Isolated Head Injury Research Articles

Time to traumatic intracranial hematoma evacuation: contemporary standard and room for improvement.

Traumatic intracranial hematoma (TICH) is a neurosurgical emergency with high mortality and morbidity. The time to operative decompression is a modifiable but inconsistently reported risk factor for TICH patients? We aimed to provide contemporary time to evacuation data and long-term trends in timing of TICH evacuation in a trauma system. A 13-year retrospective cohort study ending in 2021 at a trauma system with one level-1 trauma center included all patients undergoing urgent craniotomy or craniectomy for evacuation of TICH. Demographics, injury severity and key timeframes of care were collected. Subgroups analyzed were polytrauma versus isolated head injury, direct admissions versus transfers and those who survived versus those who died. Linear regression of times from injury to operating room was performed. Seventy-eight TICH patients (Age: 35 (22-56); 58 (74%) males; ISS: 25(25-41); AIS head: 5 (4-5); mortality: 21 (27%) patients) were identified. Initial GCS was 8 (3.25-14) which decreased to 3 (3-7) by arrival in the trauma center. There were 46 (59%) patients intubated prior to arrival. Median time from injury to operation was 4.88 (3.63-6.80) hours. Linear regression of injury to OR showed increasing times to operative intervention for direct admissions to the trauma center over the study period (p=0.04). There was no associated change in mortality or Glasgow outcome score over the same time. This contemporary data shows timing from injury to evacuation is approaching 5 hours. Over the 13-year study period the time to operative intervention significantly increased for direct admissions. This study will guide our institutions response to TICH presentations in the future. Other trauma systems should critically appraise their results with the same reporting standard.

Emergency Department Evaluation of Young Infants With Head Injury.

We compared the emergency department (ED) evaluation and outcomes of young head-injured infants to older children. Using the Pediatric Health Information Systems database, we performed a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of children <2 years old with isolated head injuries (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, diagnoses) at one of 47 EDs from 2015 to 2019. Our primary outcome was utilization of diagnostic cranial imaging. Secondary outcomes were diagnosis of traumatic brain injury (TBI), clinically important TBI, and mortality. We compared outcomes between the youngest infants (<3 months old) and children 3 to 24 months old. We identified 112 885 ED visits for children <2 years old with isolated head injuries. A total of 62 129 (55%) were by males, and 10 325 (9.1%) were by infants <3 months of age. Compared with older children (12-23 months old), the youngest infants were more likely to: Undergo any diagnostic cranial imaging (50.3% vs 18.3%; difference 31.9%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 35.0-28.9%), be diagnosed with a TBI (17.5% vs 2.7%; difference 14.8%, 95% CI 16.4%-13.2%) or clinically important TBI (4.6% vs 0.5%; difference 4.1%, 95% CI 3.8%-4.5%), and to die (0.3% vs 0.1%; difference 0.2%, 95% CI 0.3%-0.1%). Among those undergoing computed tomography or MRI, TBIs were significantly more common in the youngest infants (26.4% vs 8.8%, difference 17.6%, 95% CI 16.3%-19.0%). The youngest infants with head injuries are significantly more likely to undergo cranial imaging, be diagnosed with brain injuries, and die, highlighting the need for a specialized approach for this vulnerable population.

Relationship between extravascular leakage and clinical outcome on computed tomography of isolated traumatic brain injury.

This study investigated whether contrast extravasation on computed tomography (CT) angiography in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with death or surgical procedures. Patients over 18 years old, directly brought in by ambulance with an isolated head injury and confirmed to have acute intracranial hemorrhage on a CT scan upon admission between 2010 and 2020, were included. The primary outcome was mortality, and the secondary outcome was neurosurgical procedures performed from admission to discharge from the intensive care unit. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between these outcomes and contrast extravasation. The analysis included 188 patients with a median age of 65 years, 123 men (65.4%), 34 deaths (18.1%), and 91 surgeries (48.4%). Among the 66 patients with contrast extravasation, 22 (33.3%) died and 47 (71.2%) required surgery. Among the 122 patients with no contrast extravasation, 12 (9.8%) died, and 44 (36.1%) required surgery. The presence or absence of extravascular leakage was associated with death (odds ratio, 3.6 [95% CI: 1.2-12.2]) and surgery (odds ratio, 7.6 [95% CI: 2.5-22.7]). Contrast extravasation was associated with mortality and performance of surgery in patients with an isolated head injury.

