health. At an injury scene, EMS providers determine the severity of injury, initiate medical management, and identify the most appropriate facility to which to transport the patient through a process called "field triage." Although basic emergency services generally are consistent across hospital emergency departments (EDs), certain hospitals have additional expertise, resources, and equipment for treating severely injured patients. Such facilities, called "trauma centers," are classified from Level I (centers providing the highest level of trauma care) to Level IV (centers providing initial trauma care and transfer to a higher level of trauma care if necessary) depending on the scope of resources and services available. The risk for death of a severely injured person is 25% lower if the patient receives care at a Level I trauma center. However, not all patients require the services of a Level I trauma center; patients who are injured less severely might be served better by being transported to a closer ED capable of managing milder injuries. Transferring all injured patients to Level I trauma centers might overburden the centers, have a negative impact on patient outcomes, and decrease cost effectiveness. In 1986, the American College of Surgeons developed the Field Triage Decision Scheme (Decision Scheme), which serves as the basis for triage protocols for state and local EMS systems across the United States. The Decision Scheme is an algorithm that guides EMS providers through four decision steps (physiologic, anatomic, mechanism of injury, and special considerations) to determine the most appropriate destination facility within the local trauma care system. Since its initial publication in 1986, the Decision Scheme has been revised four times. In 2005, with support from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, CDC began facilitating revision of the Decision Scheme by hosting a series of meetings of the National Expert Panel on Field Triage, which includes injury-care providers, public health professionals, automotive industry representatives, and officials from federal agencies. The Panel reviewed relevant literature, presented its findings, and reached consensus on necessary revisions. The revised Decision Scheme was published in 2006. This report describes the process and rationale used by the Expert Panel to revise the Decision Scheme.

Early predictors of massive transfusion in patients sustaining torso gunshot wounds in a civilian level I trauma center.

BACKGROUND: Early prediction of the need for massive transfusion (MT) remains difficult. We hypothesized that MT protocol (MTP) utilization would improve by identifying markers for MT (>10 units packed red blood cell [PRBC] in 24 hours) in torso gunshot wounds (GSW) requiring early transfusion and operation. METHODS: Data from all MTPs were collected prospectively from February 1, 2007, to January 31, 2009. Demographic, transfusion, anatomic, and operative data were analyzed for MT predictors. RESULTS: Of the 216 MTP activations, 78 (36%) patients sustained torso GSW requiring early transfusion and operation. Five were moribund and died before receiving MT. Of 73 early survivors, 56 received MT (76%, mean 19 units PRBC) and 17 had early bleeding control (EBC), (24%, mean 5 units PRBC). Twelve transpelvic and 13 multicavitary wounds all received MT regardless of initial hemodynamic status (mean systolic blood pressure: 96 mm Hg; range, 50-169). Of 31 MT patients with low-risk trajectories (LRT), 18 (58%) had a systolic blood pressure <90 mm Hg compared with 3 of 17 (17%) in the EBC group (p < 0.01). In these same groups, a base deficit of <-10 was present in 27 of 31 (92%) MT patients versus 4 of 17 (23%) EBC patients (p < 0.01). The presence of both markers identified 97% of patients with LRT who requiring MT and their absence would have potentially eliminated 16 of 17 EBC patients from MTP activation. CONCLUSIONS: In patients requiring early operation and transfusion after torso GSW: (1) early initiation of MTP is reasonable for transpelvic and multicavitary trajectories regardless of initial hemodynamic status as multiple or difficult to control bleeding sources are likely and (2) early initiation of MTP in patients with LRT may be guided by a combination of hypotension and acidosis, indicating massive blood loss.

The impact of country and culture on end-of-life care for injured patients: results from an international survey.

