Bilateral intertrochanteric fractures in an elderly patient following high-energy trauma: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Cases of bilateral hip fractures are rare, and even more so are cases of bilateral intertrochanteric fractures. Common causes include trauma, internal diseases, and primary or secondary bone diseases. We report a case of bilateral intertrochanteric fractures in an elderly patient following a severe car accident, a scenario not extensively reported in existing literature. CASE PRESENTATION: We report on an 84-year-old male who suffered severe trauma from a car accident, resulting in multiple injuries and shock state, with pain and limited mobility in both hip joints. After examination and imaging studies, the patient was diagnosed with multiple injuries and bilateral intertrochanteric fractures. Following emergency resuscitation, he was admitted to the orthopedic ward. A pre-surgical multidisciplinary team (MDT) consultation was convened to optimize surgical conditions. The patient underwent successful one-stage bilateral intramedullary nailing. The patient was assisted to stand with a walker on the third day after surgery. Six months post-surgery, the patient resumed outdoor activities. CONCLUSION: Managing bilateral intertrochanteric fractures, particularly in the elderly with severe trauma, is notably challenging due to their rarity. However, a coordinated multidisciplinary approach and one-stage bilateral internal fixation can lead to effective treatment outcomes and favorable prognoses.

Ultrasonographic evaluation of diaphragm thickness and excursion: correlation with weaning success in trauma patients: prospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: Prolonged mechanical ventilation (MV) subjects multiple trauma patients to ventilator-induced diaphragmatic dysfunction. There is limited evidence on the predictive role of diaphragm ultrasound (DUS) for weaning success in multiple trauma patients. Therefore, we evaluated Ultrasound of the diaphragm as a valuable indicator of weaning outcomes, in trauma patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 50 trauma patients from September 2018 to February 2019. DUS was performed twice: upon ICU admission and the first weaning attempt. The diagnostic accuracy of indexes was evaluated by ROC curves. RESULTS: The study included patients with a mean age of 35.4 ± 17.37, and 78% being male. The median injury severity score was 75 (42-75). The failure group exhibited significantly lower right diaphragmatic excursion (DE) compared to the success group (P = 0.006). In addition, the failure group experienced a significant decrease in both right and left DE from admission to the first attempt of weaning from MV (P < 0.001). Both groups showed a significant decrease in inspiratory and expiratory thickness on both sides during weaning from MV compared to the admission time (P < 0.001). The findings from the ROC analysis indicated that the Rapid shallow breathing index (RSBI) (Sensitivity = 91.67, Specificity = 100), respiratory rate (RR)/DE (Right: Sensitivity = 87.5, Specificity = 92.31), and RR/TF (Thickening Fraction) (Right: Sensitivity = 83.33, Specificity = 80.77) demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity in predicting weaning outcome. CONCLUSION: In the context of patients with multiple trauma, employing DUC and assessing diaphragmatic excursion, thickness, RR/DE index, RR/TF index, and RSBI can aid in determining successful ventilator weaning.

Diagnostic utility of whole-body computed tomography/pan-scan in trauma: a systematic review and meta-analysis study.

