Developing a measure of overall intensity of injury care: A latent class analysis.

BACKGROUND: While injury is a leading cause of death and debility in older adults, the relationship between intensity of care and trauma remains unknown. The focus of this analysis is to measure the overall intensity of care delivered to injured older adults during hospitalization. METHODS: We used Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Medicare fee-for-service claims data (2013-2014), to identify emergency department-based claims for moderate and severe blunt trauma in age-eligible beneficiaries. Medical procedures associated with care intensity were identified using a modified Delphi method. A latent class model was estimated using the identified procedures, intensive care unit length of stay, demographics, and injury characteristics. Clinical phenotypes for each class were explored. RESULTS: A total of 683,398 cases were classified as low- (73%), moderate- (23%), and high-intensity care (4%). Greater age and reduced injury severity were indicators of lower intensity, while males, non-Whites, and nonfall mechanisms were more common with high intensity. Intubation/mechanical ventilation was an indicator of high intensity and often occurred with at least one other procedure or an extended intensive care unit stay. CONCLUSION: This work demonstrates that, although heterogeneous, care for blunt trauma can be evaluated using a single novel measure. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: For prognostic/epidemiological studies, level III.

Near Disappearance of Splenorrhaphy as an Operative Strategy for Splenic Preservation After Trauma.

BACKGROUND: Splenorrhaphy was once used to achieve splenic preservation in up to 40% of splenic injuries. With increasing use of nonoperative management and angioembolization, operative therapy is less common and splenic injuries treated operatively are usually high grade. Patients are often unstable, making splenic salvage unwise. Modern surgeons may no longer possess the knowledge to perform splenorrhaphy. METHODS: The records of adult trauma patients with splenic injuries from September 2014 to November 2018 at an urban level I trauma center were reviewed retrospectively. Data including American Association for the Surgery of Trauma splenic organ injury scale, type of intervention, splenorrhaphy technique, and need for delayed splenectomy were collected. This contemporary cohort (CC) was compared to a historical cohort (HC) of splenic injuries at a single center from 1980 to 1989 (Ann Surg 1990; 211: 369). RESULTS: From 2014 to 2018, 717 adult patients had splenic injuries. Initial management included 157 (21.9%) emergent splenectomy, 158 (22.0%) angiogram ± embolization, 371 (51.7%) observation, and only 10 (1.4%) splenorrhaphy. The HC included a total of 553 splenic injuries, of which 313 (56.6%) underwent splenectomy, while splenorrhaphy was performed in 240 (43.4%). Those who underwent splenorrhaphy in each cohort (CC vs HC) were compared. CONCLUSION: The success rate of splenorrhaphy has not changed. However, splenorrhaphy now involves only electrocautery with topical hemostatic agents and is used primarily in low-grade injuries. Suture repair and partial splenectomy seem to be "lost arts" in modern trauma care.

Non-Selective Thoracic Computed Tomography in Trauma Patients Results in Injury Severity Score Inflation.

INTRODUCTION: Extensive research relying on Injury Severity Scores (ISS) reports a mortality benefit from routine non-selective thoracic CTs (an integral part of pan-computed tomography (pan-CT)s). Recent research suggests this mortality benefit may be artifact. We hypothesized that the use of pan-CTs inflates ISS categorization in patients, artificially affecting admission rates and apparent mortality benefit. METHODS: Eight hundred and eleven patients were identified with an ISS >15 with significant findings in the chest area. Patient charts were reviewed and scores were adjusted to exclude only occult injuries that did not affect treatment plan. Pearson chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression were used to compare adjusted cases vs non-adjusted cases. RESULTS: After adjusting for inflation, 388 (47.8%) patients remained in the same ISS category, 378 (46.6%) were reclassified into 1 lower ISS category, and 45 (5.6%) patients were reclassified into 2 lower ISS categories. Patients reclassified by 1 category had a lower rate of mortality (P < 0.001), lower median total hospital LOS (P < .001), ICU days (P < .001), and ventilator days (P = 0.008), compared to those that remained in the same ISS category. CONCLUSION: Injury Severity Score inflation artificially increases survival rate, perpetuating the increased use of pan-CTs. This artifact has been propagated by outdated mortality prediction calculation methods. Thus, prospective evaluations of algorithms for more selective CT scanning are warranted.