BACKGROUND: Up to 20% of all trauma patients admitted to an intensive care unit die from their injuries. End-of-life decision making is a variable process that involves prognosis, predicted functional outcomes, personal beliefs, institutional resources, societal norms, and clinician experience. The goal of this study was to better understand end-of-life processes after major injury by comparing clinician viewpoints from various countries and cultures. METHODS: A clinician-based, 38-question international survey was used to characterize the impacts of medical, religious, social, and system factors on end-of-life care after trauma. RESULTS: A total of 419 clinicians from the United States (49%), Canada (19%), South Africa (11%), Europe (9%), Asia (8%), and Australasia (4%) completed the survey. In America, the admitting surgeon guided most end-of-life decisions (51%), when compared with all other countries (0-27%). The practice structure of American respondents also varied from other regions. Formal medical futility laws are rarely available (14-38%). Ethical consultation services are often accessible (29-98%), but rarely used (0-29%), and typically unhelpful (<30%). End-of-life decision making for patients with traumatic brain injuries varied extensively across regions with regard to the impact of patient age, Glasgow Coma Scale score, and clinician philosophy. Similar differences were observed for spinal cord injuries (age and functional level). The availability and use of "donation after cardiac death" also varied substantially between countries. CONCLUSIONS: In this unique study, geographic differences in religion, practice composition, decision-maker viewpoint, and institutional resources resulted in significant variation in end-of-life care after injury. These disparities reflect competing concepts (patient autonomy, distributive justice, and religion).

Thoracic needle decompression for tension pneumothorax: clinical correlation with catheter length.

BACKGROUND: Tension pneumothorax requires emergent decompression. Unfortunately, some needle thoracostomies (NTs) are unsuccessful because of insufficient catheter length. All previous studies have used thickness of the chest wall (based on cadaver studies, ultrasonography or computed tomography [CT]) to extrapolate probable catheter effectiveness. The objective of this clinical study was to identify the frequency of NT failure with various catheter lengths. METHODS: We evaluated the records of all patients with severe blunt injury who had a prehospital NT before arrival at a level-1 trauma centre over a 48-month period. Patients were divided into 2 groups: helicopter (4.5-cm catheter sheath) and ground ambulance (3.2 cm) transport. Success of the NT was confirmed by the absence of a large pneumothorax on subsequent thoracic ultrasonography and CT. RESULTS: Needle thoracostomy decompression was attempted in 1.5% (142/9689) of patients. Among patients with blunt injuries, the incidence was 1.4% (101/7073). Patients transported by helicopter (74%) received a 4.5-cm sheath. The remainder (26% ground transport) received a 3.2-cm catheter. A minority in each group (helicopter 15%, ground 28%) underwent immediate chest tube insertion (before thoracic ultrasound) because of ongoing hemodynamic instability. Failure to decompress the pleural space by NT was observed via ultrasound and/or CT in 65% (17/26) of attempts with a 3.2-cm catheter, compared with only 4% (3/75) of attempts with a 4.5-cm catheter (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Tension pneumothorax decompression using a 3.2-cm catheter was unsuccessful in up to 65% of cases. When a larger 4.5-cm catheter was used, fewer procedures (4%) failed. Thoracic ultrasonography can be used to confirm NT placement.

Occult pneumothoraces in patients with penetrating trauma: Does mechanism matter?

BACKGROUND: Supine anteroposterior (AP) chest radiography is an insensitive test for detecting posttraumatic pneumothoraces (PTXs). Computed tomography (CT) often identifies occult pneumothoraces (OPTXs) not diagnosed by chest radiography. All previous literature describes the epidemiology of OPTX in patients with blunt polytrauma. Our goal was to identify the frequency of OPTXs in patients with penetrating trauma. METHODS: All patients with penetrating trauma admitted over a 10-year period to Grady Memorial Hospital with a PTX were identified. We reviewed patients' thoracoabdominal CT scans and corresponding chest radiographs. RESULTS: Records for 1121 (20%) patients with a PTX (penetrating mechanism) were audited; CT imaging was available for 146 (13%) patients. Of these, 127 (87%) had undergone upright chest radiography. The remainder (19 patients) had a supine AP chest radiograph. Fifteen (79%) of the PTXs detected on supine AP chest radiographs were occult. Only 10 (8%) were occult when an upright chest radiograph was used (p < 0.001). Posttraumatic PTXs were occult on chest radiographs in 17% (25/146) of patients. Fourteen (56%) patients with OPTXs underwent tube thoracostomy, compared with 95% (115/121) of patients with overt PTXs (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Up to 17% of all PTXs in patients injured by penetrating mechanisms will be missed by standard trauma chest radiographs. This increases to nearly 80% with supine AP chest radiographs. Upright chest radiography detects 92% of all PTXs and is available to most patients without spinal trauma. The frequency of tube thoracostomy use in patients with overt PTXs is significantly higher than for OPTXs in blunt and penetrating trauma.

