Pelvic fractures as a marker of injury severity in trauma patients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the presence of a pelvic fracture is associated with greater severity and worse prognosis in victims of blunt trauma. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of protocols and records of victims of blunt trauma admitted from June 2008 to March 2009 was separated into two groups: those with pelvic fracture (Group I) and those without it (Group II). Data were collected from pre-hospital admission rates of trauma, laboratory tests, diagnosed lesions, treatment and outcome. We used the Student t test, Fisher's exact test and chi-square test for statistical analysis, considering p <0.05 as significant. RESULTS: During the study period, 2019 individuals had multiple trauma protocols completed, of which 43 (2.1%) had pelvic fractures. Patients in Group I had significantly lower average blood pressure, higher mean heart rate, lower mean Glasgow Coma Scale, the highest average AIS in the segments head, chest, abdomen and extremities, as well as higher mean ISS and lower mean TRISS and RTS on admission. Group I more frequently presented with traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (7% vs. 1.6%), spinal cord injury (9% vs. 1%), thoracic and abdominal injuries, as well as need for laparotomy (21% vs. 1 %), chest drainage (32% vs. 2%) and damage control (9% vs. 0%). Complications were more frequent in group I: ARDS (9% vs. 0%), persistent shock (30% vs. 1%), coagulopathy (23% vs. 1%), acute renal failure (21% vs. 0%) and death (28% vs. 2%). CONCLUSION: The presence of a pelvic fracture is a marker of greater severity and worse prognosis in victims of blunt trauma.

Fratura de pelve: um marcador de gravidade em trauma / Pelvic fractures as a marker of injury severity in trauma patients

OBJETIVO: avaliar se a presença de fratura de pelve é associada à maior gravidade e pior prognóstico em vítimas de trauma fechado. MÉTODOS: análise retrospectiva dos protocolos e prontuários das vítimas de trauma fechado admitidas de 10/06/2008 a 10/03/2009, separadas em dois grupos: com fratura de pelve (Grupo I) e os demais (Grupo II). Foram avaliados dados do pré-hospitalar e admissão, índices de trauma, exames complementares, lesões diagnosticadas, tratamento e evolução. Utilizamos os testes t de Student, Fisher e qui-quadrado na análise estatística, considerando p<0,05 como significativo. RESULTADOS: No período de estudo, 2019 politraumatizados tiveram protocolos preenchidos, sendo que 43 (2,1 por cento) apresentaram fratura de pelve. Os doentes do grupo I apresentaram, significativamente, menor média de pressão arterial sistêmica à admissão, maior média de frequência cardíaca à admissão, menor média da escala de coma de Glasgow, maior média nos AIS em segmentos cefálico, torácico, abdominal e extremidades, bem como, maior média do ISS e menor média de RTS e TRISS. O grupo I apresentou, com maior frequência, hemorragia subaracnoidea traumática (7 por cento vs. 1,6 por cento), trauma raquimedular (9 por cento vs. 1 por cento), lesões torácicas e abdominais, bem como necessidade de laparotomias (21 por cento vs. 1 por cento), drenagem de tórax (32 por cento vs. 2 por cento) e controle de danos (9 por cento vs. 0 por cento). As complicações foram mais frequentes no grupo I: SARA (9 por cento vs. 0 por cento), choque persistente (30 por cento vs. 1 por cento), coagulopatia (23 por cento vs. 1 por cento), insuficiência renal aguda (21 por cento vs. 0 por cento) e óbito (28 por cento vs. 2 por cento). CONCLUSÃO: a presença de fratura de pelve é um marcador de maior gravidade e pior prognóstico em vítimas de trauma fechado.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the presence of a pelvic fracture is associated with greater severity and worse prognosis in victims of blunt trauma. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of protocols and records of victims of blunt trauma admitted from June 2008 to March 2009 was separated into two groups: those with pelvic fracture (Group I) and those without it (Group II). Data were collected from pre-hospital admission rates of trauma, laboratory tests, diagnosed lesions, treatment and outcome. We used the Student t test, Fisher's exact test and chi-square test for statistical analysis, considering p <0.05 as significant. RESULTS: During the study period, 2019 individuals had multiple trauma protocols completed, of which 43 (2.1 percent) had pelvic fractures. Patients in Group I had significantly lower average blood pressure, higher mean heart rate, lower mean Glasgow Coma Scale, the highest average AIS in the segments head, chest, abdomen and extremities, as well as higher mean ISS and lower mean TRISS and RTS on admission. Group I more frequently presented with traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (7 percent vs. 1.6 percent), spinal cord injury (9 percent vs. 1 percent), thoracic and abdominal injuries, as well as need for laparotomy (21 percent vs. 1 percent), chest drainage (32 percent vs. 2 percent) and damage control (9 percent vs. 0 percent). Complications were more frequent in group I: ARDS (9 percent vs. 0 percent), persistent shock (30 percent vs. 1 percent), coagulopathy (23 percent vs. 1 percent), acute renal failure (21 percent vs. 0 percent) and death (28 percent vs. 2 percent). CONCLUSION: The presence of a pelvic fracture is a marker of greater severity and worse prognosis in victims of blunt trauma.