Trauma is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity. It is crucial to diagnose trauma patients quickly to provide effective treatment interventions in such conditions. Whole-body computed tomography (WBCT)/pan-scan is an imaging technique that enables a faster and more efficient diagnosis for polytrauma patients. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the efficacy of WBCT in diagnosing injuries in polytrauma patients. We will also assess its impact on the mortality rate and length of hospital stay among trauma centers between patients who underwent WBCT and those who did not (non-WBCT). Twenty-seven studies meeting our inclusion criteria were selected among PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The criteria were centered on the significance of WBCT/pan-scan application in trauma patients. Stata version 15 was used to perform statistical analysis on the data. The authors have also used I2 statistics to evaluate heterogeneity. Egger and Begg's tests were performed to rule out any publication bias. Total of twenty-seven studies including 68,838 trauma patients with a mean age of 45.0 ± 24.7 years were selected. Motor vehicle collisions were the most common cause of blunt injuries (80.0%). Head, neck, and face injuries were diagnosed in 44% (95% CI, 0.28-0.60; I2 = 99.8%), 6% (95% CI, 0.02-0.09; I2 = 97.2%), and 9% (95% CI, 0.05-0.13; I2 = 97.1%), respectively. Chest injuries were diagnosed by WBCT in 39% (95% CI, 0.28-0.51; I2 = 99.8%), abdominal injuries in 23% (95% CI, 0.03-0.43; I2 = 99.9%) of cases, spinal injuries 19% (95% CI, 0.11-0.27; I2 = 99.4%), extremity injuries 33% (95% CI, 0.23-0.43; I2 = 99.2%), and pelvic injuries 11% (95% CI, 0.04-0.18; I2 = 97.4%). A mortality odd ratio of 0.94 (95% CI, 0.83-1.06; I2 = 40.1%) was calculated while comparing WBCT and non-WBCT groups. This systematic review and meta-analysis provide insight into the possible safety, efficacy, and efficiency of WBCT/pan-scan as a diagnostic tool for trauma patients with serious injuries, regardless of their hemodynamic status. In patients with serious injuries from trauma, whether or not there are indicators of hemodynamic instability, our recommended approach is to, wherever possible, perform a WBCT without stopping the hemostatic resuscitation. By using this technology, the optimal surgical strategy for these patients can be decided upon without causing any delays in their final care or greatly raising their radiation dose.

Radiology weather forecast: A retrospective analysis of predictability of median daily polytrauma-CT occurrence based on weather data.

OBJECTIVES: Resource planning is a crucial component in hospitals, particularly in radiology departments. Since weather conditions are often described to correlate with emergency room visits, we aimed to forecast the amount of polytrauma-CTs using weather information. DESIGN: All polytrauma-CTs between 01/01/2011 and 12/31/2022 (n = 6638) were retrieved from the radiology information system. Local weather data was downloaded from meteoblue.com. The data was normalized and smoothened. Daily polytrauma-CT occurrence was stratified into below median and above median number of daily polytrauma-CTs. Logistic regression and machine learning algorithms (neural network, random forest classifier, support vector machine, gradient boosting classifier) were employed as prediction models. Data from 2012 to 2020 was used for training, data from 2021 to 2022 for validation. RESULTS: More polytrauma-CTs were acquired in summer compared with winter months, demonstrating a seasonal change (median: 2.35; IQR 1.60-3.22 vs. 2.08; IQR 1.36-3.03; p <.001). Temperature (rs = 0.45), sunshine duration (rs = 0.38) and ultraviolet light amount (rs = 0.37) correlated positively, wind velocity (rs = -0.57) and cloudiness (rs = -0.28) correlated negatively with polytrauma-CT occurrence (all p <.001). The logistic regression model for identification of days with above median number of polytrauma-CTs achieved an accuracy of 87 % on training data from 2011 to 2020. When forecasting the years 2021-2022 an accuracy of 65 % was achieved. A neural network and a support vector machine both achieved a validation accuracy of 72 %, whereas all classifiers regarded wind velocity and ultraviolet light amount as the most important parameters. CONCLUSION: It is possible to forecast above or below median daily number of polytrauma-CTs using weather data. CLINCICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Prediction of polytrauma-CT examination volumes may be used to improve resource planning.

