[Hip arthroscopy after luxatio obturatoria. With contralateral unstable pelvic ring fracture]. / Hüftgelenkarthroskopie nach Luxatio obturatoria. Bei kontralateraler instabiler Beckenringfraktur.

Traumatic dislocation of the hip is a severe injury. Even in cases of an early uncomplicated repositioning there is a high risk of associated intra-articular injuries, such as lesions of the labrum, ruptures of the ligament of the head of the femur and loose bodies. The degree of damage caused by dislocation of the hip becomes apparent with a highly increased risk of developing postinjury osteoarthritis after dislocation of the hip. Some of the major intra-articular damage resulting from hip dislocation, e.g. loose bodies, can be detected by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging and can be effectively addressed by hip arthroscopy, thus aiming at reducing the acute symptoms and the risk of postinjury osteoarthritis. The force effect which causes dislocation of the hip can generate severe associated extra-articular injures as in the case described with an unstable fracture of the pelvis. This supplementary injury had to be considered while planning the operative therapy and rehabilitation. A patient presented after a traffic accident with a luxatio obturatoria on the right side and a complex fracture of the left pelvis including the posterior ring and the anterior wall of the acetabulum. After reposition of the right hip and operative therapy of the left side, a loose body was identified in the right hip joint during the computed tomography control of the osteosynthesis. Before patient mobilization extraction of the intra-articular loose body was performed arthroscopically. This was done in consideration of the reduced possibility of distraction due to the osteosynthesis on the contralateral side. Attention was particularly paid to the risk of intra-abdominal fluid extravasation (IAFE). This syndrome is described as a severe complication during hip arthoscopy especially in cases of defects of the hip capsule as assumed after hip dislocation and magnetic resonance imaging.

[Periprosthetic humeral fracture: complex circumstances need critical selection of therapy]. / Periprothetische Humerusfraktur: Komplexe Begleitumstände erfordern eine kritische Therapieauswahl.

Although periprosthetic humeral fractures were previously rare injuries, they will increase because of the rising life expectancy of patients and increasing implantation of shoulder prostheses. This article describes a case of an 86-year-old female patient with very thin humeral cortex and a prosthesis filling the medullary cavity. The morphology of fractures and the surrounding circumstances determine choice of therapy.

[Arthroscopy-guided fracture management. Ankle joint and calcaneus]. / Arthroskopisch gestütztes Frakturmanagement. Oberes Sprunggelenk und Kalkaneus.

Arthroscopic fracture management of the ankle and calcaneus requires a differentiated approach. The aim is to minimize surgical soft tissue damage and to visualize anatomical fracture reduction arthroscopically. Moreover, additional cartilage damage can be detected and treated. The arthroscopic approach is limited by deep impressions of the joint surface needing cancellous bone grafting, by multiple fracture lines on the articular side and by high-grade soft tissue damage. An alternative to the minimally invasive arthroscopic approach is open arthroscopic reduction in conventional osteosynthesis. This facilitates correct assessment of surgical reduction of complex calcaneal fractures, otherwise remaining non-anatomical reduction might not be fluoroscopically detected during surgery.

[Non-unions. From diagnosis to healing]. / Pseudarthrosen. Von der Diagnose bis zur Ausheilung.

Non-unions are a relevant medical and socio-economic problem. Hyper-, oligo- and atrophic non-unions as well as septic and aseptic non-unions are differentiated. Correct classification is essential for the selected therapy. The "diamond concept" describes five pillars, on which bone healing is based and that have to be considered in the treatment of non-unions: osteogenic cells (mesenchymal stem cells), osteoinduction (growth factors), osteoconduction (scaffolds), mechanical stability, and vascularization. Factors that predispose to non-union also influence fracture healing. The gold standard of therapy are still resection of the non-union, decortication and autologous bone grafting. No advantage could be proven for any of the numerous procedures in monotherapy. But the combination of various procedures - polytherapy - seems to be promising. The aim is to optimize these concepts.

The implementation of a perioperative checklist increases patients' perioperative safety and staff satisfaction.