Resuscitation with pre-hospital blood products in adults with trauma-related haemorrhagic shock: the RePHILL RCT

Background The treatment of traumatic haemorrhagic shock has been transformed through better haemorrhage control, use of tranexamic acid and use of blood products. The improved survival seen from these strategies has stimulated an interest in pre-hospital transfusion. Objectives To determine if the clinical effectiveness of resuscitation with red blood cells and lyophilised plasma was superior to 0.9% saline for improving tissue perfusion and reducing mortality in adults with haemorrhagic shock following major trauma. Design A multi-centre, allocation concealed, open-label, parallel group, randomised controlled trial (with internal pilot). Setting The trial was conducted in four civilian pre-hospital critical care services who operated within the National Health Service (NHS) England Major Trauma Networks. Participants Adults (aged ≥16 years) who had sustained traumatic injuries, were attended by a pre-hospital emergency medical team and were hypotensive (systolic blood pressure &lt;90 mmHg or absence of radial pulse) as a consequence of traumatic haemorrhage were eligible for inclusion. The exclusion criteria were known or apparently &lt;16 years, blood administered on scene prior to arrival of the RePHILL team, traumatic cardiac arrest where (1) the arrest occurred prior to arrival of the team and/or (2) the primary cause is not hypovolaemia, refusal of blood product administration, known Jehovah’s Witness, pregnancy, isolated head injury without evidence of external haemorrhage, prisoners in the custody of HM Prison and Probation Service. Interventions Participants were randomised to receive up to either two units each of red blood cells and lyophilised plasma or up to 1 L 0.9% saline. Treatment was administered through the intravenous or intraosseous route. Main outcome measures The primary outcome was a composite of episode mortality and/or impaired lactate clearance. The secondary outcomes included the individual components of the primary outcome. Results From 6 December 2016 to 2 January 2021, pre-hospital medical teams randomised 432 participants to red blood cell/lyophilised plasma (n = 209) or 0.9% saline (n = 223) out of a target sample size of 490. Most participants were white (62%), males (82%), median age 38 (interquartile range 26 to 58), involved in a road traffic collision (62%) with severe injuries (median injury severity score 36, interquartile range 25 to 50). Prior to randomisation participants had received on average 430 ml crystalloid fluids and tranexamic acid (90%). The primary outcome occurred in 128/199 (64.3%) of participants randomised to red blood cell/lyophilised plasma and 136/210 (64.8%) randomised to 0.9% saline [adjusted risk difference –0.025% (95% confidence interval –9.0% to 9.0%), p = 0.996]. The event rates for the individual components of the primary outcome, episode mortality and lactate clearance were not statistically different between groups [adjusted average differences −3% (−12% to 7%); p = 0.57 and −5% (−14% to 5%), p = 0.33, respectively]. Limitations Recruitment stopped prematurely due to disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Future work Identify the characteristics of patients who may benefit from pre-hospital blood products and whether alternative transfusion regimens are superior to standard care. Conclusions The trial did not demonstrate that pre-hospital red blood cell/lyophilised plasma resuscitation was superior to 0.9% saline for trauma-related haemorrhagic shock. Trial registration This trial is registered as ISRCTN62326938. Funding This award was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation Programme (NIHR award ref: 14/152/14) and is published in full in Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation; Vol. 11, No. 2. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information.

Prehospital management of patients with isolated head injury with impending cerebral edema leading to intussusception

Prehospital management of patients with isolated head injury with impending cerebral edema leading to intussusception

Abstract 373: Traumatic Bleeding Severity Score: An External Validation Study for the Predictive Accuracy of the Need for Massive Transfusion

Background: The Traumatic Bleeding Severity Score (TBSS) was developed to predict the need for massive transfusion (MT). The aim of this study was to conduct the first external validation study about the TBSS in Japan, and to compare its prediction value to other pre-existing MT prediction scores. Methods: A multicenter retrospective observational study was conducted in Japan (Japanese observational study for coagulation and Thrombolysis in Early Trauma 2 : J-OCTET 2). Twenty-five tertiary critical care centers in Japan participated in this study, and severe trauma patients (Injury Severity Score : ISS ≥ 16) admitted from 2018 to 2019 were enrolled. At the analysis of the TBSS external validation, patients with isolated head injuries were excluded from the analysis. In this study, MT was defined as 10 units or more of red blood cells transfusion within 24 hours from injuries. The TBSS on admission was retrospectively calculated and its accuracy in predicting MT was analyzed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). To compare the predictive value between the TBSS and the pre-existing scores, the Trauma Associated Severe Hemorrhage score (TASH score) and the Assessment of Blood Consumption score (ABC score) on admission was similarly calculated, and the ROC comparison analysis was performed. Results: Totally, 1202 severely injured trauma patients were enrolled in the J-OCTET 2 study, and 889 patients were analyzed after the matching of the exclusion criteria. The median age was 66 years (IQR: 47-77), 71.4 % was male, 97.9% was blunt trauma, median ISS was 22 (IQR:16-29), and 13.8% received MT. The AUROC of the TBSS for was 0.848 (95% CI:0.81-0.88). According to the ROC comparison, the AUROC of the TASH score was 0.848 (95% CI: 0.81-0.88) and there was no significant difference between both prediction scores. (Bonferroni adjusted p=1.00). The AUROC of the ABC score was 0.751(95% CI: 0.70-0.80), which was significantly lower to TBSS’s (Bonferroni adjusted p&lt;0.01). Conclusion: This TBSS external validation study showed that the accuracy of TBSS in the MT prediction was moderate accuracy. The predictive value of the TBSS was comparable to that of the TASH score and superior to the ABC score.

