Focused assessment with sonography for trauma exam for diagnosis of pericardial effusion in penetrating thoracic trauma - A retrospective review from a level 1 trauma center.

INTRODUCTION: Point of care ultrasound has long been used in the trauma setting for rapid assessment and diagnosis of critically ill patients. Its utility for diagnosis of pericardial effusion in the setting of penetrating thoracic trauma has more recently been a topic of consideration, given the rapid decompensation that these patients can experience. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to identify the diagnostic accuracy of point of care ultrasound in the diagnosis of pericardial effusion among patients with penetrating thoracic trauma. METHODS: Retrospective review of 2099 patients brought to the trauma bay between the years 2016 and 2021 were analyzed for diagnosis of pericardial effusion. Patients who were diagnosed with a pericardial effusion were investigated for point of care ultrasound findings. Descriptive statistics were performed to identify sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. RESULTS: Prevalence was calculated to be 26.7 cases of pericardial effusion per 1000 patients presenting with penetrating thoracic trauma. Incidence was estimated to be 3.8 cases of pericardial effusion per 1000 person-years. Calculation of diagnostic capabilities of ED POCUS revealed a sensitivity of 96.36 â€‹%, a specificity of 100 â€‹%, PPV of 100 â€‹%, and NPV of 99.90 â€‹%. CONCLUSIONS: Point of Care cardiac ultrasonography is a reliable tool for the rapid diagnosis of pericardial effusion in penetrating thoracic trauma patients. Patients with ultrasound suggestive of this condition should receive rapid surgical management to prevent decompensation.

Outcomes of penetrating carotid artery injuries: A South African multicentre study.

BACKGROUND: This multicenter study examines the contemporary management of penetrating carotid artery injury (PCAI) to identify trends in management, outcomes, and to determine prognostic factors for stroke and death. METHODS: Data from three large urban trauma centers in South Africa were retrospectively reviewed for patients who presented with PCAI from 2012 to 2020. RESULTS: Of 149 identified patients, 137 actively managed patients were included. Twenty-four patients (17.9%) presented in coma and 12 (9.0%) with localizing signs (LS). CT angiography was performed on admission for 120 (87.6%) patients. Thirty patients (21.9%) underwent nonoperative management, 87 (63.5%) open surgery, and 20 (14.6%) endovascular stenting. Eighteen patients (13.1%) died, and 15 (12.6%) surviving patients had strokes. Ligation was significantly related to death and reperfusion to survival. A mechanism of gunshot wound, occlusive injuries, a threatened airway, a systolic blood pressure <90 mmHg, hard signs of vascular injury, a low GCS, coma, a CT brain demonstrating infarct, a high injury severity score and shock index, a low pH or HCO3, and an elevated lactate were significant independent prognostic factors for death. Ligation was unsurvivable in all patients with severe neurological deficits, whereas reperfusion procedures resulted in survival in 63% (12/19) patients with coma and 78% (7/9) with LS although with high stroke rates (coma: 25.0%, LS: 85.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Outcomes in PCAI, including patients with severe neurological deficit and stroke, are better when reperfused. Reperfusion holds the best promise of survival and ligation should be reserved for technically inaccessible bleeding injuries.

Directed work-up of select penetrating neck injuries is safe: Hard signs continue to soften.

INTRODUCTION: Management of penetrating neck injuries (PNIs) has evolved over time, more frequently relying on increased utilization of diagnostic imaging studies. Directed work-up with computed tomography imaging has resulted in increased use of angiography and decreased operative interventions. We sought to evaluate management strategies after directed work-up, hypothesizing increased use of non-operative therapeutic interventions and lower mortality after directed work-up. METHODS: Patients with PNI from 2017 to 2022 were identified from a single-center trauma registry. Demographics, injuries, physical exam findings, diagnostic studies and interventions were collected. Patients were stratified by presence of hard signs and management strategy [directed work-up (DW) and immediate operative intervention (OR)] and compared. Outcomes included therapeutic non-operative intervention [endovascular stent, embolization, dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), or anticoagulation (AC)], non-therapeutic neck exploration, length of stay (LOS), and mortality. RESULTS: Of 436 patients with PNI, 143 (33%) patients had vascular and/or aerodigestive injuries. Of these, 115 (80%) patients underwent DW and 28 (20%) patients underwent OR. There were no differences in demographics or injury severity score between groups. Patients in the DW group were more likely to undergo vascular stent or embolization (p = 0.040) and had fewer non-therapeutic neck explorations (p = 0.0009), compared to the OR group. There were no differences in post-intervention stroke, leak, or mortality. Sixty percent of patients with vascular hard signs and 78% of patients with aerodigestive hard signs underwent DW. CONCLUSIONS: Directed work-up in select patients with PNI is associated with fewer non-therapeutic neck explorations. There was no difference in mortality. Selective use of endovascular management, AC and DAPT is safe.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of routine computed tomography angiography (CTA) for lower extremity penetrating trauma.