BACKGROUND: The implementation of the 'Surgical Safety Checklist' caused a significant reduction in the incidence of complications and mortality among patients undergoing surgery. The aim of the present study was to evaluate perioperative safety standards and the quality of interprofessional cooperation before and after the introduction of a safety checklist from staff members' point of view. METHODS: Employees' attitude concerning safety-relevant aspects of the perioperative period, work processes, and quality of interprofessional cooperation was surveyed before and 3 months after introducing an adapted form of the 'Surgical Safety Checklist' by a 19-item questionnaire. RESULTS: After the implementation of the checklist, the cognizance of the names and functions of the individual operating room (OR) staff members, verification of the patient's written consent for surgery, indication for antibiotics before the surgical incision, and the quality of interprofessional cooperation were rated more positively. Traumatology physicians were more convinced that all artifacts had been removed from the surgical field. Finally, communication about intraoperative complications had improved. CONCLUSIONS: Our attitude surveys demonstrate that from the OR staff's perspective, in the perioperative setting, safety-relevant factors can be handled significantly better and with greater awareness by implementing a safety checklist as proposed by the World Health Organization.

[S3 guideline on treatment of polytrauma/severe injuries. Initial surgical phase: significance--possibilities--difficulties?]. / S3-Leitlinie Polytrauma/Schwerverletzten-Behandlung. Erste Operationsphase: Bedeutung--Möglichkeiten--Schwierigkeiten?

There is no universal, generally established strategy for polytrauma management in Germany until now. The new S3 guideline on polytrauma patient care is the first high-level evidence-based compendium consented to by all major medical societies in Germany. This report emphasises all new guideline recommendations concerning the early operative care of multiply injured patients. With regard to the available evidence in the literature this report shows that the assessment of key recommendations is often difficult due to a lack of data. For guideline explanations with the highest grade of recommendation however it can be assumed that there is no alternative and that these will be implemented nationwide. This study also shows that the absolute and relative number of recommendations and the corresponding grade of recommendation do not correlate with the frequency and severity of injuries in an average polytrauma patient. It will now become a major challenge in German trauma care to incorporate all S3 guideline recommendations into the local treatment algorithms. Regional trauma networks could play a key role in this crucial task.

[Physicians in traumatology. Critically endangered? Results of an inquiry]. / Arzte in der Unfallchirurgie. Unglücklich und vom Aussterben bedroht? Ergebnisse einer Umfrage.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this investigation was to describe the current situation and atmosphere among residents and consultants in traumatology, using the results of a questionnaire. Wishes and needs concerning training programs in traumatology were addressed. METHODS: A questionnaire consisting of 25 items was distributed among members of the German Society of Traumatology (DGU) to document basic data concerning the state of residency and physicians' current workload. The participants were also asked about their personal interests and aims within traumatology. Finally, questions concerning educational programs, compensation, and work-life balance were addressed. The results were analysed descriptively. RESULTS: The final analysis included 549 questionnaires. The mean age of the participants was 36 years (SD +/-7.5). Sixty percent (329) were residents, and 16% (88) served as consultants. The mean workload per week was 61 h (SD +/-10.8 h), and participants were on call seven times (SD +/-5.6) a month. The work-life balance was rated a mean of only 5 ("mediocre"). The majority of participants rejected working longer in order to reduce the duration of their educational program. On the other hand, most of the participants would also reject a reduction in working time accompanied by a reduced salary. Nevertheless, 78% (428) of the participants would, in retrospect, choose the same profession, and 85% (466) would even choose the same specialty. DISCUSSION: The study reports on the atmosphere among residents and consultants in traumatology. Despite European regulations, the individual workload is exceptionally high. It is a clear task of hospital administrators to increase the attractiveness of hospital jobs in order to ensure qualified personnel in the future.

[Damage Control Orthopedics. What is the current situation?]. / Damage Control Orthopedics. Was ist der aktuelle Stand?

Damage Control Orthopedics is a strategy for treatment of fractures in severely injured patients. The aim is to reduce secondary damage and thereby improve the patient's outcome. The relevant fractures are primarily stabilized with external fixators instead of a primary definitive osteosynthesis. The less traumatic and shorter surgical procedure is thought to reduce the additional trauma load and should thereby minimize the "second hit" situation. After stabilization of the patient on the intensive care unit secondary definitive ostesynthesis can then be performed after 4-14 days.The available animal studies, retrospective clinical studies and prospective cohort studies seem to support the concept of damage control. The only available randomized study shows an advantage of this strategy in a subgroup of borderline patients. A meta-analysis could not find convincing evidence that definitively proves the advantage of this concept. A new multi-center randomized study has been started to evaluate the concept of damage control in a defined group of critically injured patients with femoral shaft fractures.

