Clinical assessment of head injuries in motorcyclists involved in traffic accidents: A prospective, observational study.

OBJECTIVE: to review the clinical assessment of head injuries in motorcyclists involved in traffic accidents. METHOD: prospective observational study, including adult motorcyclists involved in traffic accidents in a period of 12 months. Patients sustaining signs of intoxication were excluded. A modification of the Canadian Head CT Rules was used to indicate computed tomography (CT). Patients not undergoing CT were followed by phone calls for three months. Collected variables were compared between the group sustaining head injuries and the others. We used chi-square, Fisher, and Student's t for statistical analysis, considering p<0.05 as significant. RESULTS: we included 208 patients, 99.0% were wearing helmets. Seventeen sustained signs of intoxication and were excluded. Ninety (47.1%) underwent CT and 12 (6.3%) sustained head injuries. Head injuries were significantly associated with Glasgow Coma Scale<15 (52.3% vs. 2.8% - p<0,001) and a positive physical exam (17.1% vs. zero - p<0,05). Four (2.1%) patients with intracranial mass lesions needed surgical interventions. None helmet-wearing patients admitted with GCS=15 and normal physical examination sustained head injuries. CONCLUSION: Head CT is not necessary for helmet-wearing motorcyclists admitted with GCS=15 and normal physical examination.

Clinical assessment of head injuries in motorcyclists involved in traffic accidents: A prospective, observational study / Investigação da presença de lesões traumáticas em segmento cefálico em motociclistas vítimas de acidentes de tráfego: Estudo observacional prospectivo

ABSTRACT Objective: to review the clinical assessment of head injuries in motorcyclists involved in traffic accidents. Method: prospective observational study, including adult motorcyclists involved in traffic accidents in a period of 12 months. Patients sustaining signs of intoxication were excluded. A modification of the Canadian Head CT Rules was used to indicate computed tomography (CT). Patients not undergoing CT were followed by phone calls for three months. Collected variables were compared between the group sustaining head injuries and the others. We used chi-square, Fisher, and Student's t for statistical analysis, considering p<0.05 as significant. Results: we included 208 patients, 99.0% were wearing helmets. Seventeen sustained signs of intoxication and were excluded. Ninety (47.1%) underwent CT and 12 (6.3%) sustained head injuries. Head injuries were significantly associated with Glasgow Coma Scale<15 (52.3% vs. 2.8% - p<0,001) and a positive physical exam (17.1% vs. zero - p<0,05). Four (2.1%) patients with intracranial mass lesions needed surgical interventions. None helmet-wearing patients admitted with GCS=15 and normal physical examination sustained head injuries. Conclusion: Head CT is not necessary for helmet-wearing motorcyclists admitted with GCS=15 and normal physical examination.

RESUMO Objetivo: análise crítica da investigação diagnóstica de lesões em segmento cefálico de motociclistas vítimas de acidentes de tráfego. Método: estudo observacional prospectivo incluindo motociclistas adultos vítimas de trauma, sem intoxicação exógena, em um período de 12 meses. A tomografia de crânio (TC) foi indicada de acordo com uma modificação dos "critérios canadenses". Os pacientes que não foram submetidos a TC de crânio tiveram acompanhamento telefônico por três meses. A presença de lesões foi correlacionada com as varáveis coletadas através dos testes Qui-quadrado, t de Student ou Fisher, considerando p<0,05 como significativo. Resultados: dos 208 inicialmente incluídos, 206 (99,0%) estavam usando capacete. Dezessete estavam com sinais de intoxicação exógena e foram excluídos, restando 191 para análise. Noventa pacientes (47,1%) realizaram TC e 12 (6,3%) apresentaram lesões craniencefálicas, que se associaram significativamente a Escala de Coma de Glasgow (ECG) <15 (52,3% vs. 2,8% - p<0,001) e alterações ao exame físico da região cefálica/neurológico (17,1% vs. zero - p<0,05). Quatro pacientes (2,1%) precisaram tratamento cirúrgico de lesões intracranianas. Nenhum dos pacientes admitidos com ECG 15, em uso de capacete e sem alterações no exame físico apresentou TC alterada. Conclusões: para pacientes admitidos com ECG 15, que utilizavam o capacete no acidente e não apresentavam quaisquer alterações no exame físico, a realização da TC de crânio não trouxe mudanças no atendimento ao paciente. .