Temporary intravascular shunts: when are we really using them according to the NTDB?

Temporary intravascular shunts (TIVS) are synthetic intraluminal conduits that maintain arterial and/or venous blood flow. This technique can be used for: 1) replantation; 2) open extremity fractures with extensive soft tissue and arterial injuries; or 3) damage control (extremity/truncal). The literature defining TIVS is composed exclusively of small case series (primarily penetrating injuries). Our goal was to identify the injured population who actually undergoes TIVS using the National Trauma Data Bank (2001 to 2005). TIVS were placed in 395 patients (mean Injury Severity Score = 26; initial hemodynamic instability = 24%; mean based deficit = -7.2; mortality = 14%). Blunt mechanisms caused 64 per cent (251 of 395) of cases. Penetrating injuries were primarily gunshot wounds (97%). Concurrent severe extremity fractures and/or soft tissue defects were present in 185 (74%) blunt-injured patients. Only six of 111 centers performing TIVS used this technique five or more times. Only three centers used TIVS more than 10 times. The volume of TIVS use was similar across the study period (P > 0.05). TIVS is primarily used in blunt motor vehicle collision trauma with concurrent severe extremity fractures and soft tissue injuries. This provides distal perfusion while surgeons assess/fixate the limb. TIVS are placed relatively uncommonly by a large number of trauma centers with a few hospitals using them much more frequently for penetrating injuries.

Improvements in early mortality and coagulopathy are sustained better in patients with blunt trauma after institution of a massive transfusion protocol in a civilian level I trauma center.

INTRODUCTION: Transfusion practices across the country are changing with aggressive use of plasma (fresh-frozen plasma [FFP]) and platelets during massive transfusion with current military recommendations to use component therapy at a 1:1:1 ratio of packed red blood cells to FFP to platelets. METHODS: A massive transfusion protocol (MTP) was designed to achieve a packed red blood cell:FFP:platelet ratio of 1:1:1 We prospectively gathered demographic, transfusion, and patient outcome data during the first year of the MTP and compared this with a similar cohort of injured patients (pre-MTP) receiving > or = 10 red blood cell (RBC) in the first 24 hours of hospitalization before instituting the MTP. RESULTS: One hundred sixteen MTP activations occurred. Twelve non-trauma patients and 31 who did not receive 10 RBC (15 deaths, 16 early bleeding controls) were excluded. Seventy-three MTP patients were compared with 84 patients with pre-MTP who had similar demographics and injury severity score (29 vs. 29, p = 0.99). MTP patients received an average of 23.7 RBC and 15.6 FFP transfusions compared with 22.8 RBC (p = 0.67) and 7.6 FFP (p < 0.001) transfusions in pre-MTP patients. Early crystalloid usage dropped from 9.4 L (pre-MTP) to 6.9 L (MTP) (p = 0.006). Overall patient mortality was markedly improved at 24 hours, from 36% in the pre-MTP group to 17% in the MTP group (p = 0.008) and at 30 days (34% mortality MTP group vs. 55% mortality in pre-MTP group, p = 0.04). Blunt trauma survival improvements were more marked and more sustained than victims of penetrating trauma. Early deaths from coagulopathic bleeding occurred in 4 of 13 patients in the MTP group vs. 21 of 31 patients in the pre-MTP group (p = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: In the civilian setting, aggressive use of FFP and platelets drastically reduces 24-hour mortality and early coagulopathy in patients with trauma. Reduction in 30 day mortality was only seen after blunt trauma in this small subset.