MRI of the Morel-Lavallée lesion - a case series.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to review the appearances of Morel-Lavallée (ML) lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). PATIENTS AND METHODS: 14 patients diagnosed with the ML lesion on MRI were analysed retrospectively (mean age = 35 years). Mechanism of injury, time frame from injury to MRI, location, shape, T1 and proton-density fat-suppression (PDFS) signal intensity (SI), presence of a (pseudo)capsule, septations or nodules within the collection, mass effect and fluid-fluid levels were analyzed. The Mellado and Bencardino classification was utilized to classify the lesions. RESULTS: In most cases, mechanism of injury was distortion. Mean time frame between the injury and MRI was 17 days. Lesions were located around the knee in 9 patients and in the peritrochanteric region in 5 patients. Collections were fusiform in 12 patients and oval in 2 patients. 9 collections were T1 hypointense and PDFS hyperintense. 4 collections had intermediate T1 and high PDFS SI. 1 collection had intermediate T1 and PDFS SI. (Pseudo)capsule was noted in 3 cases. Septations or nodules were found in 4 cases. According to the Mellado and Bencardino, collections were classified as seroma (type 1) in 9, subacute hematoma (type 2) in 1 and chronic organizing hematoma (type 3) in 4 cases. CONCLUSIONS: Characteristic features of ML lesion include a fusiform fluid collection between the subcutaneous fat and the underlying fascia after shearing injury. Six types can be differentiated on MRI, with the seroma, the subacute hematoma and the chronic organizing hematoma being the commonest.

The Impact of Under-triage on Trauma Outcomes in Older Populations ≥65 Years.

BACKGROUND: Undertriage of older trauma patients is implicated as a cause for outcome disparities. Undertriage is defined by an Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥16 without full trauma activation. We hypothesized that in patients ≥65 years, undertriage is associated with unfavorable discharge. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of patients ≥65 years admitted at a Level 1 Trauma Center between July 2016 and June 2018 with blunt trauma. The Matrix method was used to determine the undertriage rate, and outcomes were compared between undertriaged and fully activated patients with ISS ≥16. Favorable outcomes in undertriaged patients instigated further analyses to determine factors that predicted unfavorable discharge condition, defined by discharge from the hospital with severe disability, persistent vegetative state, and in-hospital death. RESULTS: The undertriage rate was 7.9%. When compared to fully activated patients with ISS ≥16, a lower percentage of undertriaged patients were discharged in an unfavorable condition (16.6% vs 64.7%, P < .001). On the multivariate analysis, male sex (OR = 1.52), preexisting coronary artery disease (OR = 1.86), age >90 years (OR = 2.31), ISS 16-25 (OR = 3.50), Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) ≤14 (OR = 6.34), and ISS >25 (OR = 9.64) were significant independent risk factors for unfavorable discharge. DISCUSSION: The undertriage rate in patients ≥65 years was higher than the accepted standard (5%). However, undertriaged patients had better outcomes than those fully activated with ISS ≥16. Factors more predictive of unfavorable discharge condition were GCS ≤14 and ISS >25. These data suggest that ISS alone is a poor marker for assessing undertriage in older patients. Additional parameters established in this study should be considered as potential markers for better predicting outcomes in older trauma patients.

Revised AAST scale for splenic injury (2018): does addition of arterial phase on CT have an impact on the grade?