Analysis of traumatic intracranial hemorrhage and delayed traumatic intracranial hemorrhage in patients with isolated head injury on anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy.

Anticoagulants and antiplatelet (ACAP) agents are increasingly and frequently used, especially in the elderly. The present study was carried out to assess the prevalence of delayed traumatic intracranial hemorrhage (dtICH) after a normal result on an initial head computed tomography (CT) in adults who were taking ACAP medication. The present retrospective included all adult patients who arrived in the emergency department between January 2017 and January 2021 with a history of fall from the patient's own height, while being on ACAP medication with an isolated head injury. The Institutional Review Board approved the study with a waiver of consent. The primary outcome measures were prevalence of dtICH in patients who had initial normal CT scan brain and were on ACAP medication. There were 2137 patients on ACAP medication, of which 1062 were male, and 1075 were of the female gender. The mean age of the patients was 82.1 years. About 8.2% had positive first CT scans (176/2137), while 0.023 (27/1149) had dtICH. The most common positive finding on the CT scan was subarachnoid hemorrhage followed by subdural hemorrhage. Male gender positively correlated with increased risk for first CT being positive (P = 0.033). Patient's with comorbidity of cirrhosis and chemotherapy had higher risk of dtICH (P = 0.47, 0.011). There was a very low (0.023%) prevalence of dtICH. Dual therapy or Coumadin therapy made up the majority of tICH. Cirrhosis and chemotherapy were associated with the risk of a repeat CT scan being positive with an initial CT scan negative.

Predictors of Mortality in Trauma patients Receiving massive Transfusion Protocol.

Massive transfusion protocol (MTP) is often defined as the transfusion of ≥10 units of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) in 24hours. The purpose of this study is to determine which factors most significantly contribute to mortality in patients receiving MTP after trauma. An initial database search followed by retrospective chart review was performed on patients treated at four trauma centers in Southern California. Data were collected on all patients who received MTP, defined as at least 10 units PRBCs within the first 24hours of admission, between January 2015 and December 2019. Patients with isolated head injuries were excluded. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine which factors most significantly influenced mortality. Of 1278 patients who met our inclusion criteria in the database, 596 (46.6%) survived and 682 (53.4%) died. On univariate analysis initial vitals and labs, except for initial hemoglobin and initial platelet count were significant predictors of mortality. A multivariate regression model showed the strongest predictors of mortality were pRBC transfusions at 4 hours (OR 1.073, CI 1.020-1.128, P = .006) and 24hours (OR 1.045, CI 1.003-1.088, P = .036), and FFP transfusion at 24hours (OR 1.049, CI 1.016-1.084, P = .003). Our data indicates that several factors may contribute to mortality in patients receiving MTP. In particular age, mechanism, initial GCS, and PRBC transfusions at 4 and 24hours provided the strongest correlation. Further multicenter trials are indicated to provide further guidance in deciding when to discontinue massive transfusion.

Epidemiology and Post-Discharge Resource Utilization of Isolated Traumatic Brain Injury in Geriatric Patients.

Benchmark data on traumatic brain injury (TBI) are potentially confounded by morbidity and rehabilitation needs associated with coincident extracranial injuries. Using data on isolated head injuries from 13 trauma centers in Georgia over 3years, we studied the epidemiology and natural history of isolated TBI in geriatric vs non-geriatric patients in order to identify potential areas for quality improvement. We identified 8 512 patients, 3 895 of whom were geriatric. Geriatric patients had higher baseline comorbidity burden, mostly presented after ground level falls, had higher mortality despite equivalent ICU admission rates, and had higher rates of post-discharge resource utilization than non-geriatric counterparts. Geriatric patients are more likely to require post-discharge services and/or facility placement, regardless of pre-injury functional status. These data highlight the importance of streamlined protocols that place an early focus on post-discharge needs and goals of care, informed by cohort-specific prognosis data.