[Multiple femur and tibia shaft fractures in the severely injured. A therapeutic challenge]. / Multiple Femur- und Tibiaschaftfrakturen des Mehrfachverletzten. Eine therapeutische Herausforderung.

Nowadays, there is a trend towards the concept of damage control in the management of multiple trauma patients. However, the question remains whether all patients benefit from this concept. We report the primary total definitive treatment of a patient with multiple fractures of the lower extremities. Postoperative respiratory insufficiency was treated successfully by non-invasive ventilation.

[Randomized clinical trials in trauma surgery: decision-making in an area of conflict between eminence and evidence]. / Randomisierte klinische Studien in der Unfallchirurgie: Entscheidungsfindung im Spannungsfeld zwischen Eminenz und Evidenz.

Well-designed, prospective, multicenter, randomized clinical trials (RCTs) define the gold standard of evidence-based medicine. The results of such trials represent the most solid rationale for therapeutic recommendations in the S3 guideline of medical societies (http://www.leitlinie.de). The performance of studies according to good clinical practice (GCP) guidelines (Guidelines of the International Conference on Harmonization on Good Clinical Practice) is extremely demanding. The findings can shake long established principles and practices to the core. For more than 20 years now, the management of femoral shaft fractures in critically injured patients has been controversially discussed. There are two different concepts competing against each other: Early total care (ETC) aiming at definitive care by immediate femoral nailing and damage control orthopedics (DCO), where nailing is performed at a later time point after initial retention by the use of external fixation. In order to answer this still unresolved question, the Damage Control Study is currently under way involving 25 trauma centers throughout Germany. This study is funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Association), it is endorsed by the board of Deutschen Gesellschaft für Unfallchirurgie (DGU, German Society for Casualty Surgery) and it is embedded in a joint program of the DFG and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) to support clinical studies in Germany. Moreover, the study is supported by the ChirNet Site at Witten/Herdecke-Köln (http://www.chir-net.de). Without a doubt, this RCT is one of the most important studies carried out in the field of care for the critically injured patient, because the results will have a profound influence on the future management of femoral shaft fractures in multiple trauma patients and because successful completion of this study will underline the high scientific competence and skills claimed by German trauma surgeons. At the same time, ironically, the success of this study is endangered by the dilemma of an as yet insufficient recruitment of suitable patients to be enrolled into the trial. In this article possible explanations for this problem will be discussed based on a case report and the specific challenges in performing RCTs that scrutinize questions in the field of surgery will be analyzed.

Vibration testing of a fresh-frozen human pelvis: the role of the pelvic ligaments.

A biodynamic model of the human pelvis is being developed in the frame of a research project on low back pain. In order to validate such model, the dynamic behaviour of the human pelvis needs to be investigated. In this study, a human fresh-frozen specimen comprising the three bones of the pelvic girdle and its ligamentous system has been used to perform vibration testing. In such test the response of the system to vibrations is measured at various points on the structure for frequencies between 10 and 340 Hz. The vibration testing is performed a first time on the specimen with intact ligamentous system. The measurements are taken two more times after subsequent bilateral resection of both the sacrotuberous and the sacrospinous ligaments first, and the iliolumbar ligaments afterwards. A comparison between the system response obtained in the three configurations provides information on the role of the resected ligaments in the dynamics of the system, thus on their relevance in the model. Results indicate that the sacrospinous, the sacrotuberous and the iliolumbar ligaments do not play a role in the pelvis dynamics as measured in this study, and will therefore not be represented in the biodynamic model.

Development of fibrinous thrombus analogue for in-vitro abdominal aortic aneurysm studies.