PURPOSE: To determine whether an additional arterial phase (AP) leads to a change in the grade of splenic injury according to the 2018 revision of the AAST Organ Injury Scale, which has incorporated vascular injuries into the grading system and also to study its impact on management. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 527 patients who sustained blunt abdominal trauma and had underwent dual-phase CT (AP and portal venous phase (PVP)) from December 2014 to October 2016 (23 months) were included. Two experienced radiologists independently graded the splenic injury according to the revised system in 2 blinded ways (AP + PVP and PVP alone). Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were generated for grade of injury on both the phases for all splenic interventions. RESULTS: Splenic injuries were detected in 154 patients, and splenic vascular injuries were detected in 52 of them. Of these, 22 vascular injuries were detected only on the AP, leading to a change in the grade of injury according to the new system in 18 patients. The AUC for ROC curves was generated for the grade of injury on AP + PVP vs. PVP alone for angioembolization (0.80 vs. 0.71, p value 0.002), and all splenic interventions (0.89 vs. 0.83, p value 0.003) showed higher AUC for AP + PVP. CONCLUSION: Addition of AP leads to a significant change in the grading of splenic injuries according to the revised grading system due to increased detection of vascular injuries. Accurate classification of splenic injuries using additional AP would lead to better triage of patients for splenic interventions or conservative management.

Efficacy evaluation of different conservative treatments for blunt spleen rupture.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to provide a reference for the clinical treatment of patients with spleen ruptures by analyzing and discussing the clinical effects of the conservative treatment. METHODS: The clinical data of 93 patients with blunt spleen rupture treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China from April 2015 to April 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 84 cases were treated conservatively and 9 cases were treated surgically. The general information of conservative treatment and surgical treatment were compared. The relationship between different conservative treatment methods and CT classification of spleen rupture and the changes of abdominal drainage were analyzed. RESULTS: The CT classification grade and trauma score of patients with spleen rupture in surgical treatment were higher than those in conservative treatment group (P<0.05). A total of 90.3% patients were treated conservatively. Among them, 7.1% (83.4% were in CT classification of spleen injury grade 1-2) were from the observation group, 14.3% (83.3% were in CT classification of spleen injury grade 1-2) were from abdominal drainage group, 3.6% were from splenic artery embolization group, and 75% (9.5% were in CT classification of spleen injury grade 2, 77.8% in grade 3 and 12.7% in grade 4) were from splenic artery embolization plus abdominal drainage group. There was no significant difference in the total amount of abdominal drainage on day 1, day 2 and day 3, and the CT classification of spleen rupture (P>0.05). However, there significant differences on the amount of abdominal drainage among day 1, day 2 and day 3 (P<0.05). Meanwhile, 2 complications occurred in the splenic artery embolization plus abdominal drainage group. CONCLUSIONS: Conservative treatment is feasible in blunt spleen rupture patients of CT classification grade of 1-4 with stable hemodynamical. Splenic rupture patients of CT classification grade 4-5 with instable hemodynamical should be treated surgically.

Validation of age-specific survival prediction in pediatric patients with blunt trauma using trauma and injury severity score methodology: a ten-year Nationwide observational study.