BACKGROUND: Routine evaluation with CTA for patients with isolated lower extremity penetrating trauma and normal ankle-brachial-indices (ABI) remains controversial. While prior literature has found normal ABI's (≥0.9) and a normal clinical examination to be adequate for safe discharge, there remains concern for missed injuries which could lead to delayed surgical intervention and unnecessary morbidity. Our hypothesis was that routine CTA after isolated lower extremity penetrating trauma with normal ABIs and clinical examination is not cost-effective. METHODS: We performed a decision-analytic model to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of obtaining a CTA routinely compared to clinical observation and ABI evaluation in hemodynamically normal patients with isolated penetrating lower extremity trauma. Our base case was a patient that sustained penetrating lower extremity trauma with normal ABIs that received a CTA in the trauma bay. Costs, probability, and Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) were generated from published literature. RESULTS: Clinical evaluation only (no CTA) was cost-effective with a cost of $2056.13 and 0.98 QALYs gained compared to routine CTA which had increased costs of $7449.91 and lower QALYs 0.92. Using one-way sensitivity analysis, routine CTA does not become the cost-effective strategy until the cost of a missed injury reaches $210,075.83. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with isolated, penetrating lower extremity trauma with normal ABIs and clinical examination do not warrant routine CTA as there is no benefit with increased costs.

Complicated penetrating foreign body neck injury.

Penetrating neck injury is associated with significant morbidity due to the several structures (neurological, vascular and aerodigestive) within close proximity to one another. This case highlights an uncommon presentation of an embedded foreign body following penetrating neck trauma and the decision-making required during management.

'No zone' approach in the management of penetrating neck injuries - an Australian Tertiary Trauma Centre experience.

PURPOSE: Penetrating neck injuries (PNIs), defined as deep to the platysma, can result in significant morbidity and mortality. Management has evolved from a zone-based approach to a 'no zone' algorithm, resulting in reduced non-therapeutic neck exploration rates. The aim of this study was to examine PNIs and its management trends in an Australian tertiary trauma centre, to determine if a 'no zone' approach could be safely implemented in this population, as has been demonstrated internationally. METHODOLOGY: This was a retrospective observational study at a level 1 adult Australian tertiary trauma centre using prospectively collated data from January 2008 to December 2018. Observed data included age, gender, mechanism of injury, computed tomography angiography (CT-A) use and operative intervention. Patients were examined based on zone of injury and presenting signs - 'hard', 'soft' or 'asymptomatic'. Major outcomes were CT-A usage, positive CT-A correlation with therapeutic neck explorations and negative neck exploration rates. RESULTS: This study identified 238 PNI patients, with 204 selected for review. Most injuries occurred in zone 2 (71.6%), with soft signs accounting for 53.4% of cases. Over 10 years, CT-A utilization increased from 55% to 94.1%, with positive CT-As being more likely to yield therapeutic neck explorations. There was a general decreased trend in operative intervention but without a clear reduction in non-therapeutic neck explorations. CONCLUSION: Our data suggests similarities with results from around the world, demonstrating that the 'no zone' approach should be considered when managing PNIs, but with clinician discretion in individual cases.

Management of contained penetrating cardiac injury in a patient with prior cardiac surgery.

Penetrating cardiac injuries usually require emergent surgical intervention. Our patient presented to the trauma centre with multiple stab wounds to the neck, chest, epigastric region and abdomen. She arrived haemodynamically stable, and her initial Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma exam was negative. Her chest X-ray did not show any evident pneumothorax or haemothorax. Due to her injury pattern, she was taken to the operating room for exploratory laparotomy and neck exploration. Postoperatively, she was taken for CT and found to have a contained cardiac rupture. The injury was contained within previous scar tissue from her prior cardiac surgery. Further evaluation revealed that the injury included a penetrating stab wound to the right ventricle and a traumatic ventricular septal defect (VSD). She subsequently underwent a redo sternotomy with the repair of the penetrating stab wound and the VSD. Cardiology, intensive care, trauma surgery and cardiothoracic surgery coordinated her care from diagnosis, management and recovery. This case highlights the challenges in the management of cardiac injuries and the benefits of a multidisciplinary approach to care for complex cardiac injuries.