PURPOSE: To develop different thrombus analogues, with mechanical properties similar to those of human fibrinous thrombus, for in-vitro aneurysm sac pressure studies. METHODS: Using dynamic mechanical analysis we determined the E-modulus (/E(*)/) at 0.8, 1.0, 1.5 and 3.9 Hz of ten different human fibrinous thrombus samples. We also determined loss and storage modulus to quantify the visco-elastic properties. For comparison, we measured the E-modulus (|E(*)|), loss and storage modulus of gelatin, Novalyse ST8, ST14 and ST20 with and without contrast agent. RESULTS: Mean E-modulus of the thrombus samples (SD) at 0.8, 1.0, 1.5 and 3.9 Hz was 39 (16), 37 (15), 37 (15) and 38 (14)kPa, respectively. Median (SD) storage and loss modulus were 35 (12) and 8 (4)kPa, respectively. Median (SD) tandelta was 0.25 (0.06). The E-modulus of gelatin, Novalyse ST8, ST14 and ST20 was 4, 27, 48 and 60 kPa, respectively. The E-modulus of Novalyse ST8, ST14 and ST20 mixed with contrast agent was 18, 23 and 33 kPa, respectively. Median (SD) storage, loss modulus and tan delta of the six Novalyse samples were 30 (15), 3 (1) and 0.087 (0.04), respectively. CONCLUSION: All the thrombus analogues, except gelatin, had an E-modulus in the range of human fibrinous thrombi. Novalyse samples are validated thrombus analogues for in-vitro aneurysm sac pressure studies. Gelatin is not appropriate to simulate fibrinous thrombus.

[Validation of the Osteomyelitis Diagnosis Score on the Basis of a Retrospective Analysis of 100 Patients with Non-Union of the Tibia]. / Validierung des Osteomyelitis-Diagnose-Scores anhand einer retrospektiven Analyse von 100 Patienten mit Tibiapseudarthrose.

Background: The accurate diagnosis of "osteomyelitis" is difficult and is often delayed. However, early and radical therapy of osteomyelitis is essential. The osteomyelitis diagnosis score (ODS) was developed to predict the probability of osteomyelitis. The aim of our study was to validate the ODS and to investigate its practicability in daily routine. Material and Methods: The ODS is based on five diagnostic procedures: 1. clinical history/risk factors, 2. clinical examination/laboratory results, 3. diagnostic imaging, 4. microbiology and 5. histopathology. Each diagnostic procedure includes numerous individual findings, which are rated with 1-6 points, depending on their relevance. If the sum of the five diagnostic criteria is ≥ 17 points, the diagnosis "osteomyelitis" can be viewed as safe, between 8-17 points as probable and between 2-7 points as possible. This retrospective study included 100 patients with non-union of the tibia (2002-2010). The patients were classified into two groups: septic non-union of the tibia (experimental intervention; gold standard: positive detection of bacteria and/or positive histology) and aseptic non-union of the tibia (control intervention; no detection of bacteria and/or histology). Epidemiological data, the score's total number of points and the number of points of the score's five diagnostic procedures were analysed. Results: 71 patients exhibited aseptic non-union of the tibia, 29 patients septic non-union. Patients with septic non-union obtained a mean of 20.8 points, and 24 at least 18 points; the diagnosis "osteomyelitis" is then presumed to be certain. Patients with aseptic non-union obtained a mean of 11.3 points, and only 3/71 patients received > 17 points. Both groups obtained the majority of points in the diagnostic procedure "clinical history". The difference between the two groups is highly significant (p < 0.001). The score's sensitivity is 82.8 %, with a specificity of 95.8 %. Conclusion: The ODS was proved to be a valid score. Patients with septic non-union were identified, even if bacteria were not detected. However, the use of the ODS is demanding, as there are 104 individual findings. Many of these individual findings were negative in all patients. It would be desirable to optimise ODS, by reducing the number of queried parameters, without reduction sensitivity.

Time sequence of histamine release and formation in rat endotoxic shock.

Increased histamine release and formation (induced histamine) are two hypotheses considered in the pathogenesis of endotoxic shock development. To prove both hypotheses a sequence of four randomized controlled studies in rats was performed. Histamine release was measured indirectly as a decrease in tissue-histamine contents (lung, liver, spleen, stomach); histamine formation was estimated directly as an increase in histidine decarboxylase (HDC) activity in the same organs. Changes in contents and enzymatic activities were determined 4 and 8 h after shock induction; in addition, at the time of death, the activity of HDC was measured in heart, kidney, and small intestine. 4 h after shock induction, there was a significant decrease in the tissue-histamine content as measured only in the liver, with the same trend in lung and spleen. 8 h after endotoxin application, however, histamine concentration increased in the liver (significantly p < .05) and lung compared to the NaCl control group. The manifestation of changes in HDC activity in various organs was selective (i.e., not all organs showed alterations), not uniform (decreased as well as increased activities were measured), and time-dependent (no increase in HDC activity in animals dying at > 20 h). At 4 and 8 h, only the liver showed a strong increase in HDC activity which can explain the increase in histamine content. In lung, spleen, and stomach, a significant decrease occurred. The results on histamine release and formation let us conclude that histamine is involved in the pathogenesis of endotoxic shock development.