BACKGROUND: In-hospital mortality in trauma patients has decreased recently owing to improved trauma injury prevention systems. However, no study has evaluated the validity of the Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS) in pediatric patients by a detailed classification of patients' age and injury severity in Japan. This retrospective nationwide study evaluated the validity of TRISS in predicting survival in Japanese pediatric patients with blunt trauma by age and injury severity. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Japan Trauma Data Bank during 2009-2018. The outcomes were as follows: (1) patients' characteristics and mortality by age groups (neonates/infants aged 0 years, preschool children aged 1-5 years, schoolchildren aged 6-11 years, and adolescents aged 12-18 years), (2) validity of survival probability (Ps) assessed using the TRISS methodology by the four age groups and six Ps-interval groups (0.00-0.25, 0.26-0.50, 0.51-0.75, 0.76-0.90, 0.91-0.95, and 0.96-1.00), and (3) the observed/expected survivor ratio by age- and Ps-interval groups. The validity of TRISS was evaluated by the predictive ability of the TRISS method using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves that present the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, accuracy, area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) of TRISS. RESULTS: In all the age categories considered, the AUC for TRISS demonstrated high performance (0.935, 0.981, 0.979, and 0.977). The AUC for TRISS was 0.865, 0.585, 0.614, 0.585, 0.591, and 0.600 in Ps-interval groups (0.96-1.00), (0.91-0.95), (0.76. - 0.90), (0.51-0.75), (0.26-0.50), and (0.00-0.25), respectively. In all the age categories considered, the observed survivors among patients with Ps interval (0.00-0.25) were 1.5 times or more than the expected survivors calculated using the TRISS method. CONCLUSIONS: The TRISS methodology appears to predict survival accurately in Japanese pediatric patients with blunt trauma; however, there were several problems in adopting the TRISS methodology for younger blunt trauma patients with higher injury severity. In the next step, it may be necessary to develop a simple, high-quality prediction model that is more suitable for pediatric trauma patients than the current TRISS model.

Correlation of Nasal Cannula End-Tidal Carbon Dioxide Concentration With Need for Critical Resources for Blunt Trauma Patients Triaged to Lower-Tier Trauma Activation.

Patients assigned lower-tier trauma activation may be undertriaged. Delayed recognition and intervention may adversely affect outcome. For critically injured intubated patients, research shows that abnormally low end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2) values correlate with need for blood transfusion, surgery, and mortality. The purpose of this study was to evaluate EtCO2 monitoring for patients triaged to lower-tier trauma activation. EtCO2 monitoring may aid in the recognition of patients who have greater needs than anticipated. This is a prospective observational study conducted at a Level I trauma center. Potential subjects presenting from the field were identified by lower-tier trauma activation for blunt mechanism. EtCO2 measurements acquired using nasal cannula sidestream technology were prospectively recorded in the trauma bay during the initial assessment. The medical record and trauma registry were queried for demographics, injury data, mortality, and critical resource data defined as intubation, blood transfusion, surgery, intensive care unit admission, and vasoactive medication infusion. EtCO2 data were obtained for 682 subjects during a 10.5-month period. Following exclusions, 262 patients were enrolled for data collection. EtCO2 values less than 30 mmHg were significantly associated with blood transfusion (p = .03) but not with other critical resources or mortality. Although capnography had limited utility for patients triaged to lower-tier trauma activation, EtCO2 values less than 30 mmHg correlated with blood transfusion, consistent with previous studies of critically injured intubated patients. EtCO2 monitoring is noninvasive and may serve as a simple prompt for earlier initiation of blood transfusion, a resource-intensive intervention.

[The therapeutic experience of blunt pancreatic trauma].