Implementation of the trauma registry as a tool for quality improvement in trauma care in a brazilian hospital: the first 12 months.

OBJECTIVE: to analyze the implementation of a trauma registry in a university teaching hospital delivering care under the unified health system (SUS), and its ability to identify points for improvement in the quality of care provided. METHODS: the data collection group comprised students from medicine and nursing courses who were holders of FAPESP scholarships (technical training 1) or otherwise, overseen by the coordinators of the project. The itreg (ECO Sistemas-RJ/SBAIT) software was used as the database tool. Several quality "filters" were proposed to select those cases for review in the quality control process. RESULTS: data for 1344 trauma patients were input to the itreg database between March and November 2014. Around 87.0% of cases were blunt trauma patients, 59.6% had RTS>7.0 and 67% ISS<9. Full records were available for 292 cases, which were selected for review in the quality program. The auditing filters most frequently registered were laparotomy four hours after admission and drainage of acute subdural hematomas four hours after admission. Several points for improvement were flagged, such as control of overtriage of patients, the need to reduce the number of negative imaging exams, the development of protocols for achieving central venous access, and management of major TBI. CONCLUSION: the trauma registry provides a clear picture of the points to be improved in trauma patient care, however, there are specific peculiarities for implementing this tool in the Brazilian milieu.

Implementation of the trauma registry as a tool for quality improvement in trauma care in a brazilian hospital: the first 12 months / Implantação de registro de trauma como ferramenta para melhorar a qualidade do atendimento a traumatizados: os primeiros 12 meses

ABSTRACTObjective:to analyze the implementation of a trauma registry in a university teaching hospital delivering care under the unified health system (SUS), and its ability to identify points for improvement in the quality of care provided.Methods:the data collection group comprised students from medicine and nursing courses who were holders of FAPESP scholarships (technical training 1) or otherwise, overseen by the coordinators of the project. The itreg (ECO Sistemas-RJ/SBAIT) software was used as the database tool. Several quality "filters" were proposed to select those cases for review in the quality control process.Results:data for 1344 trauma patients were input to the itreg database between March and November 2014. Around 87.0% of cases were blunt trauma patients, 59.6% had RTS>7.0 and 67% ISS<9. Full records were available for 292 cases, which were selected for review in the quality program. The auditing filters most frequently registered were laparotomy four hours after admission and drainage of acute subdural hematomas four hours after admission. Several points for improvement were flagged, such as control of overtriage of patients, the need to reduce the number of negative imaging exams, the development of protocols for achieving central venous access, and management of major TBI.Conclusion: the trauma registry provides a clear picture of the points to be improved in trauma patient care, however, there are specific peculiarities for implementing this tool in the Brazilian milieu.

RESUMOObjetivo:analisar a implantação de registro de trauma em hospital universitário com atendimento ao SUS, bem como, sua capacidade em identificar pontos para melhorada qualidade no atendimento.Métodos:o grupo de coleta de dados foi composto por alunos dos cursos de medicina e enfermagem, orientados pelos coordenadores do projeto. Utilizamos o software itreg (ECO Sistemas-RJ/SBAIT) como ferramenta de banco de dados. Vários "filtros" de qualidade foram propostos no intuito de selecionar os casos a serem revistos no processo de controle de qualidade.Resultados:entre março e novembro de 2014, foram inseridos no itreg dados de 1344 vítimas de trauma. Cerca de 87% foram vítimas de trauma fechado, 59,6% apresentaram RTS>7,0 e, 67%, ISS<9. Os registros foram completos em 292 casos, que foram selecionados para a revisãono programa de qualidade. Os filtros de auditoria mais frequentemente anotadosforam a laparotomia após quatro horas da admissão e a drenagem dos hematomas subdurais agudos após quatro horas da admissão. Identificamos vários pontos a serem desenvolvidos, como o controle da "supertriagem" de doentes, a necessidade de diminuição do número de exames de imagem negativos, o desenvolvimento de protocolos para passagem de acessos venosos centrais e tratamento de trauma craniencefálico grave.Conclusão:o Registro de Trauma traz uma visão clara dos pontos a serem melhorados no atendimento ao traumatizado, contudo, há características específicas na implantação desta ferramenta.