Base deficit development and its prognostic significance in posttrauma critical illness: an analysis by the trauma registry of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für unfallchirurgie.

This prospective, multi-center, observational study of 2069 multiple trauma patients evaluated the prognostic significance of the posttrauma base deficit (BD) on hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) admission to hemodynamic changes, volume and transfusion requirements, lactate and coagulation, as well as mortality. Furthermore, the importance of the BD development throughout a patient's course of critical illness from the time of injury to ICU admission is analyzed as a prognostic factor for fatal outcome. The data were obtained by the trauma registry of the 'Deutsche Gesellschaft für Unfallchirurgie.' The patients were subdivided into five categories of increasing BD values on hospital and ICU admission: Category I, BD < or = -2; Category II, -2 < BD < or = 2; Category III, 2 < BD < or = 6; Category IV, 6 < BD < or = 10; and Category V, BD > 10. A statistical analysis was performed by means of the ANOVA and chi-square tests. In 1264 (61.1%) of 2069 multiple trauma patients (age 39 +/- 19 years, 70.0% males, injury severity score 22 +/- 13, 18.6% mortality), the BD was documented on hospital and in 1536 (74.2%) patients on ICU admission. At both points in time, an increase in the BD category was associated with a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure and prothrombin time as well as increases in heart rate, lactate level and mortality (P < 0.0001). Also transfusion requirements (Category I: 4.5 +/- 7.7 and Category V: 13.7 +/- 13.0 packed red blood cells) increased significantly on hospital admission (P < 0.0001) with a worsening in the BD category. Mortality increased significantly (P < 0.0001) with a worsening of BD from hospital to ICU admission (from a mortality of 13% in patients with a hospital and an ICU admission BD of <6 to 45% in patients with a hospital and an ICU admission BD of >6). These data show that the base deficit is an early available important indicator to identify trauma patients with hemodynamic instability, high transfusion requirements, metabolic and coagulatory decompensation, as well as a high probability of death. The base deficit development may help to guide an early and aggressive therapy for the trauma/hemorrhage induced tissue hypoxia.

Plasma nitric oxide in posttrauma critical illness: a function of "sepsis" and the physiologic state severity classification quantifying the probability of death.

The time course of nitric oxide (NO) production in posttrauma critical illness was monitored, and its relationship to posttrauma "sepsis/SIRS" and physiologic patterns was described. Eighty multiple trauma patients were studied (514 samples) during their course in the intensive care unit (Injury Severity Score 27.6; 36% deaths). Plasma NO was estimated from NO3 + NO2 by the Griess test and compared with that of 10 healthy controls (HC). At each sample period, the patient was categorized as having bacteremic sepsis (BAC), sepsis syndrome (SS), or systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), and classified by Physiologic State Severity Classification (PSSC) into normal stress response (A-State), metabolic insufficiency (B-State), or respiratory insufficiency (C2-State), each quantified by their physiologic "distance" from reference state of recovering trauma patients (R-State). A severity index (L2PDEATH), based on a logistic model of state distances from R-State, quantified probability of death. Deaths showed increased NO (p < .05) over survivors or HC by day 3 posttrauma. A fall in vascular tone in deaths was related to the increased NO (p < .0001). The level of NO was higher as sepsis worsened: BAC > SS > SIRS > HC (all simultaneous, p < .05). PSSC and L2PDEATH correlated with incidence > HC and level of NO. In conclusion, the severity of posttrauma critical illness was classified by PSSC and quantified by the L2PDEATH index. These reflect progressively increased NO levels and suggest worsening sepsis status. The reduced total peripheral resistance (TPR)-to-flow relationship (vascular tone) in deaths characteristic of the more severe septic PSSC states appeared related to the increased plasma NO.

Beneficial effect of H2-agonism and H1-antagonism in rat endotoxic shock.