Objective: To summarize the experience of treatment for blunt pancreatic trauma. Methods: The clinical data of 52 patients with blunt pancreatic trauma admitted to the Department of Pancreatic and Biliary Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from January 2013 to June 2018 were analyzed retrospectively.There were 40 male and 12 female patients, aging from 12 to 112 years with a median age of 35.5 years.According to the organ injury scale by American Association for the Surgery of Trauma(AAST) for pancreatic injury severity, 15 cases were in grade Ⅰ(28.8%), 20 cases were in grade Ⅱ(38.5%), 10 cases were in grade Ⅲ(19.2%),5 cases were in grade Ⅳ(9.6%) and 2 cases were in grade Ⅴ(3.8%). Isolated blunt pancreatic trauma occurred in 11(21.2%) patients including 5 cases of grade Ⅰ,5 cases of grade Ⅱ and 1 case of grade Ⅲ, and associated injuries existed in 41 patients(78.8%). Results: Among 52 patients, 36 patients(69.2%) were transferred from other hospitals and 16(30.8%) patients were admitted through the emergency department. Finally, 49 patients(94.2%) were cured and 3 patients (5.8%) died.For the 15 cases of grade Ⅰ,9 patients were managed non-operatively, 5 cases underwent peritoneal lavage and drainage after surgery for the other injured abdominal organs, and 1 patient received percutaneous catheter drainage(PCD) with non-operative treatment. For the 20 cases of grade Ⅱ,4 cases only received non-operative treatment and 2 cases also received PCD. Besides, 2 cases underwent debridement and drainage for peripancreatic necrotic tissue and external drainage for pancreatic pseudocyst retrospectively after about 25 days of getting injured. As for patients who received exploratory laparotomy, 5 patients underwent suture repair associated with external drainage, and 7 patients were managed only with external drainage. For the 10 cases of grade Ⅲ,6 patients were cured through distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy with external drainage, while 2 patients underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and ductal stenting, and the other 2 patients just received debridement and drainage for peripancreatic necrotic tissue.For the 5 cases of grade Ⅳ,2 patients underwent jejunostomy and abdominal cavity drainage, 1 patient had a pancreaticoduodenectomy with drainage,1 patient received suture repair of the pancreas and pancreaticojejunostomy, and 1 patient was managed with suture repair of the head of pancreas and external drainage.For the 2 patients of grade Ⅴ,1 patient received exploratory laparotomy and gauze compression packing hemostasis, and the other patient underwent pancreaticoduodenal repair, gastrointestinal anastomosis, duodenal exclusion surgery and external drainage. Conclusion: According to the AAST classifications, associated injuries, physiological status and intraoperative situation, it could be better to make a comprehensive judgment, achieve early diagnosis and take appropriate individualized treatment strategy, and to improve the overall therapeutic effect for blunt pancreatic trauma.

Blunt chest trauma: classification and management.

Blunt chest wall injuries are a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in trauma patients. Accurate identification and description of chest wall injuries by the radiologist can aid in guiding proper patient management. The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) has devised a classification system based on severity. This article describes the features of each injury grade according to the AAST injury scale and discusses the implications for management. Additionally, common mechanisms of blunt chest trauma and multimodal imaging techniques are discussed.

Renal Trauma Classification and Management: Validating the Revised Renal Injury Grading Scale.

PURPOSE: To better characterize traumatic renal injury a revision to the 1989 American Association for the Surgery of Trauma renal injury scale was proposed in which grade IV includes all collecting system and segmental vascular injuries and grade V includes main renal hilar injury. We sought to validate the 2009 grading scale, emphasizing reclassifications between the 1989 and 2009 versions, and subsequent management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patient demographics and renal injury characteristics, computerized tomography imaging, radiology reports and subsequent management were recorded in a prospective trauma database. Multivariable logistic regression models for intervention were compared using 1989 and 2009 grades to evaluate which grading scale better predicted management. RESULTS: Of 256 renal injury cases 56 (21.9%) were reclassified using the revised 2009 scale, including 50 (19.5%) which were upgraded, 6 (2.3%) which were downgraded and 200 (78.1%) which were unchanged. Of grade III or higher cases management was nonoperative in 112 (78.9%), angioembolization in 9 (6.3%), nephrectomy in 9 (6.3%) and renorrhaphy in 12 (8.5%). Management was significantly associated with original and revised grades (chi-square p=0.02 and <0.001, respectively). Further, the multivariable model using the 2009 grades significantly outperformed the 1989 model. Radiology reports rarely included renal injury scales. CONCLUSIONS: Using the revised renal injury grading scale led to more definitive classification of renal injury and a stronger association with renal trauma management. Applying the revised criteria may facilitate and improve the multidisciplinary care of renal trauma.

Renal trauma: a 3-year audit from a Gold Coast trauma centre.

