Bomb blast imaging: bringing order to chaos.

Blast injuries are complex, severe, and outside of our everyday clinical practice, but every radiologist needs to understand them. By their nature, bomb blasts are unpredictable and affect multiple victims, yet require an immediate, coordinated, and whole-hearted response from all members of the clinical team, including all radiology staff. This article will help you gain the requisite expertise in blast imaging including recognising primary, secondary, and tertiary blast injuries. It will also help you understand the fundamental role that imaging plays during mass casualty attacks and how to avoid radiology becoming a bottleneck to the forward flow of severely injured patients as they are triaged and treated.

Meta-analysis of antibiotics for simple hand injuries requiring surgery.

BACKGROUND: Simple hand trauma is very common, accounting for 1·8 million emergency department visits annually in the USA alone. Antibiotics are used widely as postinjury prophylaxis, but their efficacy is unclear. This meta-analysis assessed the effect of antibiotic prophylaxis versus placebo or no treatment on wound infection rates in hand injuries managed surgically. METHODS: Embase, MEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane Central, ClinicalTrials.gov and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Portal were searched for published and unpublished studies in any language from inception to September 2015. The primary outcome was the effect of antibiotic prophylaxis on wound infection rates. Open fractures, crush injuries and bite wounds were excluded. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Data were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis, and risk ratios (RRs) and 95 per cent c.i. obtained. RESULTS: Thirteen studies (2578 patients) were included, comprising five double-blind randomized clinical trials, five prospective trials and three cohort studies. There was no significant difference in infection rate between the antibiotic and placebo/no antibiotic groups (RR 0·89, 95 per cent c.i. 0·65 to 1·23; P = 0·49). Subgroup analysis of the five double-blind randomized clinical trials (864 patients) again found no difference in infection rates (RR 0·66, 0·36 to 1·21; P = 0·18). CONCLUSION: There was moderate-quality evidence that routine use of antibiotics does not reduce the infection rate in simple hand wounds that require surgery.

FFP3 Feelings and Clinical Experience (FaCE). Facial pressure injuries in healthcare workers from FFP3 masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

AIMS: Prolonged wear of filtering facepiece 3 (FFP3) masks during the COVID-19 pandemic has led to dermatoses, including pressure sores. This study aimed to better understand the local scale and nature of the problem, coping strategies, and impact on those affected. METHODS: A survey was designed by plastic surgeons, tissue viability nurses, and critical care doctors. Key elements were demographics, mask-wearing behaviours, facial injuries, coping mechanisms, and impacts, such as time off work or redeployment. Question types were multiple-choice questions, visual analogue scales, and blank space. It was distributed for voluntary completion at a London NHS Trust via staff update emails and posters. RESULTS: Between 24th April-15th May 2020, 178 surveys were completed in full. Participants were 84% female, 55% worked in ITU, and 48% were nurses. Grade 1 facial pressure injuries were reported by 79% of respondents (n=124). Other significant occupational dermatoses included pain (70%), dry skin (50%), and acne (41%). The cheeks and bridge of nose were most affected. Staff used barrier creams (17%), dressings (17%), and analgesia (10%) to manage facial injuries. Half of those who modified their mask were not re-fit tested. A total of 33% required redeployment to a non-FFP3 area or time off. CONCLUSIONS: FFP3 masks worn beyond the recommended 1 h are associated with facial injuries. When advanced PPE (i.e., powered airflow masks) is unavailable, we must provide targeted skincare support (prevent and manage), modify shift patterns to reduce mask wear intensity, and amend fit test protocols to optimise protection against COVID-19.

Planning for UK terror attacks: Analysis of blast and ballistic injuries.