Can the use of whole-body CT be reduced in cases of kinetic-based polytrauma patients without a clinical severity criterion? A bi-center retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To identify clinical and biological criteria predictive of significant traumatic injury in only kinetic-based polytrauma patients without clinical severity criteria. To propose a decisional algorithm to assist the emergency doctor in deciding whether or not to perform a WBCT in the above population. METHODS: Retrospective bi-center study. 1270 patients with high velocity trauma without clinical severity criteria, for whom a WBCT was performed in 2017, were included. Patients with hemodynamic, respiratory or neurological severity criterion or those requiring pre-hospital resuscitation measures were excluded. Our primary endpoint was the identification of a significant lesion, i.e. any lesion that led to hospitalization > 24 h for monitoring or medico-surgical treatment. Data collected were age, sex, mechanism of injury, Glasgow Coma Scale score, number of symptomatic body regions, blood alcohol level, and neutrophil count. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis found independent predictors of significant injury: fall > 5 m (OR: 14.36; CI: 2.3-283.4; p = 0.017), Glasgow score = 13 or 14 (OR: 4.40; CI:1.30-18.52; p = 0.027), presence of 2 symptomatic body regions (OR: 10.21; CI: 4.66-23.72; p = 0.05), positive blood alcohol level (OR: 2.81; CI: 1.13-7.33; p = 0.029) and neutrophilic leukocytosis (OR: 8.76; CI: 3.94-21.27; p = 0.01). A composite clinico-biological endpoint predictive of the absence of significant lesion was identified using a Classification and Regression Tree: number of symptomatic regions < 2, absence of Neutrophilic leukocytosis and negative blood alcohol concentration. CONCLUSION: A simple triage algorithm was created with the objective of identifying, in high velocity trauma without clinical severity criteria, those without significant traumatic injury.

[Traumatic injuries of the kidney and the urinary tract in blunt abdominal trauma]. / Traumatische Verletzungen der Nieren und der ableitenden Harnwege bei stumpfen Bauchtraumata.

BACKGROUND: In the context of blunt abdominal trauma, injuries to the urinary tracts often occur, especially in polytrauma patients. Urotrauma is rarely immediately life-threatening but can lead to serious complications and chronic functional limitations during treatment. Therefore early urological involvement is crucial for adequate interdisciplinary treatment. METHODS: The most important facts for the clinical routine on the consultant urological management of urogenital injuries in blunt abdominal trauma are discussed according to the European "EAU guidelines on Urological Trauma" and the German "S3 guidelines on Polytrauma/Treatment of Severely Injured Patients" as well as the relevant literature. RESULTS: Urinary tract injuries can occur even with an initially inconspicuous status and always require explicit exclusion diagnostics by means of contrast medium tomography of the entire urinary tract and, if necessary, by means of urographic and endoscopic examinations. The most common urological intervention is catheterization of the urinary tract which is often required. Less common is urological surgery, which should be coordinated interdisciplinarily with visceral and trauma surgery. More than 90% of vitally threatening kidney injuries (usually up to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) grades 4-5) are now treated by interventional radiology. CONCLUSION: Due to possible complex injury patterns in blunt abdominal trauma, these patients should ideally be directed to (certified) trauma centers with subspecialized or maximum care from the departments of visceral and vascular surgery, trauma surgery, interventional radiology and urology.

Patients with severe polytrauma: management and imaging protocols.

Traumatic injuries can be severe and complex, requiring the coordinated efforts of a multidisciplinary team. Imaging tests play a fundamental role in rapid and accurate diagnosis. In particular, whole-body computed tomography (CT) has become a key tool. There are different CT protocols depending on the patient's condition; whereas dose-optimized protocols can be used in stable patients, time/precision protocols prioritizing speed at the cost of delivering higher doses of radiation should be used in more severe patients. In unstable patients who cannot be examined by CT, X-rays of the chest and pelvis and FAST or e-FAST ultrasound studies, although less sensitive than CT, enable the detection of situations that require immediate treatment. This article reviews the imaging techniques and CT protocols for the initial hospital workup for patients with multiple trauma.

Delayed presentation of manubriosternal dislocation after thoracolumbar spondylodesis in a polytrauma patient - a case report.

BACKGROUND: Manubriosternal dislocations are a rare entity and frequently associated with thoracic spine fractures and, in minority of cases, with cervical or thoracolumbar fractures. METHODS: Our case represents a 38-year-old male who fell from a height resulting in multiple fractures, amongst others of the first lumbar vertebra. At primary survey and computed tomography scan no manubriosternal injury was apparent. After posterior stabilization of the thoracolumbar vertebrae a manubriosternal dislocation was identified and stabilized using plate-and-screw fixation. RESULTS: Clinical findings of a manubriosternal dislocation are not always obvious, allowing them to be missed at initial assessment. CONCLUSIONS: Manubriosternal dislocations can be missed at the initial investigation, even on cross-sectional imaging, and only become visible after spine stabilization because of the tight relationship between sternum and vertebrae in the thoracic cage. There is no unanimity in literature for surgical treatment of manubriosternal dislocations, although plate fixation is generally considered a safe and effective treatment option.