BACKGROUND: Limited data Exists ? on the Australian epidemiology of renal trauma, with very few studies published in the literature. The authors aim to detail the trends of renal trauma in the coastal city of the Gold Coast. METHODS: Retrospective data collection yielded 81 patients who sustained renal trauma from our 3-year period. Data included information on demographics, mechanism, American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) grade, presence of haematuria, associated injuries, management, and complications. RESULTS: Male patients accounted for 83% (n = 67) of cases, and the average age of all injuries was 36 years. Low-grade AAST Grade I-III injuries comprised of 76% (n = 62) of injuries, AAST Grade IV contributed to 20% (n = 16) and 4% (n = 3) of injuries were AAST Grade V. The most common mechanism of injury was road accidents accounting for 35% (n = 28) followed by fall-related injuries (26%, n = 21). Other mechanisms included sport-related (13.5%, n = 11), non-motorized bicycle injuries (8.5%, n = 7), alleged assault (8.5%, n = 7), pedestrian injuries (5%, n = 4) and horse-related injuries (2%, n = 2). Ninety-six percent (n = 78) of kidney injuries were managed conservatively. Of the patients requiring intervention, all were AAST Grade V kidney injuries. CONCLUSION: Males accounted for the majority of renal trauma cases, similar to the 3:1 ratio of male-to-female injuries found in other studies. In line with other studies, renal trauma reviewed on the Gold Coast also revealed road trauma as the leading cause, closely followed by falls. The majority of high-grade renal trauma was managed conservatively.

Can we refine the management of blunt liver trauma?

AIM: To describe the management of blunt liver injury and to study the potential relation between delayed complications, type of trauma mechanisms and liver lesions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective single center study including 116 consecutive patients admitted with blunt liver injury between 2007 and 2015. RESULTS: Initial CT-scan identified an active bleeding in 33 (28%) patients. AAST (American Association for the Surgery of Trauma) grade was 1 to 3 in 82 (71%) patients and equal to 5 in 15 (13%) patients. Eighty (69%) patients had NOM, with a success rate of 96%. Other abdominal organ lesions were associated to invasive initial management. A follow-up CT-scan was useful to detect hepatic and extra-hepatic complications (46 complications in 80 patients), even without clinical or biological abnormalities. Subsequent hepatic complications such as bleeding, pseudo aneurysms, biloma and biliary peritonitis developed in 15 patients and were associated with the severity of blunt liver injury according to AAST classification (3.7±1.0 vs. 3.0±1.1, P=0.010). Total biliary complications occurred in 13 patients and were significantly more frequently observed in patients with injury of central segments 1, 4 and 9 (69% vs. 36%, P=0.033). CONCLUSIONS: Non-operative management is possible in most blunt liver injury with a success rate of 96%. A systematic CT-scan should be advocated during follow-up, especially when AAST grade is equal or superior to 3. Biliary complications should be suspected when lesions involve segments 1, 4 and 9.

Position of the abdominal seat belt sign and its predictive utility for abdominal trauma.

OBJECTIVE: In a motor vehicle crash, compressive forces from the lap component of the seat belt may produce an abdominal abrasion/contusion known as the 'seat belt sign', and is associated with abdominal and lumbar injuries. Previous research has not taken into account the position of this sign in relation to the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS). Our aim was to demonstrate an association between the seat belt sign position in relation to ASIS and the presence of abdominal/lumbar injury. METHODS: A mixed prospective and retrospective observational study of patients involved in a motor vehicle crash was conducted. The presence of a seat belt sign was recorded as above ASIS, at/below ASIS, or none. Injury data were extracted from discharge summaries, radiology reports and operation reports. Proportions of patients with injuries were compared across the three groups. RESULTS: Four hundred and sixty-four participants were enrolled. For participants with a seat belt sign above ASIS, compared to those with no seat belt sign, the positive likelihood ratio for a seat belt related injury was 4.2 (95% CI 2.6-6.8). When the seat belt sign was at/below the level of ASIS the positive likelihood ratio was 1.5 (95% CI 0.4-5.7). CONCLUSION: The seat belt sign is associated with abdominal and lumbar injury; however, the location is important. This association is strong when the seat belt sign is above ASIS, but when the sign is at/below the ASIS the injury rate is similar to participants with no seat belt sign. Routine imaging of the abdomen may be appropriate only for those with a seat belt sign above ASIS.