Diagnostic approach to penetrating neck trauma: What you need to know.

ABSTRACT: Diagnostic evaluation of penetrating neck trauma has evolved considerably over the last several decades. The contemporary approach to these injuries is based primarily on clinical signs of injury and multidetector computed tomographic angiography. The neck is evaluated as a unit, rather than relying on the surface anatomy zones in which external injuries are seen to guide the workup of internal injuries. This "no-zone" approach safely spares many patients from negative explorations and unnecessary invasive tests. The purpose of this review is to describe an evidence-based approach to the diagnostic evaluation of penetrating neck trauma, including indications for adjunctive testing beyond physical examination and multidetector computed tomographic angiography. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Literature Synthesis and Expert Opinion; Level V.

Clinical Reasoning: A 24-Year-Old Woman With Penetrating Neck Injury From a Needlefish.

Evaluating patients with a traumatic spinal cord injury can be complicated by other injuries. In this case, a 24-year-old woman injured by a needlefish presented with combined motor and sensory defects, cranial nerve deficits, and a blunt vascular injury. This case highlights the importance of neurologic and vascular localizations and an understanding of spinal cord injuries involving various ascending and descending tracts. Appreciation of these anatomical considerations through this case illustrates the diagnostic approach to neurologic evaluation. While we present a traumatic etiology for multiple neurologic syndromes, this case gives readers an opportunity to develop a comprehensive differential diagnosis and tailor investigations for other relevant etiologies. Readers walking through this stepwise process will ultimately arrive at several distinct but related diagnoses.

Anterior approach for a stab wound with penetrating rebar injury causing incomplete cauda equina syndrome in lumbosacral spine lesion: a case report and literature review.

PURPOSE: To report a unique case of incomplete CES following a rebar penetrating injury in perineal region with retro-pulsed fragment, which was treated with anterior approach and discuss suitable surgical approach. METHODS: Incomplete cauda equina syndrome caused by non-missile penetrating injury is extremely rare. A 26-year-old male patient presented incomplete cauda equina syndrome due to a penetrating rebar wound from his perineal region to the lumbosacral spine. Computed tomography demonstrated a bony fragment broken from S1 body compressing into the spinal canal. RESULTS: By anterior approach, we performed partial corpectomy of L5, decompression by retrieving the bony fragment and L5-S1 interbody fusion. The patient had a significant recovery, and no clinical complication was found after over 2-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: It is challenging to determine the optimal strategy of surgical treatment for penetrating spinal injuries with retained foreign bodies, here we suggest an anterior approach situation that has the advantage of being able to effectively perform decompression and prevent iatrogenic damages of thecal sac and nerve rootlets.

An intricate vagina penetrating injury with a 22 cm cassava stick in situ for 6 months: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Trauma remains one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality and a threat to attainment of sustainable development goal 11. Genital urinary trauma is reported in about 10% of patients presenting with trauma worldwide, and in about 6.6% of patients in Sub-Saharan Africa. If not careful enough, one may miss the foreign body in the vagina and this may be associated with morbidity, and although  rare, mortality. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a 7-year-old Black Ugandan that had suffered vagina trauma 6 months prior to presentation at our facility and presented with chronic vagina pus discharge for 6 months. Prior examinations had failed to recognize the foreign body and so did the two abdominal pelvic ultrasound scans. During examination under anesthesia, we were able to locate the cassava stick that had caused penetrating vagina injury and we were able to dislodge it. It was a blunt cassava stick with length of 22 cm and diameter of 2 cm. Although it had gone through the peritoneal cavity, we did not do a laparotomy. CONCLUSION: This case emphasizes the need for a thorough vaginal exam including the need to do it under anesthesia with good lighting even when ultrasound scan findings are normal. It presents an opportunity for one to manage penetrating peritoneal injury without a laparotomy in highly selected cases. Gynecologists should be keen as well to rule out child molestation.

The Role of Dual-Energy CT in Solid Organ Injury.