Creating Augmented Reality Holograms for Polytrauma Patients Using 3D Slicer and Holomedicine Medical Image Platform.

In traumatology physicians heavily rely on computed tomography (CT) 2D axial scans to identify and assess the patient's injuries after an accident. However, in some cases it can be difficult to rigorously evaluate the real extent of the damage considering only the bidimensional slices produced by the CT, and some life-threatening lesions can be missed. With the development of 3D holographic rendering and extended reality (XR) technology, CT images can be projected in a 3D format through head-mounted holographic displays, allowing multi-view from different angles and interactive slice intersections, thus increasing anatomical intelligibility. In this article, we explain how to import CT scans into holographic displays for 3D visualization and further compare the methodolgy with traditional bidimensional reading.

Clinical evaluation of automated segmentation for body composition analysis on abdominal L3 CT slices in polytrauma patients.

INTRODUCTION: Sarcopenia is a muscle disease that involves loss of muscle strength and physical function and is associated with adverse health effects. Even though sarcopenia has attracted increasing attention in the literature, many research findings have not yet been translated into clinical practice. In this article, we aim to validate a deep learning neural network for automated segmentation of L3 CT slices and aim to explore the potential for clinical utilization of such a tool for clinical practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A deep learning neural network was trained on a multi-centre collection of 3413 abdominal cancer surgery subjects to automatically segment muscle, subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue at the L3 lumbar vertebral level. 536 Polytrauma subjects were used as an independent test set to show generalizability. The Dice Similarity Coefficient was calculated to validate the geometric similarity. Quantitative agreement was quantified using Bland-Altman's Limits of Agreement interval and Lin's Concordance Correlation Coefficient. To determine the potential clinical usability, randomly selected segmentation images were presented to a panel of experienced clinicians to rate on a Likert scale. RESULTS: Deep learning results gave excellent agreement versus a human expert operator for all of the body composition indices, with Concordance Correlation Coefficient for skeletal muscle index of 0.92, Skeletal muscle radiation attenuation 0.94, Visceral Adipose Tissue index 0.99 and Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue Index 0.99. Triple-blinded visual assessment of segmentation by clinicians correlated only to the Dice coefficient, but had no association to quantitative body composition metrics which were accurate irrespective of clinicians' visual rating. CONCLUSION: A deep learning method for automatic segmentation of truncal muscle, visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue on individual L3 CT slices has been independently validated against expert human-generated results for an enlarged polytrauma registry dataset. Time efficiency, consistency and high accuracy relative to human experts suggest that quantitative body composition analysis with deep learning should is a promising tool for clinical application in a hospital setting.

Costal cartilage fractures in blunt polytrauma patients - a prospective clinical and radiological follow-up study.

PURPOSE: To assess the healing of costal cartilage fractures (CCFX) in patients with blunt polytrauma with follow-up imaging and clinical examination. Effect on physical performance and quality of life (QoL) was also evaluated. METHODS: The study group comprised twenty-one patients with diagnosed CCFX in trauma CT. All the patients underwent MRI, ultrasound, ultra-low-dose CT examinations, and clinical status control. The patients completed QoL questionnaires. Two radiologists evaluated the images regarding fracture union, dislocation, calcifications, and persistent edema at fracture site. An attending trauma surgeon clinically examined the patients, with emphasis on focal tenderness and ribcage mobility. Trauma registry data were accessed to evaluate injury severity and outcome. RESULTS: The patients were imaged at an average of 34.1 months (median 36, range 15.8-57.7) after the initial trauma. In 15 patients (71.4%), CCFX were considered stable on imaging. Cartilage calcifications were seen on healed fracture sites in all the patients. The fracture dislocation had increased in 5 patients (23.8%), and 1 patient (4.8%) showed signs of a non-stable union. Four patients (19.0%) reported persistent symptoms from CCFX. CONCLUSION: Non-union in CCFX is uncommon but may lead to decreased stability and discomfort. Both clinical and radiological examinations play an important part in the post-traumatic evaluation of CCFX. CT and MRI visualize the healing process, while dynamic ultrasound may reveal instability. No significant difference in QoL was detected between patients with radiologically healed and non-healed CCFX. Post-traumatic disability was mostly due to other non-thoracic injuries.