Although histamine release is generally considered harmful in endotoxic shock, several data exist to doubt this view. Own previous studies in rats let us assume a possible beneficial effect only with H1-antagonists, however a detrimental effect on survival with H2-antagonists. Consequently H1- and H2-agonists and antagonists were studied to prove the hypothesis of a beneficial H2-agonistic and H1-antagonistic effect. Two randomized studies were performed in a standardized rat endotoxic shock model (45 mg of Escherichia coli endotoxin/kg body weight (b.w.)). In both, methylprednisolone (50 mg/kg b.w.) and saline were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. Study I compared the effects of H1- and H2-agonists (betahistine, .1 mg/kg/h, and impromidine, 100 micrograms/kg/h) with H1- and H2-antagonists (astemizole and famotidine both 1 mg/kg b.w.; 20 rats/dose). Study II was performed to estimate the dose-response relationship of a new, highly potent H2-agonist with additional H1-antagonistic features (BU-E 75: .01, .1, 1.0, 10, and 100 micrograms/kg/h; 20 rats/dose). Animals receiving impromidine or BU-E 75 all received omeprazole (1 mumol/kg b.w.) to suppress gastric acid secretion. In study I impromidine significantly increased the survival-time and -course compared to famotidine treated animals (p = .01 and p < .05). Study II showed a positive dose-response relationship of BU-E 75 with an increase in survival rates from 30% (.01 microgram/kg/h) to 70% (100 micrograms/kg/h). These data strongly support the hypothesis of a beneficial effect of H2-agonism and H1-antagonism on survival parameters in rat endotoxic shock.

A pig hemorrhagic shock model: oxygen debt and metabolic acidemia as indicators of severity.

"Uncontrolled bleeding," "a controlled prefixed bleeding volume," or "controlled decrements in blood pressure" are traditional models of experimental hemorrhagic shock. They are influenced by compensatory mechanisms and do not adequately reflect the severity of the cellular insult as a major target for therapeutic strategies. The aim of this study was to develop an animal model that uses oxygen debt (OD) and metabolic acidemia as indicators of hemorrhage severity. Twenty-five female pigs (mean weight: 23.8 kg) were anesthesized and randomized to 1 of 5 groups of increasing OD (<50 through >120 mL/kg). The predetermined OD was accrued by hemorrhage uniformly over 60 min and followed by retransfusion. The animals were allowed to recover under anesthesia for 200 min and were then observed for 3 days. The extent of metabolic derangements were quantified by arterial base excess (BE) and plasma lactate (LAC) measurements. OD, BE, and LAC were shown to be superior as predictors of outcome in comparison with traditional variables ("bleeding volume," "blood pressure," "cardiac output") in correlation and regression. Of the analyzed predictors of outcome, BE and LAC showed the highest correlation to levels of OD (r = -0.78, 0.8 respectively; P < 0.0001), and regression models were developed. The LD50 for OD was 95.0 mL/kg, for BE -15.3 mmol/L and for LAC 7.7 mmol/L. By using the developed regression models, it is possible to estimate accurately the actual level of OD from BE and LAC values obtained during hemorrhagic shock. OD, BE, and LAC appear to be optimal indicators of severity for a pig hemorrhagic shock model.

Physiologic state severity classification as an indicator of posttrauma cytokine response.

A Physiologic State Severity Classification (PSSC) derived from clustering of 17 cardiorespiratory variables was used to predict cytokine response in critically ill posttrauma patients. The PSSC defined physiologic states: A-State (A), normal stress response; B-State (B), metabolic insufficiency; C2-State (C), respiratory insufficiency. Bayesian analysis of these states defined a probability of death (Pdeath). 416 studies from 60 newly studied multiple trauma patients (70% males, Injury Severity Score = 27.5) were analyzed; 45 (75%) had sepsis (s), 28 (47%) had sepsis-adult respiratory distress syndrome (s-ARDS). Of 35 survivors (66% s, 37% s-ARDS, mean Pdeath = .42) 23% were predominantly A, 66% B, and 11% C. Of 25 deaths (88% s, 60% s-ARDS, mean Pdeath = .64) 0% were A, 44% B, and 56% C. PSSC States were correlated with incidence and mean plasma levels (pl) in picograms/mL of cytokines. 23 samples from recovering nonseptic trauma patients were used as controls.