The liver, spleen, and kidneys are the commonest injured solid organs in blunt and penetrating trauma. The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) Organ Injury Scale (OIS) is the most widely accepted system for categorizing traumatic injuries. Grading systems allow clear communication of findings between clinical teams and assign a measurable severity of injury, which directly correlates with morbidity and mortality. The 2018 revised AAST OIS emphasizes reliance on CT for accurate grading; in particular regarding vascular injuries. Dual-Energy CT (DECT) has emerged as a promising tool with multiple clinical applications already demonstrated. In this review article, we summarize the basic principles of CT attenuation to refresh the minds of our readers and we scrutinize DECT's technology as opposed to conventional Single-Energy CT (SECT). This is followed by outlining the benefits of various DECT postprocessing techniques, which authors of this article refer to as the 3Ms (Mapping of Iodine, Material decomposition, and Monoenergetic virtual imaging), in aiding radiologists to confidently assign an OIS as well as problem solve complex injury patterns. In addition, a thorough discussion of changes to the revised AAST OIS focusing on definitions of key terms used in reporting injuries is described.

Successful management of a thoracoabdominal impalement injury.

A 63-year-old female presented to the hospital with a history of alleged accidental fall onto a rusted iron rod. She was hypotensive but stable. Cooling of the rod while cutting the protruding part was performed as per basic trauma life support (BTLS) access. Following resuscitation, she was re-evaluated clinically and radiologically, and prepared for surgery. The iron rod trajectory was shown on computed tomography (CT) scan to be entering through the left popliteal fossa, then traversing the abdominal cavity with injury to the descending colon and the left dome of the diaphragm. At laparotomy the iron rod was removed under vision. The laceration to the left dome of the diaphragm was repaired. The perforation of the descending colon was identified and repaired. Colostomy was deferred as there was no peritoneal contamination. The penetrating thigh wound was debrided. Her recovery was uneventful. She was discharged on postoperative day 15. She came for follow-up as out-patient after 3 weeks and the thigh wound had healed. Impalement injuries are rare and often severe. Most impalement injuries require a multidisciplinary approach. Adequate early resuscitation, proper evaluation and early surgical management is ideal. Immediate stabilisation of the foreign body from the time of encounter is essential. Removal under anaesthesia is mandatory.

Trauma craneoencefálico penetrante por una herida de arpón. Presentación de un caso / Penetrating cranioencephalic trauma due to harpoon wound. Presentation of a case

RESUMEN Las heridas craneocerebrales penetrantes más frecuentes son las provocadas por armas de fuego; las restantes resultan de rara frecuencia. Se presentó un caso que recibió agresión craneoencefálica por arpón, de forma accidental, fuera del agua. Se describieron los detalles del suceso, los exámenes complementarios, la conducta adoptada, el manejo neuroquirúrgico, y la sorprendente evolución postoperatoria del paciente (AU).

ABSTRACT The most frequent penetrating craniocerebral wounds are those caused by firearms; the remaining ones are rare. We presented a case that received accidental cranioencephalic aggression by harpoon, an event that occurred out of the water. Details of the event, complementary examinations, adopted behavior and neurosurgical management that were decided, as well as the surprising post-operative evolution of the patient were described (AU).

A propósito de un caso de migración de proyectil / Concerning about a case of projectile migration

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Implementation of a new Single-Pass Whole-Body Computed Tomography Protocol: Is it safe, effective and efficient in patients with severe trauma? / Implementación de un nuevo protocolo de Tomografía Computarizada Corporal Total de un solo pase: ¿Es seguro, efectivo y eficiente en pacientes con trauma severo?

Abstract Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the implementation of a new single-pass whole-body computed tomography Protocol in the management of patients with severe trauma. Methods: This was a descriptive evaluation of polytrauma patients who underwent whole-body computed tomography. Patients were divided into three groups: 1. Blunt trauma hemodynamically stable 2. Blunt trauma hemodynamically unstable and 3. Penetrating trauma. Demographics, whole-body computed tomography parameters and outcome variables were evaluated. Results: Were included 263 patients. Median injury severity score was 22 (IQR: 16-22). Time between arrival to the emergency department and completing the whole-body computed tomography was under 30 minutes in most patients [Group 1: 28 minutes (IQR: 14-55), Group 2: 29 minutes (IQR: 16-57), and Group 3: 31 minutes (IQR: 13-50; p= 0.96)]. 172 patients (65.4%) underwent non-operative management. The calculated and the real survival rates did not vary among the groups either [Group 1: TRISS 86.4% vs. real survival rate 85% (p= 0.69); Group 2: TRISS 69% vs. real survival rate 74% (p= 0.25); Group 3: TRISS 93% vs. real survival rate 87% (p= 0.07)]. Conclusion: This new single-pass whole-body computed tomography protocol was safe, effective and efficient to decide whether the patient with severe trauma requires a surgical intervention independently of the mechanism of injury or the hemodynamic stability of the patient. Its use could also potentially reduce the rate of unnecessary surgical interventions of patients with severe trauma including those with penetrating trauma.