Terrorist attacks have become more acute, less predictable and frequently involve use of explosives and gunfire to inflict mass casualty to civilians. Resource demand has been reported in Role 3 Medical Facilities but the continued resource required to manage blast and ballistic injuries has not been quantified. This study aimed to assess the resource required for blast and ballistic injuries at the United Kingdom's Role 4 Medical Facility. Military patients admitted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (Role 4 Medical Facility) from Afghanistan with blast or ballistic injuries during the 2012 calendar year were retrospectively reviewed. Injury pattern, theatre resource, length of stay and cost analysis were performed. This study included 99 blast and 53 gunshot wound (GSW) patients. Blast patients were more likely to suffer polytrauma than GSW (53% vs 23%), underwent more surgical procedures and utilized double the theatre time. Blast injury patients had a longer length of stay in hospital. The average cost per patient for blast patients was double that of the GSW injury cohort. The Queen Elizabeth experience represents a continuous flow of severely injured military casualties whilst managing concurrent civilian trauma over a long period. This workload has encouraged systematic advancements in managing high numbers of injured patients from point of wounding to rehabilitation. Distribution of resource, theatre planning and multi-disciplinary team working are critical in effectively managing Major Incidents such as terror attacks. Drawing on previous Role 4 Medical Facility experience can aid UK hospitals in terms of strategy and resource distribution.

Are venous thromboembolism risk assessment tools reliable in the stratification of microvascular risk following lower extremity reconstruction?

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of flap failure is significantly higher in the lower extremity compared to free tissue transfer in the head, neck and breast. The most common cause of flap failure is venous thrombosis. The aim of this study was to assess the reliability of venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment tools in this high-risk cohort and to assess the ability of such tools to identify patients at risk of developing microvascular venous thrombosis and venous thromboembolism following lower extremity free flap reconstruction. METHODS: A single centre retrospective cohort study was conducted between August 2012-August 2019. Adult patients who had undergone free tissue transfer following open lower extremity fractures were eligible for inclusion. All patients were retrospectively risk assessed using the Department of Health (DoH), Modified Caprini and Padua VTE risk assessment tools. RESULTS: Fifty-eight patients were included; all were at high risk of DVT according to the DoH (mean score ± SD, 3.7 ± 0.93), Caprini (10.2 ± 1.64) and Padua (5.4 ± 0.86) risk assessment tools. All patients received appropriate thromboprophylaxis; the incidence of symptomatic hospital acquired VTE was 3.5%. Micro-anastomotic venous thrombosis occurred in 4 patients resulting in one amputation. Partial flap necrosis occurred in 7 patients. There were no significant differences in scaled Caprini (median score, 10 vs 9, z = 1.289, p = 0.09), DoH (3 vs 3, z = 0.344, p = 0.36), and Padua (5 vs 5.5, z= -0.944, p = 0.17) scores between those with and without microvascular venous thrombosis. CONCLUSION: This data suggests that current VTE risk assessment tools do not predict risk of microvascular venous thrombosis following lower extremity reconstruction. Further prospective studies are required to optimise risk prediction models and thromboprophylaxis use in this cohort.

When infection isn't infection.

Following open reduction and internal fixation for a proximal humerus fracture a 71-year-old man re-presented with wound changes consistent with infection and elevated inflammatory markers. No significant improvement was seen with concomitant intravenous antibiotics and multiple debridement procedures. This case was further complicated by soft tissue breakdown at the site of a left thigh haematoma also requiring debridement. Surgical site infections represent the most common cause of morbidity postoperatively. This case highlights the importance of considering a number of differential diagnoses. A diagnosis of pyoderma gangrenosum prompted systemic corticosteroid therapy giving rapid clinical improvement.

How do surgeons feel about the 'Getting it Right First Time' national audit? Results from a qualitative assessment.

The implementation of the national 'Getting It Right First Time' was assessed by interviewing six surgeons involved at various levels in surgical site infection (SSI) audit. The positive impacts were to create new professional collaboration, improve stakeholder engagement, and increase the profile of SSIs. One particular knowledge gap highlighted was that some participants had been unaware until that point of the criteria for diagnosing an SSI. The quality of data collected was felt to be poor due to methodological flaws. The audit was described as highly time-consuming and unsustainable if leaning on junior surgeons, without protected time and designated responsibility.

Open tibial fractures in major trauma centres: A national prospective cohort study of current practice.