Early Transcatheter Arterial Embolization for the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Grade 4 Blunt Renal Trauma in Two Institutions.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of early transcatheter arterial embolization for hemodynamically stable patients with The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) grade 4 blunt renal trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of consecutive patients with grade 4 blunt renal trauma who were transported to our two critical care centers in Japan and treated with early transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) between 2001 and 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Treatment failure was defined as the need for further surgical intervention or re-embolization after initial embolization. We divided these cases into two groups, a group who survived and a group who died, investigating the factors that led to death. RESULTS: Seventeen patients underwent early TAE, with an average time between presentation and embolization for renal trauma of 125 minutes (66-214 minutes). There was no case of treatment failure. Three of the patients died, but none solely because of renal injury. Significant factors associated with patient death were the number of concomitant injured organs (p=0.04), the presence of pelvic fractures (p<0.01), and the presence of visceral injuries (p<0.01). The presence of lumber fractures (p=0.09) also tended to be associated with patient death. CONCLUSIONS: Early TAE is an effective treatment and should be actively performed for hemodynamically stable patients with grade 4 blunt renal injuries without multiple concomitant organ injuries.

Comparison of diagnostic imaging modalities for the evaluation of pancreatic duct injury in children: a multi-institutional analysis from the Pancreatic Trauma Study Group.

PURPOSE: Determining the integrity of the pancreatic duct is important in high-grade pancreatic trauma to guide decision making for operative vs non-operative management. Computed tomography (CT) is generally an inadequate study for this purpose, and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is sometimes obtained to gain additional information regarding the duct. The purpose of this multi-institutional study was to directly compare the results from CT and MRCP for evaluating pancreatic duct disruption in children with these rare injuries. METHODS: Retrospective study of data obtained from eleven pediatric trauma centers from 2010 to 2015. Children up to age 18 with suspected blunt pancreatic duct injury who had both CT and MRCP within 1 week of injury were included. Imaging findings of both studies were directly compared and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi square, Wilcoxon rank-sum, and McNemar's tests. RESULTS: Data were collected for 21 patients (mean age 7.8 years). The duct was visualized more often on MRCP than CT (48 vs 5%, p < 0.05). Duct disruption was confirmed more often on MRCP than CT (24 vs 0%), suspected based on secondary findings equally (38 vs 38%), and more often indeterminate on CT (62 vs 38%). Overall, MRCP was not superior to CT for determining duct integrity (62 vs 38%, p = 0.28). CONCLUSIONS: In children with blunt pancreatic injury, MRCP is more useful than CT for identifying the pancreatic duct but may not be superior for confirmation of duct integrity. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiogram (ERCP) may be necessary to confirm duct disruption when considering pancreatic resection. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Trauma mechanism predicts the frequency and the severity of injuries in blunt trauma patients. / Relação entre o mecanismo de trauma e lesões diagnosticadas em vítimas de trauma fechado.

OBJECTIVE: to study the correlation of trauma mechanism with frequency and severity of injuries in blunt trauma patients. METHODS: retrospective analysis of trauma registry in a 15-month period was carried out. Trauma mechanism was classified into six types: occupants of four-wheeled vehicles involved in road traffic accidents (AUTO), pedestrians struck by road vehicles (PED), motorcyclists involved in road traffic accidents (MOTO), falls from height (FALL), physical assault with blunt instruments (ASSA) and falls on same level (FSL). Injuries with AIS>2 were considered severe. One-way ANOVA, Students t and Chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis, considering p<0.05 significant. RESULTS: trauma mechanism was classified by group for 3639 cases, comprising 337 (9.3%) AUTO, 855 (23.5%) PED, 924 (25.4%) MOTO, 455 (12.5%) FALL, 424 (11.7%) ASSA and 644 (17.7%) FSL. There was significant difference among groups when comparing the Revised Trauma Score (RTS), the Injury Severity Score (ISS) and the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) of the head, thorax, abdomen and extremities (p<0.001). Severe injuries in the head and in the extremities were more frequent in PED patients (p<0.001). Severe injuries to the chest were more frequent in AUTO (p<0.001). Abdominal injuries were less frequent in FSL (p=0.004). Complex fractures of the pelvis and spine were more frequent in FALL (p<0.001). Lethality was greater in PED, followed by FALL and AUTO (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: trauma mechanism analysis predicted frequency and severity of injuries in blunt trauma patients.