Resumen Introducción: El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la implementación de un nuevo protocolo de tomografía computarizada corporal total para el manejo de pacientes con trauma severo. Métodos: Este estudio es una evaluación descriptiva de pacientes que recibieron tomografía computarizada corporal total. Los pacientes fueron divididos en 3 grupos: 1. Trauma cerrado hemodinámicamente estables, 2. Trauma cerrado hemodinámicamente inestables y 3. Trauma penetrante. Se evaluaron las características demográficas, parámetros relacionados con la técnica y los desenlaces de los pacientes. Resultados: Se incluyeron 263 pacientes. La mediana del puntaje de severidad de la lesión fue 22 (RIQ: 16-22). El tiempo entre el ingreso a urgencias y completar la tomografía corporal total fue menor a 30 minutos en la mayoría de pacientes [Grupo 1: 28 minutos (RIQ: 14-55), Grupo 2: 29 minutos (RIQ: 16-57), y Grupo 3: 31 minutos (RIQ: 13-50; p= 0.96). 172 pacientes (65.4%) recibieron manejo no operatorio. Las tasas de supervivencia calculadas y reales no difirieron entre ninguno de los grupos [Grupo 1: TRISS 86.4% vs. Tasa real de supervivencia 85% (p= 0.69); Grupo 2: TRISS 69% vs. Tasa real de supervivencia 74% (p= 0.25); Grupo 3: TRISS 93% vs. Tasa real de supervivencia 87% (p= 0.07)]. Conclusión: Este nuevo protocolo de tomografía corporal total de un solo pase fue seguro, efectivo y eficiente para definir si los pacientes con trauma severo requieren o no una intervención quirúrgica. Su uso podría reducir la tasa de intervenciones quirúrgicas innecesarias en estos pacientes incluyendo los que se presentan con trauma penetrante.

Traumatismo por proyectil de arteria poplítea / Trauma by projectile in popliteal artery

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O uso da tomografia computadorizada na triagem da lesão cardíaca penetrante / The use of computed tomography for penetrating heart injury screening

RESUMO Objetivo: determinar se a tomografia computadorizada representa uma opção segura para triagem de lesões cardíacas penetrantes. Métodos: estudo transversal retrospectivo, que confrontou os achados tomográficos com os detectados na exploração cirúrgica em pacientes operados por suspeita de trauma cardíaco no período de janeiro de 2016 a janeiro de 2018. Resultados: setenta e dois casos foram analisados; 97,2% eram do sexo masculino e a faixa etária mais prevalente foi de 20 a 29 anos; 56,9% apresentaram ferimentos por projéteis de arma de fogo e 43,1% por arma branca. Em 20 casos, a tomografia computadorizada foi sugestiva de lesão cardíaca, confirmada em 13 casos durante a cirurgia. A sensibilidade da tomografia computadorizada foi de 56,5% e a especificidade de 85,7%. Conclusão: a tomografia computadorizada não deve ser adotada rotineiramente para triagem de ferimentos cardíacos penetrantes.

ABSTRACT Objective: to determine if computed tomography represents a safe option for penetrating heart injury screening. Methods: retrospective transversal study which confronted tomographic findings with the ones detected in surgical exploration in patients that had undergone surgery because of suspected cardiac trauma from January, 2016 to January, 2018. Results: seventy-two cases were analysed; 97.2% of them were males, and the most prevalent age range was 20 to 29 years; 56.9% of them presented injuries caused by firearm shots and 43.1% by cutting weapons. In 20 cases, computed tomography suggested heart injury, confirmed in 13 cases during surgery. Sensitivity of computed tomography was 56.5%, reaching a specificity of 85.7%. Conclusion: computed tomography must not be adopted as a routine for the screening of penetrating heart injuries.