Emergency whole-body CT scans in pediatric patients with trauma: patterns of injuries, yield of dual-phase scanning, and influence of second read on detection of injuries.

OBJECTIVES: To describe injury patterns in children with multiple trauma (MT), evaluate the yield of dual-phase whole-body CT (WBCT), and quantify missed injuries detected on second reading. METHODS: Remotely analyzed WBCT performed between 2011 and 2020 in 63 emergency departments on children admitted for MT were included. Second reading occurred within 24 h. Collected data included age, sex, mechanism, Injury Severity Score (ISS), radiologists' experience, time and duration of first reading, conclusion of both readings, and dosimetry. Melvin score assessed the clinical impact of missed injuries. RESULTS: Overall, 1114 patients were included, 1982 injuries were described in 662 patients (59.4%), 452/1114 (40.6%) WBCT were negative, and 314 (28.2%) patients had MT (≥ 2 body parts injured). The most frequent injuries were pulmonary contusions (8.3%), costal fractures (6.2%), and Magerl A1 vertebral fractures (4.9%). Overall, 151 injuries were missed in 92 (8.3%) patients. Independent predictors for missed injuries were age ≤ 4 years (p = 0.03), number of injured body parts ≥ 2 (p = 0.01), and number of injuries ≥ 3 (p < 0.001). Melvin score grade 3 lesions were found in 16/92 (17.4%) patients with missed injuries (1.4% of all WBCT), where only prolonged follow-up was necessary. Thirteen active bleeding or pseudoaneurysms were detected (0.7% of injuries). CONCLUSION: Injuries were diagnosed in 59.4% of patients. Double-reading depicted additional injuries in 8.3% of patients, significantly more in children ≤ 4 years, with ≥ 3 injuries or ≥ 2 injured body parts. As 28 % of patients had MT and 1.1% had active extravasation or pseudoaneurysm, indication for WBCT should be carefully weighted. KEY POINTS: • When performed as a first-line imaging evaluation, approximately 41% of WBCT for MT children were considered normal. • The three most common injuries were pulmonary contusions, costal fractures, and Magerl A1 vertebral fractures, but the patterns of traumatic injuries on WBCT depended on the children's age and the trauma mechanism. • The independent predictors of missed injuries were age ≤ 4 years, number of body parts involved ≥ 2, and total number of injuries ≥ 3.

Economic and clinical benefits of immediate total-body CT in the diagnostic approach to polytraumatized patients: a descriptive analysis through a literature review.

Major trauma is an event causing injuries that may determine an immediate or potential risk to the patient survival. A correct management of major trauma is decisive in reducing disability, which has relevance both from the point of view of the quality of life of the single individual and from the point of view of health expenditure. The primary clinical approach to the polytraumatized patients is managed, in most cases, as outlined in the guidelines of Advanced Trauma Life Support, proposing conventional radiological investigations, such as chest and pelvis x-ray, and of FAST (focused abdominal sonography in trauma)/E-FAST (extended FAST) examinations, followed by selective targeted computed tomography (CT). This approach is questionable and is increasingly common in clinical practice the adoption of the immediate total-body CT in the diagnostic approach to the hemodynamically stable polytraumatized patient. However, the potential advantages of such conduct both in terms of clinical benefits and in terms of cost-effectiveness still need to be discussed. The objective of this review article consists of a descriptive analysis of the economic and clinical benefits of the adoption of immediate total-body CT in polytrauma patients through a literature review.