OBJETIVO: analisar a correlação do mecanismo de trauma com a frequência e a gravidade das lesões. MÉTODOS: análise retrospectiva das informações do registro de trauma em período de 15 meses. O mecanismo de trauma foi classificado em seis tipos: ocupantes de veículo de quadro rodas envolvidos em acidente de tráfego (AUTO), pedestres vítimas de atropelamento (ATRO), motociclistas vítimas de acidentes de tráfego (MOTO), vítimas de quedas de altura (QUED), vítimas de agressão física com instrumentos contundentes (AGRE) e vítimas de queda do mesmo nível (QMN). RESULTADOS: o mecanismo de trauma foi classificado em 3639 casos, sendo 337 (9,3%) AUTO, 855 (23,5%) ATRO, 924 (25,4%) MOTO, 455 (12,5%) QUED, 424 (11,7%) AGRE e 644 (17,7%) QMN. Houve diferença significativa na comparação entre os grupos das médias dos índices do Revised Trauma Score (RTS), do Injury Severity Score (ISS) e da Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) do segmento cefálico, torácico, abdominal e extremidades (p<0,05). Lesões graves em segmento cefálico foram mais frequentes nas vítimas de ATRO, seguidos de AGRE e QUED (p<0,001). Lesões graves em tórax foram mais frequentes em AUTO, seguidos de QUED e ATRO (p<0,001). As lesões abdominais foram menos frequentes nas vítimas de QMN (p=0,004). Lesões graves em extremidades foram mais frequentes em ATRO, seguidos de MOTO e QUED (p<0,001). CONCLUSÃO: com a análise do mecanismo de trauma é possível prever a frequência e a gravidade das lesões em vítimas de trauma fechado.

Blunt pancreatic injury in children. / Stumpe pancreasskader hos barn.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic injuries in children are rare and most often caused by mechanisms of blunt injury. Injury to the pancreas in children may be difficult to diagnose and treat. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The article is based on literature searches in PubMed from the last 10 years (performed on 20 October 2015 and terminating on 20 October 2016) and on the authors' own clinical experience and knowledge of the literature. RESULTS: The search yielded a total of 20 articles, of which 6 concerned diagnostics and 14 dealt with treatment. Pancreatic injuries are rare and constitute around 0.3 % of all injuries in children, and 0.6 % of all abdominal traumas. Pancreatic injury is the fourth most frequent abdominal organ injury in children, and most occur in the age group 5 ­ 18 years. A little less than one fifth are isolated injuries. Computed tomography is the first choice in diagnostics, supported by magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography to achieve optimum sensitivity. Where findings are unclear or pancreatic duct injury is suspected, early endoscopic resonance cholangiopancreatography and stent treatment are relevant to determine pancreatic duct injury. Less severe (grade I­II) injuries are treated conservatively. The choice of surgery or conservative treatment of severe injuries (grade III­V) where the pancreatic duct is involved must be considered for each individual patient. Mortality is generally associated with other severe traumas such as head injuries and multiple organ injuries. INTERPRETATION: Pancreatic injuries or blunt traumas are rare in children and in most cases can be managed by observation. The evidence base is scant, particularly for severe injuries.