Exposición compleja de placa craneal / Complex exposure of cranial plate

Es recomendable que los pacientes con antecedentes de trauma craneal moderado o grave, con pérdida de fragmentos de calota, que deben reparar con posterior craneoplastia, la realicen luego de 3 a 6 meses, reduciendo el riesgo de infección y de hipertensión endocraneana. Los materiales a utilizar son diversos; y para evitar la reapertura es fundamental un cierre sin tensión, en dos planos y sin tejido desvitalizado. Las infecciones son raras; son más frecuentes cuando la craneopatía se realizó dentro del 1er año del trauma. Otra complicación es la úlcera crónica, de manejo muy complejo. Material y métodos. Paciente de 58 años, sufrió un traumatismo encefalocraneano con pérdida de conocimiento en el año 2011, por accidente de tránsito; craneoplastia realizada a 8 meses del trauma, posterior ulceración sobre líneas de incisión en dos oportunidades, reparado en ambas con colgajos locales, conservando la placa craneal. La paciente consultó presentando nueva ulceración parietal izquierda y adelgazamiento del cuero cabelludo y translucencia del material frontoparietal izquierdos; sin infección local; y múltiples cicatrices remanentes. Se retiró la placa craneal, y a dos años se realizó expansión con insuflados lentos controlados con la signosintomatología que presentaba la paciente. Al 3er mes se recolocó nueva placa de titanio y cobertura con colgajos del cuero cabelludo. Discusión. La expansión tisular del cuero cabelludo es un método simple, con baja frecuencia de complicaciones si la técnica es delicada y atendemos la signosintomatología del paciente. Conclusión. El trabajo conjunto multidisciplinario, es la piedra angular para obtener resultados óptimos en la reconstrucción de lesiones complejas.

Patients with a history of moderate or severe skull trauma, with loss of shell fragments, which must be repaired with subsequent cranioplasty, it is recommended to perform it after 3 to 6 months, reducing the risk of infection and endocranial hypertension. The materials to use are diverse; and to avoid reopening, a tension-free closure is essential, in two planes and without devitalized tissue. Infections are rare, being more frequent when the craniopathy took place within 1 year of the trauma. Another complication is the chronic ulcer, very complex to handle. Material and methods. Fifty eight year-old patient, suffered a traumatic brain injury with loss of consciousness in 2011, due to a traffic accident; craneoplasty performed 8 months after trauma, subsequent ulceration on incision lines on two occasions, both repaired with local flaps, preserving the cranial plate. The patient consulted presenting a new left parietal ulceration, and thinning of the scalp and translucency of the left fronto-parietal material; no local infection; and multiple remaining scars. The cranial plate was removed, and two years later, expansion was performed with slow insufflants controlled with the patient's symptom sign. At the 3rd month, a new titanium plate was replaced and covered with flaps of the scalp. Discussion. Tissue expansion of the scalp is a simple method, with little frequency of complications if the technique is delicate, and we attend to the patient's sign-symptomatology. Conclusion. Multidisciplinary joint work is the cornerstone for obtaining optimal results in the reconstruction of complex injuries.

Características de los pacientes traumatizados que ingresan a la UCI de un hospital general en Chile / Characteristics of trauma patients admitted to the intensive care unit of a general hospital in Chile

Background: Trauma is an important cause of death among young adults. Aim: To determine the characteristics, treatments and evolution of trauma patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) of a public hospital in Santiago, Chile. Material and Methods: All polytrauma (PT) and severely traumatized (ST) patients admitted to ICU were included. We recorded the type of trauma along with demographic and hemodynamic variables, treatments and complications. The evolution and treatments received by PT and ST patients were compared. Results: We recorded data from 72 patients aged 43 ± 21 years (93% males). Sixty two percent were PT and 24% had penetrating injuries. TBI (Trauma Brain Injury) was the most common trauma. On admission, acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score was 18.7 + 7.3, and Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 32.8 + 20.1. ICU stay was 7.8 + 6 days. Sixty seven per cent of patients required surgery and 58% received blood transfusions. No differences were found between PT and ST. ICU and hospital mortality rates were 15 and 25% respectively. Conclusions: The characteristics and evolution of PT and ST of this series of patients are similar to those described abroad. Mortality was in agreement with ISS and APACHE II scores.

Fatores que influenciaram a evolução de 206 pacientes com traumatismo craniencefálico grave / Relevant factors in 206 patients with severe head injury

A busca de fatores prognósticos para o traumatismo craniencefálico (TCE) tem sido alvo de muitos estudos nas últimas décadas. A identificação de indicadores consistentes da evolução destes pacientes tem representado um grande desafio e sua utilidade considerada evidente tanto para orientar o tratamento, quanto para a estimativa do resultado final. Baseados numa casuística de 206 pacientes com TCE grave (8 pontos ou menos pela Escala de Coma de Glasgow - ECG), estudamos a influência de vários fatores sobre a evolução dos pacientes. A gravidade inicial medida pela ECG, a presença de hipertensão intracraniana (níveis acima de 20 mmHg), o tipo de lesão intracraniana e a presença de hipoxia, hipotensão arterial e a associação de hipóxia e hipotensão arterial tiveram influência significativa sobre a evolução dos pacientes. A presença de politraumatismo (pelo menos dois sítios de lesão além do TCE) e a idade (acima e abaixo de 40 anos) não influenciaram significativamente a evolução dos pacientes desta casuística.