Injury patterns among pedestrians using assistive mobility devices.

INTRODUCTION: As the population ages, growing numbers of individuals are turning to assisted mobility devices (AMDs) to maintain independence. These devices often place users in a seated position. Like ambulatory pedestrians, pedestrians seated in an AMD are at risk for involvement in an automobile versus pedestrian crash. The purpose of this study is to compare the injury pattern and comorbidities of standing pedestrians struck by an automobile versus those of seated pedestrians. METHODS: The Arizona State Trauma Registry was queried for pedestrians struck by an automobile between 2010 and 2015. Using ICD 9 and 10 codes as well as other available documentation, seated pedestrians were identified and matched based on age and gender to standing pedestrians. Presence of co-morbidities, injury pattern, Injury Severity Score (ISS), hospital length of stay (LOS), and mortality were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: There were 70 seated pedestrians identified, matched to 140 standing pedestrians. Co-morbidities were present in 89% of seated pedestrians vs 66% of standing pedestrians (p = 0.002). Functional dependence was more prevalent in the seated pedestrians (21% vs 1%, p = 0.004). There were not significant differences in the proportion of AIS injuries by body region. However, within the thoracic region, seated pedestrians were more likely to suffer pulmonary contusions: 14% vs 4%, p = 0.05. CONCLUSIONS: The injury pattern for seated pedestrians differs slightly from that of standing pedestrians struck by an automobile. However, seated pedestrians are more likely to have co-morbid conditions that may complicate care. These findings are important when caring for the injured pedestrian and performing injury prevention outreach.

Advanced trauma life support, 8th edition, the evidence for change.

The American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma's Advanced Trauma Life Support Course is currently taught in 50 countries. The 8th edition has been revised following broad input by the International ATLS subcommittee. Graded levels of evidence were used to evaluate and approve changes to the course content. New materials related to principles of disaster management have been added. ATLS is a common language teaching one safe way of initial trauma assessment and management.

ProTECT: a randomized clinical trial of progesterone for acute traumatic brain injury.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Laboratory evidence indicates that progesterone has potent neuroprotective effects. We conducted a pilot clinical trial to assess the safety and potential benefit of administering progesterone to patients with acute traumatic brain injury. METHODS: This phase II, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted at an urban Level I trauma center. One hundred adult trauma patients who arrived within 11 hours of injury with a postresuscitation Glasgow Coma Scale score of 4 to 12 were enrolled with proxy consent. Subjects were randomized on a 4:1 basis to receive either intravenous progesterone or placebo. Blinded observers assessed patients daily for the occurrence of adverse events and signs of recovery. Neurologic outcome was assessed 30 days postinjury. The primary safety measures were differences in adverse event rates and 30-day mortality. The primary measure of benefit was the dichotomized Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended 30 days postinjury. RESULTS: Seventy-seven patients received progesterone; 23 received placebo. The groups had similar demographic and clinical characteristics. Laboratory and physiologic characteristics were similar at enrollment and throughout treatment. No serious adverse events were attributed to progesterone. Adverse and serious adverse event rates were similar in both groups, except that patients randomized to progesterone had a lower 30-day mortality rate than controls (rate ratio 0.43; 95% confidence interval 0.18 to 0.99). Thirty days postinjury, the majority of severe traumatic brain injury survivors in both groups had relatively poor Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended and Disability Rating Scale scores. However, moderate traumatic brain injury survivors who received progesterone were more likely to have a moderate to good outcome than those randomized to placebo. CONCLUSION: In this small study, progesterone caused no discernible harm and showed possible signs of benefit.