AIMS: To assess current national practice in the management of severe open tibial fractures against national standards, using data collected by the Trauma and Audit Research Network. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Demographic, injury-specific, and outcome data were obtained for all grade IIIB/C fractures admitted to Major Trauma Centres in England from October 2014 to January 2016. RESULTS: Data was available for 646 patients with recorded grade IIIB/C fractures. The male to female ratio was 2.3:1, mean age 47 years. 77% received antibiotics within 3 h of admission, 82% were debrided within 24 h. Soft tissue coverage was achieved within 72 h of admission in 71%. The amputation rate was 8.7%. 4.3% of patients required further theatre visits for infection during the index admission. The timing of antibiotics and surgery could not be correlated with returns to theatre for early infection. There were significant differences in the management and outcomes of patients aged 65 and over, with an increase in mortality and amputation rates. CONCLUSIONS: Good outcomes are reported from the management of IIIB/C fractures in Major Trauma Centres in England. Overall compliance with national standards is particularly poor in the elderly. Compliance did not appear to affect rates of returning to theatre or early infection. Appropriately applied patient reported outcome measures are needed to enhance the evidence-base for management of these injuries.

Microbiological and functional outcomes after open extremity fractures sustained overseas: The experience of a UK level I trauma centre.

BACKGROUND: Open extremity fractures carry a high risk of limb loss and poor functional outcomes. Transfer of extremity trauma patients from developing countries and areas of conflict adds further layers of complexity due to challenges in the delivery of adequate care. The combination of extensive injuries, transfer delays and complex microbiology presents unique challenges. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted to analyse the surgical and microbiological themes of patients with open extremity fractures transferred from overseas to our institution (Imperial College NHS Trust) between January 2011 and January 2016. RESULTS: Twenty civilian patients with 21 open extremity fractures were referred to our unit from 11 different countries. All patients had poly-microbial wound contamination on initial surveillance cultures. Five patients (25%) underwent amputation depending on the extent of osseous injury; positive surveillance cultures did not preclude limb reconstruction, with seven patients undergoing complex reconstruction and eight undergoing simple reconstruction to achievewound coverage. Hundred percent of patients demonstrated infection-free fracture union on discharge. CONCLUSION: Patients with open extremity fractures transferred from overseas present the unique challenge of poly-microbial infection in addition to extensive traumatic wounds. Favourable outcomes can be achieved despite positive microbiological findings on tissue culture with adequate antimicrobial therapy. The decision to salvage the limb and the complexity of reconstruction used should be based on the chance of achieving meaningful functional recovery, mainly determined by the extent of bony injury. The complexity of reconstruction was based on the predicted long-term functionality of the salvaged limb.

A correlation analysis of metacarpal & phalangeal injury pattern from improvised explosive devices amongst armed force personnel.

Injuries to the hand during military combat operations, particularly from improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have a significant impact on form, function, mental health and future employment but remain underreported amidst the life and limb-threatening emergencies that garner more attention. An understanding the patterns of hand injuries encountered from IEDs is crucial to optimizing reconstruction and rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to re-evaluate hand injury sustained from IED in order to understand the clinical burden for reconstruction and direct the focus for future hand protection. We identified 484 hand injuries in 380 patients sustained as a result of IEDs among military personnel service in Afghanistan between 2006 and 2013. 53% of all surviving military personnel injured by IEDs sustain injuries to the hand. Analysis of the 103 patients who sustained injury to the metacarpal, phalanges or digital amputation revealed that the middle and ring fingers are most commonly injured. Amputation to the ring finger is strongly associated with injury to the adjacent fingers and amputations to the middle, ring and little fingers concurrently is a commonly observed pattern. The proximal phalanges of the middle and ring fingers had a strong correlation for fracture together. These findings disprove the conventional belief in an ulnar focus of injury and support the quest for a development of combat hand protection that addresses the injury pattern seen.