Comparative analysis of the characteristics of traumas suffered by elderly and younger patients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the characteristics of traumas suffered by the elderly by comparison with a group of younger trauma victims. METHODS: Trauma protocols from June 10, 2008 to March 9, 2009 were evaluated including all trauma patients above 13 years of age admitted to the emergency room. Data were collected on trauma mechanism, preexisting diseases, vital signs on admission, injuries diagnosed, trauma index scores, tests and treatment. Patients over 60 years were assigned to the elderly group (Group I). Data were compared between this group and a group of younger patients (Group II), using Student's t test, the chi square test and Fisher's exact test, considering p<0.05 as significant. RESULTS: Two thousand and seventy-five trauma victims were recruited (77.1% male), 211 (10.2%) in group I. The most frequent trauma mechanisms in the elderly were falls (from patients' own height) (41%) and being hit by automobiles (28%). Preexisting diseases were more frequent in Group I and included systemic arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus. The most frequent injuries to Group I patients were to the extremities, affecting 106 patients (50.2%). Fractures were diagnosed in 18% of the elderly patients. In comparison with younger trauma patients, elderly patients had significantly higher head scores on the AIS (0.75 + 1.17 vs. 0.54 + 1.04) (p=0.014) and lower thoracic (0.15 + 0.62 vs. 0.26 + 0.86) (p=0.018) and abdominal scores (0.05 + 0.43 vs. 0.21 + 0.82) (p<0.001). Severe injuries (AIS > 3) to the head were more frequently observed in Group I (11.4% vs. 7%) (p=0,023). Certain types of injury were more frequent in Group I: subdural hematomas (2.8% vs. 0.8%) (p=0.008), subarachnoid hemorrhages (3.8% vs. 1.3%) (p=0.005) and cerebral contusions (5.2% vs. 2.3%) (p=0.015). CONCLUSION: In comparison to younger trauma victims, the elderly group was characterized by a higher frequency of falls from their own height, concomitant diseases and severe intracranial injuries, including subdural hematoma, cerebral contusions and subarachnoid hemorrhages.

[Severe injuries from falls on the same level]. / Lesões graves em vítimas de queda da própria altura.

OBJECTIVE: Assess characteristics of trauma patients who sustained falls from their own height, more specifically focusing on presence of severe injuries, diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: Retrospective study including all adult blunt trauma patients admitted in the emergency room in a period of 9 months. Lesions with AIS (Abbreviated Injury Scale)>3 were considered "severe". Variables were compared between victims of fall from their own height (group I) and other blunt trauma mechanisms (group II). Student's t, chi square and Fisher exact tests were used for statistical analysis, considering p<0.05 as significant. RESULTS: Of the 1993 trauma patients included, 305 (15%) were victims of falls from their own height. In group I, mean age was 52.2 ± 20.8 years and 64.8% were male. Injuries in the head segment were the most frequently observed (62.2%), followed by injuries in the extremities (22.3%), thorax (1.3%) and abdomen (0.7%). Severe injuries (AIS>3) were more frequent in the head (8.9%), followed by extremities (4.9%). In group I, craniotomies were needed in 2.3%. By comparing groups, we observed that victims of falls from their own height had significantly higher mean age, higher mean systolic blood pressure, and higher head AIS mean, as well as lower ISS mean, thorax AIS mean, abdomen AIS mean and extremities AIS mean. CONCLUSION: Importance of the trauma mechanism in victims of falls from own height should be emphasized due to a considerable possibility of occult severe injuries, mainly in the cephalic segment.