The accuracy of thoracic ultrasound for detection of pneumothorax is not sustained over time: a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound has proven to be very accurate in the diagnosis of pneumothorax in the trauma suite. It is unknown whether this accuracy is maintained over time in patients with a thoracostomy (TT) in place. METHODS: Hospitalized patients with a TT placed to treat a traumatic pneumothorax underwent serial daily bedside surgeon-performed ultrasound by 1 of 2 experienced surgeon sonographers who were unaware of concomitant X-ray findings. Results were compared with daily chest X-ray films. Data collected included size and day of placement of the chest tube, as well as the results of the serial ultrasounds and the comparative X-ray films. RESULTS: Fourteen patients (78% men, mean age 33 years) sustained traumatic pneumothorax. The causes included stab wound (9), gunshot wound (3), and rib fracture (2). They underwent 126 (median 7) ultrasound evaluations and were followed between 4 and 26 (median 7) days after injury. Of these exams, 95 had a concomitant chest X-ray film within 1 hour of the ultrasound, thus 190 hemithoraces could be analyzed. Eighty-two ultrasounds were performed for hemithoraces that had no injury or TT in place and all 82 revealed normal pleural sliding. No pneumothoraces were noted on concomitant chest X-ray films (100% accuracy). One hundred eight ultrasounds were performed for hemithoraces that had a TT in place. For the first 24 hours, accuracy remained 100%. After 24 hours, however, sensitivity of ultrasound diagnosis of pneumothorax fell to 55%, specificity fell to 70%, positive predictive value to 43%, and negative predictive value to 79%. This led to an overall accuracy rate for ultrasound examination after 24 hours of 65%. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound evaluation for pneumothorax is very accurate for the first 24 hours after insertion of a TT, but the accuracy, especially the positive predictive value, is not sustained over time, possibly as a result of the formation of intrapleural adhesions.

Factors affecting mortality after penetrating cardiac injuries: 10-year experience at urban level I trauma center.

BACKGROUND: Despite the lethality of injuries to the heart, optimizing factors that impact mortality for victims that do survive to reach the hospital is critical. METHODS: From 2003 to 2012, prehospital data, injury characteristics, and clinical patient factors were analyzed for victims with penetrating cardiac injuries (PCIs) at an urban, level I trauma center. RESULTS: Over the 10-year study, 80 PCI patients survived to reach the hospital. Of the 21 factors analyzed, prehospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation (odds ratio [OR] = 30), scene time greater than 10 minutes (OR = 58), resuscitative thoracotomy (OR = 19), and massive left hemothorax (OR = 15) had the greatest impact on mortality. Cardiac tamponade physiology demonstrated a "protective" effect for survivors to the hospital (OR = .08). CONCLUSIONS: Trauma surgeons can improve mortality after PCI by minimizing time to the operating room for early control of hemorrhage. In PCI patients, tamponade may provide a physiologic advantage (lower mortality) compared to exsanguination.

Penetrating cardiac injuries: A 36-year perspective at an urban, Level I trauma center.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluates patterns of injuries and outcomes from penetrating cardiac injuries (PCIs) at Grady Memorial Hospital, an urban, Level I trauma center in Atlanta, Georgia, over 36 years. METHODS: Patients sustaining PCIs were identified from the Trauma Registry of the American College of Surgeons and the Emory Department of Surgery database; data of patients who died prior to any therapy were excluded. Demographics and outcomes were compared over three time intervals: Period 1 (1975-1985; n = 113), Period 2 (1986-1996; n = 79), and Period 3 (2000-2010; n = 79). RESULTS: Two hundred seventy-one patients (86% were male; mean age, 33 years; initial base deficit = -11.3 mEq/L) sustained cardiac stab (SW, 60%) or gunshot wounds (GSW, 40%). Emergency department thoracotomy was performed in 67 (25%) of 271 patients. Overall mortality increased in the modern era (Period 1, 27%, vs. Period 2, 22%, vs. Period 3, 42%; p = 0.03) along with GSW mechanisms (Period 1, 32%, vs. Period 2, 33%, vs. Period 3, 57%; p = 0.001), GSW mortality (Period 1, 36%, vs. Period 2, 42%, vs. Period 3, 56%; p = 0.04), and multichamber injuries (Period 1, 12%, vs. Period 2, 10%, vs. Period 3, 34%; p< 0.001). In Period 3, GSWs (n = 45) resulted in multichamber injuries in 28 patients (62%) and multicavity injuries in 19 patients (42%). Surgeon-performed ultrasound accurately identified pericardial blood in 55 of 55 patients in Period 3. CONCLUSIONS: Increased frequency of GSWs in the past decade is associated with increased overall mortality, multichamber injuries, and multicavity injuries. Ultrasound is sensitive for detection of PCI. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic study, level IV; epidemioligc study, level III.