Optimization of CT protocol in polytrauma patients: an update.

Radiologists play a key role in the management of trauma patients. With the improvement of computed tomography (CT), radiologist makes an important contribution to the timely diagnosis of trauma-related findings and the choice of the most suitable treatment, improving patient outcomes. It is important to select the most appropriate imaging technique, which in the trauma patient is CT, and especially the most appropriate CT protocol, to correctly characterize trauma injuries. Currently, there is no agreement on what the optimal protocol is, acquisition times and number of contrast enhanced phases are not standardized. This is a review of the most recent literature on optimizing the CT protocol in polytrauma, with the intent of giving a useful tool for radiologists in the management of trauma patients.

Polytrauma in the Geriatric Population: Analysis of Outcomes for Surgically Treated Multiple Fractures with a Minimum 2 Years of Follow-Up.

INTRODUCTION: This study analyzed the clinical and radiological outcomes of geriatric polytrauma patients who had multiple fractures surgically treated and a minimum of 2 years of follow-up. METHODS: Eighty-six geriatric patients with polytrauma and multiple fractures which were surgically treated in orthopedics and who had a minimum of 2 years of follow-up were retrospectively analyzed. Patients' demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and follow-up time were recorded. The mechanism of injury, fracture type and location, Injury Severity Score (ISS), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, duration of hospital stay, complications, and 1-year mortality were also recorded. Fracture union, implant failure, and refractures/misalignment were analyzed from radiographs. RESULTS: There were 34 (39.5%) male and 52 (60.5%) female patients. Mean age was 73.5 years with an average follow-up time of 32.9 months. Patients had more low-energy traumas and more lower extremity, comminuted fractures. On the contrary, high-energy traumas and femur/pelvic fracture surgeries had higher associated mortality. The mean ISS score was 26.3. The most common ASA score was ASA 3 (75.8%). The most common clinical and radiological complications were prolonged wound drainage and implant failure. The total 1-year mortality rate was 22.1%. Patients with high ASA scores and patients with lower extremity fractures (femoral/pelvic fractures) also had significantly increased mortality rates. No significant relation was detected between mortality and ISS, fracture type, number of fractures, and duration of hospital stay. CONCLUSION: Orthopedic surgeons must be alert about the possible complications of femoral fractures and comminuted fractures including pelvic girdle. Surgically treated, multifractured patients with high-energy trauma, advanced age, and high ASA scores are also at risk for mortality regardless of the ISS, comorbidities, and duration of hospital stay. Pulmonary thromboemboli must be kept in mind as a significant complication for mortality.

Comparing diagnostic findings and cost of whole body computed tomography to traditional diagnostic imaging in polytrauma patients.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the diagnostic utility of traditional diagnostic tests (ie, radiographs and focused assessment using sonography for trauma [FAST] scans) to whole-body computed tomography (WBCT) for characterizing injuries in polytrauma patients. A secondary objective was to compare costs of traditional diagnostic tests to WBCT. DESIGN: Prospective, observational study. SETTING: Private, level 1 veterinary trauma center. ANIMALS: Convenience sample of 21 client-owned cats and dogs presenting with polytrauma. INTERVENTIONS: Abdominal and thoracic FAST were performed by the primary clinician, if indicated. Radiographs were performed on areas concerning for trauma at the primary clinician's discretion. A WBCT was performed on each patient within 24 h of presentation and was blindly interpreted by a board-certified radiologist. Patients were only placed under anesthesia if further procedures were planned. IV contrast administration was employed at the discretion of the primary clinician and radiologist. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Twenty-one patients (14 dogs and 7 cats) were enrolled. Sources of trauma included blunt force (80%), penetrating wounds (10%), and unknown sources (10%). Twelve injuries were missed on traditional diagnostics tests. Injuries missed on traditional diagnostic workup included pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, pulmonary contusions, pleural effusion, traumatic bulla, peritoneal effusion, and an appendicular skeleton fracture. A distal metacarpal fracture was missed on WBCT. Traditional diagnostic tests misdiagnosed a diaphragmatic hernia and a ruptured urinary bladder, whereas WBCT was able to rule out these injuries. There were no adverse outcomes associated with missed injuries. The median cost of traditional diagnostic tests was significantly less than the cost of WBCT (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Although cost is higher, WBCT is a single test that can provide more comprehensive information and may help decrease the risk of missed injuries compared to traditional diagnostic tests. WBCT may be considered as a first-line diagnostic in severely traumatized patients.