Análise comparativa das características do trauma entre pacientes idosos e não idosos / Comparative analysis of trauma characteristics between elderly and younger trauma patients

OBJETIVO: Definir as características do trauma em idosos pela comparação de variáveis entre este grupo e o de traumatizados não idosos. MÉTODOS: Realizamos uma análise dos protocolos coletados no período de 10 de junho de 2008 a 9 de março de 2009, incluindo todos os traumatizados atendidos com idade superior a 13 anos. Foram coletados dados de identificação, mecanismo de trauma, informações do pré-hospitalar, dados vitais à admissão, índices de trauma, exames complementares, doenças associadas, lesões diagnosticadas e tratamento. Os traumatizados com idade superior a 60 anos foram considerados idosos. Para a identificação das características do trauma em idosos, comparamos as variáveis entre este grupo (Grupo I) e os traumatizados não idosos (Grupo II). Foram empregados os testes T de Student, Qui quadrado e Fisher para a comparação entre os grupos, considerando o valor de p<0,05 como significativo. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos no estudo 2075 vítimas de trauma, sendo 77,1 por cento do sexo masculino. Duzentos e onze doentes (10,2 por cento) tinham idade superior a 60 anos (Grupo I). Os idosos foram mais frequentemente vítimas de queda da própria altura (41 por cento) e atropelamento (28,6 por cento), enquanto, no Grupo II, predominaram os acidentes com motocicletas (28 por cento) (p<0,001). Os idosos apresentaram maior frequência de doenças associadas, sendo as principais a hipertensão arterial sistêmica (13,7 por cento vs. 1,1 por cento) e o diabetes mellitus (4,7 por cento vs. 0,3 por cento). As lesões em extremidades foram encontradas em 106 doentes do Grupo I (50,2 por cento), sendo fraturas em 38 casos (18 por cento). Em comparação com os demais traumatizados, os idosos se caracterizaram por apresentar maior média de AIS no segmento cefálico (0,75 + 1,17 vs. 0,54 + 1,04) (p=0,014) e menor média de AIS no tórax (0,15 + 0,62 vs. 0,26 + 0,86) (p=0,018) e no abdome (0,05 + 0,43 vs. 0,21 + 0,82) (p<0,001). No Grupo I, notou-se também maior frequência de lesões graves (AIS > 3) no segmento cefálico (11,4 por cento vs. 7 por cento) (p=0,023) e menor frequência de lesões graves no abdome (1,4 por cento vs. 4,3 por cento) (p=0,025). Algumas lesões foram significativamente mais frequentes nos idosos, como os hematomas subdurais (2,8 por cento vs. 0,8 por cento) (p=0,008), as hemorragias subaracnóideas (3,8 por cento vs. 1,3 por cento) (p=0,005) e as contusões cerebrais (5,2 por cento vs. 2,3 por cento) (p=0,015) quando comparados aos demais traumatizados. CONCLUSÃO: Em comparação aos traumatizados não idosos, os idosos apresentaram as seguintes características: maior frequência de quedas da própria altura, de doenças associadas e de lesões graves intracranianas, incluindo os hematomas subdurais, as contusões cerebrais e as hemorragias em espaço subaracnoide.

OBJECTIVE: Assess the characteristics of trauma in the elderly by comparison to a group of younger trauma patients. METHODS: Trauma protocols from June 10, 2008 to March 9, 2009 were evaluated including all trauma patients above 13 years of age admitted in the emergency room. Data on trauma mechanism, concomitant diseases, vital signs upon admission, diagnosed injuries, trauma indexes, exams and treatment was collected. Patients above 60 years of age. were included in the elderly group (group I). Data was compared between this group and the younger patients (group II), using the Student's t, chi square and Fisher exact tests, considering p<0.05 as significant. RESULTS: Two thousand and seventy five victims of trauma were included (77.1 percent male), 211 (10.2 percent) in group I. The most frequent trauma mechanisms in the elderly were falls (from their own height) (41 percent) and pedestrian struck (28 percent). Concomitant diseases were more frequent in group I, including systemic arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus. In group I, the most frequent lesions were located at extremities in 106 patients (50.2 percent). Fractures were present in 18 percent of the elderly. In comparison to younger trauma patients, the elderly had significantly higher head AIS (0.75 + 1.17 vs 0.54 + 1.04) (p=0.014) and lower thoracic (0.15 + 0.62 vs 0.26 + 0.86) (p=0.018) and abdominal (0.05 + 0.43 vs 0.21 + 0.82) (p<0.001) AIS. Severe injuries (AIS > 3) in the head were more frequently observed in group I (11.4 percent vs 7 percent) (p=0,023). Some injuries were more frequent in group I: subdural hematomas (2.8 percent vs 0.8 percent) (p=0.008), subarachnoid hemorrhage (3.8 percent vs 1.3 percent) (p=0.005) and cerebral contusions (5.2 percent vs 2.3 percent) (p=0.015). CONCLUSION: In comparison to younger trauma patients, the elderly group was characterized by a higher frequency of falls from their own height, , concomitant diseases and severe injuries in the head, mainly subdural hematomas, cerebral contusions and subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Lesões graves em vítimas de queda da própria altura / Severe injuries from falls on the same level