The outcome of open pelvic fractures in the modern era.

BACKGROUND: Recent series have reported that the mortality rate of open pelvic fractures has decreased to < 10%. These injuries are often associated with intra-abdominal visceral damage, although few series have documented the prognostic significance of this injury complex. METHODS: A retrospective review in an urban level I trauma center of all patients who sustained open pelvic fracture between 1995 and 2004. RESULTS: Forty-four patients were identified as having sustained open pelvic fracture. Average Injury Severity Score was 30, with 77% of patients having a score > or = 16. Overall mortality was 45% (n = 20): 11 early deaths and 9 late deaths at an average of 17 days. Vertical shear injuries, although rare, were universally fatal. Other risk factors for overall mortality included revised trauma score, Injury Severity Score, transfusion requirement, Faringer zones I or II injury, Gustilo grade III soft tissue injury, need for therapeutic angiography, and presence of intra-abdominal injury, the latter of which conferred 89% mortality. Risk factors for late deaths also included pelvic sepsis, which occurred in 5 patients and was fatal in 3 (60%). CONCLUSIONS: The morbidity of open pelvic fractures remains high. Associated intra-abdominal injury or active arterial bleeding requiring therapeutic angiography is associated with a grim prognosis. There is a continuing need for new therapeutic approaches to this injury complex.

A review of upper extremity fasciotomies in a level I trauma center.

The purpose of this study was to review recent experience with upper extremity fasciotomy. This study is a retrospective review of injured patients undergoing fasciotomy in the upper extremity at an urban trauma center. Mechanisms of injury, indications for and timing of fasciotomy, role of compartment pressures, techniques of closure, amputation rate, and patient outcomes were collected. Over a 3-year period, 201 fasciotomies were performed in the extremities of 157 injured patients, including 37 in the upper extremities of 27 patients. The mechanisms of injury were penetrating trauma in 13 patients (10 GSW, three SW), blunt or crush in 9, and burns (4 electric, 1 flame) in 5. Vascular injuries and fractures were present in 15 (56%) and 9 (33%) patients, respectively. The decision to perform a fasciotomy was a clinical one in 21 patients (75%), and only 6 patients had compartment pressures measured (range, 40-87 mm Hg; mean, 52). Upper extremity fasciotomy was performed at a first operation in 24 patients, whereas only 3 patients had a delayed fasciotomy from 6 to 48 hours after injury. Two patients died on the first hospital day, and 5 others had an amputation of an upper extremity at a mean of 8 days (range 2 to 26) after injury; however, no amputation was due to the failure to perform a timely fasciotomy. In the remaining 20 patients, closure of the fasciotomy site was performed at a mean of 9 days (range, 2 to 22) after injury, most commonly by split thickness skin grafting. Hospital stay was a mean of 20 days (range, 7-35). We conclude that 1) upper extremity fasciotomy accounts for less than 20 per cent of all fasciotomies performed; 2) a clinical decision is the most common reason for performing upper extremity fasciotomy, and only 11 per cent of patients underwent a delayed fasciotomy in this review; 3) the need for upper extremity fasciotomy is associated with a length of stay longer than expected for overall injury severity.