Plastic surgical operative workload in major trauma patients following establishment of the major trauma network in England: A retrospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: The introduction of major trauma centres (MTCs) in England has led to 63% reduction in trauma mortality.(1) The role of plastic surgeons supporting these centres has not been quantified previously. This study aimed to quantify plastic surgical workload at an urban MTC to determine the contribution of plastic surgeons to major trauma care. METHODS: All Trauma Audit and Research Network (TARN)-recorded major trauma patients who presented to an urban MTC in 2013 and underwent an operation were identified retrospectively. Patients who underwent plastic surgery were identified and the type and date of procedure(s) were recorded. The trauma operative workload data of another tertiary surgical specialty and local historical plastics workload data from pre-MTC go-live were collected for comparison. RESULTS: Of the 416 major trauma patients who required surgical intervention, 29% (n = 122) underwent plastic surgery. Of these patients, 43% had open lower limb fractures, necessitating plastic surgical involvement according to British Orthopaedic Association Standards for Trauma (BOAST) 4 guidance. The overall plastic surgery operative workload increased sevenfold post-MTC go-live. A similar proportion of the same cohort required neurosurgery (n = 115; p = 0.589). DISCUSSION: This study quantifies plastic surgery involvement in major trauma and demonstrates that plastic surgical operative workload is at least on par with other tertiary surgical specialties. It also reports one centre's experience of a significant change in plastic surgery activity following designation of MTC status. The quantity of plastic surgical operative workload in major trauma must be considered when planning major trauma service design and workforce provision, and for plastic surgical postgraduate training.

Improving the care of patients with severe open fractures of the tibia: the effect of the introduction of Major Trauma Networks and national guidelines.

AIMS: The management of open lower limb fractures in the United Kingdom has evolved over the last ten years with the introduction of major trauma networks (MTNs), the publication of standards of care and the wide acceptance of a combined orthopaedic and plastic surgical approach to management. The aims of this study were to report recent changes in outcome of open tibial fractures following the implementation of these changes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data on all patients with an open tibial fracture presenting to a major trauma centre between 2011 and 2012 were collected prospectively. The treatment and outcomes of the 65 Gustilo Anderson Grade III B tibial fractures were compared with historical data from the same unit. RESULTS: The volume of cases, the proportion of patients directly admitted and undergoing first debridement in a major trauma centre all increased. The rate of limb salvage was maintained at 94% and a successful limb reconstruction rate of 98.5% was achieved. The rate of deep bone infection improved to 1.6% (one patient) in the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: The reasons for these improvements are multifactorial, but the major trauma network facilitating early presentation to the major trauma centre, senior orthopaedic and plastic surgical involvement at every stage and proactive microbiological management, may be important factors. TAKE HOME MESSAGE: This study demonstrates that a systemised trauma network combined with evidence based practice can lead to improvements in patient care.

Return of functional mobility after an open tibial fracture: a sensor-based longitudinal cohort study using the Hamlyn Mobility Score.

In this study we quantified and characterised the return of functional mobility following open tibial fracture using the Hamlyn Mobility Score. A total of 20 patients who had undergone reconstruction following this fracture were reviewed at three-month intervals for one year. An ear-worn movement sensor was used to assess their mobility and gait. The Hamlyn Mobility Score and its constituent kinematic features were calculated longitudinally, allowing analysis of mobility during recovery and between patients with varying grades of fracture. The mean score improved throughout the study period. Patients with more severe fractures recovered at a slower rate; those with a grade I Gustilo-Anderson fracture completing most of their recovery within three months, those with a grade II fracture within six months and those with a grade III fracture within nine months. Analysis of gait showed that the quality of walking continued to improve up to 12 months post-operatively, whereas the capacity to walk, as measured by the six-minute walking test, plateaued after six months. Late complications occurred in two patients, in whom the trajectory of recovery deviated by > 0.5 standard deviations below that of the remaining patients. This is the first objective, longitudinal assessment of functional recovery in patients with an open tibial fracture, providing some clarification of the differences in prognosis and recovery associated with different grades of fracture.