OBJETIVO: Avaliar as características das vítimas de queda da própria altura, principalmente a respeito da frequência de lesões graves, seu diagnóstico e tratamento. MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo dos protocolos de trauma (coletados prospectivamente) de 10/06/2008 a 10/03/2009, incluindo as vítimas de trauma fechado com idade igual ou superior a 13 anos admitidas na sala de emergência. Consideraremos como "graves" as lesões com escore de AIS (Abbreviated Injury Scale) maior ou igual a três. As variáveis foram comparadas entre o grupo de vítimas de quedas da própria altura (Grupo I) e as demais vítimas de trauma fechado (Grupo II). Empregamos os testes T de Student, Qui quadrado e Fisher para a comparação entre os grupos, considerando o valor de p<0,05 como significante. RESULTADOS: Foram analisados 1993 casos de trauma fechado, sendo que 305 (15 percent) foram vítimas de quedas da própria altura (Grupo I). A média etária nas vítimas de quedas da própria altura foi 52,2 ± 20,9 anos, sendo 64,8 percent do sexo masculino. Noventa e oito (32,1 percent) tinham idade acima de 60 anos. No grupo I, as lesões em segmento cefálico foram as mais encontradas (62,2 percent), seguidas das lesões em extremidades (22,3 percent), torácicas (1,3 percent) e abdominais (0,7 percent). As lesões graves (AIS>3) foram mais frequentemente observadas em segmento cefálico (8,9 percent), seguidas pelas lesões em extremidades (4,9 percent). A craniotomia foi necessária em 2,3 percent das vítimas de quedas de própria altura. Observamos que, em comparação às vítimas de outros mecanismos de trauma fechado, as vítimas de quedas da própria altura apresentavam, significantemente (p<0,05), maior média etária, maior média de pressão arterial sistólica à admissão e maior média de AIS em segmento cefálico bem como menor média de ISS, de AIS em tórax, de AIS em abdome e AIS em extremidades. CONCLUSÃO: A valorização do mecanismo de trauma nas vítimas de quedas da própria altura é de extrema importância, visto a possibilidade de haver lesões graves e clinicamente ocultas, principalmente em segmento cefálico.

OBJECTIVE: Assess characteristics of trauma patients who sustained falls from their own height, more specifically focusing on presence of severe injuries, diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: Retrospective study including all adult blunt trauma patients admitted in the emergency room in a period of 9 months. Lesions with AIS (Abbreviated Injury Scale)>3 were considered "severe". Variables were compared between victims of fall from their own height (group I) and other blunt trauma mechanisms (group II). Student's t, chi square and Fisher exact tests were used for statistical analysis, considering p<0.05 as significant. RESULTS: Of the 1993 trauma patients included, 305 (15 percent) were victims of falls from their own height. In group I, mean age was 52.2 ± 20.8 years and 64.8 percent were male. Injuries in the head segment were the most frequently observed (62.2 percent), followed by injuries in the extremities (22.3 percent), thorax (1.3 percent) and abdomen (0.7 percent). Severe injuries (AIS>3) were more frequent in the head (8.9 percent), followed by extremities (4,9 percent). In group I, craniotomies were needed in 2.3 percent. By comparing groups, we observed that victims of falls from their own height had significantly higher mean age, higher mean systolic blood pressure, and higher head AIS mean, as well as lower ISS mean, thorax AIS mean, abdomen AIS mean and extremities AIS mean. CONCLUSION: Importance of the trauma mechanism in victims of falls from own height should be emphasized due to a considerable possibility of occult severe injuries, mainly in the cephalic segment.