Operative Management Considerations in a Patient With Multiple Occult Penetrating Cardiac Injuries.

Penetrating cardiac injury remains one of the deadliest traumatic injuries. Early identification and definitive operative management are critical tenets for patient survival; however, variable clinical presentations can obscure the diagnosis. Here, we present the case of a 58-year-old obese man who presented to an urban level 1 trauma center with multiple stab wounds to the epigastrium and lateral left chest in the axillary line with an unknown weapon. The patient was taken emergently to the operating room for exploratory laparotomy, median sternotomy, and attempted repair of multiple full-thickness lacerations of the right ventricle and left and right atrium. This case demonstrates several instructive points. First, a high index of suspicion for penetrating cardiac injury is needed, especially during triage of multiple injuries. Second, careful release of cardiac tamponade is critical. Finally, there are several indications for cardiopulmonary bypass, which include multichambered injuries, uncontrollable hemorrhage, and concern for intracardiac injury.

Improving the protocol for whole-body CT scans in trauma patients.

PURPOSE: While whole-body computed tomography is an established diagnostic method for the work up of polytraumatized patients, the protocols used differ between trauma centers. This study aimed to compare scan duration and estimated radiation of two protocols. Secondary aim was to assess if using the revised CT protocol reduced the number of additional images of the upper extremities. METHODS: Two groups of consecutive trauma patients, which both received a whole-body CT, were analyzed. Patients, who received a three-phased CT during which their arms needed to be repositioned from their side to above the head, were assigned to group A. Those, who received a CT with their arms placed on a pillow ventral to the abdomen throughout the entire scan were assigned to group B. Estimated radiation dose, scan duration, number of upper limb injuries and number of additional images of the upper limbs within 24 h after initial CT were assessed. RESULTS: Group A consisted of 182 patients, group B of 218. The scan duration was 3 min shorter (p < 0.001) and the estimated radiation dose lower (15.0 vs 22.9 mSv, p < 0.001) in group B. There was no difference in the number of upper limb injuries detected or the number of upper limb additional images required within 24 h. CONCLUSION: Using a whole-body CT scan protocol in which the arms remain on a pillow ventral to the torso instead of one which requires a repositioning of the arms, both scan duration and estimated radiation dose can be reduced. Despite the arms being within the scanned area in the revised protocol, the number of additional imaging of the upper extremities could not be reduced.

Should Radiation Exposure be an Issue of Concern in Children With Multiple Trauma?

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were 3-fold: first, establish the level of radiation exposure experienced by the pediatric trauma patients; second, model the level of risk of developing fatal carcinogenesis; and third, test whether pattern of injury was predictive of the level of exposure. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: There are certain conditions that cause children to be exposed to increased radiation, that is, scoliosis, where level of radiation exposure is known. The extent that children are exposed to radiation in the context of multiple traumas remains unclear. METHODS: Patients below the age of 16 years and with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥10, treated by a Major Trauma Center for the period January 2008 to December 2018 were identified. The following data were extracted for the year following the patient's injury: number, doses, and type of radiological examination.The sex and age of the patient was taken into account in the calculation of the risk of developing a carcinogenesis. RESULTS: The median radiation dose of the 425 patients identified in the 12 months following injury, through both CT and radiographs, was 24.3 mSv. Modeling the predictive value of pattern of injury and other relevant clinical values, ISS was proportionately predictive of cumulative dose received. CONCLUSION: A proportion of younger polytrauma patients were exposed to high levels of radiation that in turn mean an increased risk of carcinogenesis. However, the ISS, age, injury pattern, and length of hospital stay are predictive of both risks, enabling monitoring and patient advisement of the risks.