Nontraumatic atlanto-occipital and atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation: case report.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Concomitant atlantoaxial and atlanto-occipital subluxation resulting from any cause is extremely rare. We have found only five previously reported cases and describe another, suggesting a treatment plan. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 13-year-old female patient presented with a 3-month history of neck pain and decreased neck movements. All symptoms started after a localized neck infection had been treated successfully with antibiotics. There was no history of trauma. A diagnosis of postinfective atlanto-occipital and atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation was made based on a plain roentgenogram and was confirmed based on a computed tomographic scan. INTERVENTION: The atlantoaxial and atlanto-occipital subluxation was reduced during surgery. A posterior C1-C2 fixation was performed, and the atlanto-occipital joint was stabilized by means of a halo body jacket for 3 months. One year after removal of the jacket, all subluxation remained reduced and the patient retained significant neck movement. CONCLUSION: Disruption of the occipito-atlanto-axial complex can result from relatively minor head and neck infections and should be suspected in children with persisting neck pain and decreased neck movements. It may not be necessary to perform an occipitoaxial fusion to treat these patients, and a more limited fusion may be successful.

Synovial chondromatosis of the metacarpophalangeal joint.

We describe a case of synovial chondromatosis in a metacarpophalangeal joint with invasion of local structures. The degree of local tissue involvement was not demonstrated on the preoperative MRI scans. This case highlights that synovial chondromatosis can be invasive and that even the best preoperative imaging may not demonstrate this.

Patients with acute skin loss: are they best managed on a burns unit?

Patients who are critically ill and have large areas of skin loss or breakdown present a difficult management problem. They require the combination of intensive therapy facilities to support failing organs and specialized skin care, sometimes including extensive debridement and reconstruction. The expertise required for both aspects of treatment are found uniquely on a burns unit. We present five patients with large areas of cutaneous loss or damage secondary to a variety of non-burn aetiologies who were managed on a burns unit. We suggest that a burns unit may be the most appropriate place for such patients to be treated during both the acute phase of their illness and the later stages of surgical reconstruction and physical rehabilitation.

Glove usage and reporting of needlestick injuries by junior hospital medical staff.

The use of gloves when conducting invasive procedures and the reporting of needlestick injuries have been strongly encouraged. Despite this, neither practice appears to be universal. In order to determine the rates of glove usage and needlestick injury reporting, we conducted a survey of junior doctors in three hospitals in the UK. Of the 190 respondents, the majority rarely wore gloves for venesection, insertion of intravenous cannulas or arterial blood gas sampling. For more major procedures (insertion of central venous lines, insertion of thoracostomy tubes, suturing) gloves were invariably worn. Only 17.5% of needlestick injuries were reported. The rates of glove usage and needlestick injury reporting were lower than previous studies have demonstrated in North America. Surgeons suffered the most needlestick injuries and were the least likely to report them. The low reporting rate may have serious implications, particularly in view of the new Government guidelines on needlestick injuries which involve HIV-infected blood. By failing to use gloves and report needlestick injuries, junior doctors, in particular surgeons, are placing themselves and patients at increased risk of blood-borne transmissible diseases.

Distal amputations: impact of the introduction of femorocrural and femoropedal arterial bypass.

The aim of the study was to assess the impact of the introduction of femorodistal arterial bypass grafting on the patterns of lower limb amputation and reconstructive surgery, in particular the success rates of distal, conservative, amputations. Two 2-year cohorts of patients 7 years apart were analysed by a retrospective analysis of departmental audit and patient records. Significantly more patients undergoing distal amputation were considered to have reconstructible arterial disease in the later cohort. This was paralleled by an increase in the rate of suprapopliteal/popliteal and distal arterial bypass and a fall in below-knee amputation rate in this group of patients. The overall healing rate and rate of conversion of distal amputations were not adversely affected by the introduction of femorodistal bypass grafting, despite the fact that more distal amputees were non-diabetic in this second group. There was a high rate of success for distal amputations combined with femorodistal bypass, but the subgroup was too small for statistical analysis. We conclude that the use of distal amputation, with or without distal arterial bypass, offers a promising, although unproven, prospect for lower limb conservation even in non-diabetics.