Neurosurgical Outcomes in Severe Traumatic Brain Injuries Between Service Lines: Review of a Single Institution Database.

Severe traumatic injury (sTBI) continues to be a common source of morbidity and mortality. While there have been several advances in understanding the pathophysiology of this injury, the clinical outcome has remained grim. These trauma patients often require multidisciplinary care and are admitted to a surgical service line, depending on hospital policy. A retrospective chart review spanning 2019-2022 was completed using the electronic health record of the neurosurgery service. We identified 140 patients with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of eight or less, ages 18-99, who were admitted to a level-one trauma center in Southern California. Seventy patients were admitted under the neurosurgery service, while the other half were admitted to the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) service after initial assessment in the emergency department by both services to evaluate for multisystem injury. Between both groups, the injury severity scores that evaluated patients' overall injuries were not significantly different. The results demonstrate a significant difference in GCS change, modified Rankin Scale (mRS) change, and Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) change between the two groups. Furthermore, the mortality rate differed between neurosurgical care and other service care by 27% and 51%, respectively, despite similar Injury Severity Scores (ISS) (p=0.0026). Therefore, this data demonstrates that a well-trained neurosurgeon with critical care experience can safely manage a severe traumatic brain injury patient with an isolated head injury as a primary service while in the intensive care unit. Since injury severity scores did not differ between these two service lines, we further theorize that this is likely due to a deep understanding of the nuances of neurosurgical pathophysiology and Brain Trauma Foundation (BTF) guidelines.

1211 FRAIL TRAUMA PATHWAY: ENCOUNTERING STUMBLING BLOCKS

Abstract Introduction The Trauma Audit and Research Network report “Major Trauma in Older People” highlighted the need to recognise falls in older patients as a mechanism leading to potentially life-threatening injuries. Reasons behind falls can be equally serious and must be addressed concurrently. A Frail Trauma Pathway was introduced in the Emergency Department (ED) of a Major Trauma Centre (MTC) and subsequent audit revealed it was underutilised. We relaunched the Frail Trauma Pathway incorporating a checklist with the aim of improving patient care. Method Retrospective data was collected over one week, including patients over 65 years with a Clinical Frailty Score ≥5, a low velocity trauma and multiple injuries or isolated head injury. We then updated the Frail Trauma Pathway incorporating a checklist, re-distributed it throughout the ED, sent staff email reminders and held teaching sessions. An educational “Advent Calendar” was circulated daily in December. Following this we repeated data collection. Results 20 patients pre and 18 post-intervention fitted inclusion criteria. There was a reduction in admission rates, improvement in ED senior doctor review for primary survey, increase in timely administration of Parkinson’s disease medication and venous thromboembolism assessment. However, there was a decline in other parameters measured. Due to the small patient cohort, it is difficult to assess if changes in results post-intervention are statistically significant. Conclusion Several aspects of the frailty pathway showed improvement, notably admission reduction. This QIP demonstrates the difficulties of instigating change in an MTC, where numerous pathways result in ‘information overload’ and staff numbers are large and constantly changing. By focusing on the frail trauma checklist and incorporating it into our electronic records system we hope to improve compliance with the pathway. Further research on a national level is required to determine how to best care for this expanding cohort of patients.

Diagnostic performance of biomarker S100B and guideline adherence in routine care of mild head trauma

BackgroundThe Scandinavian Neurotrauma Committee (SNC) has recommended the use of serum S100B as a biomarker for mild low-risk Traumatic brain injuries (TBI). This study aimed to assess the adherence to the SNC guidelines in clinical practice and the diagnostic performance of S100B in patients with TBI. The aims of this study were to examine adherence to the SNC guideline and the diagnostic accuracy of serum protein S100B.MethodsData of consecutive patients of 18 years and above who presented to the emergency department (ED) at Helsingborg Hospital with isolated head injuries, were retrieved from hospital records. Patients with multitrauma, follow-up visits, and visits managed by a nurse without physician involvement were excluded.ResultsA total of 1671 patients were included of which 93 (5.6%) had intracranial hemorrhage. CT scans were performed in 62% of patients. S100B was measured in 26% of patients and 30% of all measurements targeted the low-risk mild head injuries indicated by the guideline. S100B's recommended cut-off value (≥ 0.10 µg/L) had a 100% sensitivity, 47% specificity, 10.1% positive predictive value, and 100% negative predictive value—if applied to the target SNC category (SNC 4). If applied to all patients tested, the sensitivity was 93% for traumatic intracranial hemorrhage (TICH). Current ED practices were adherent to the SNC guideline in 55% of patients. Non-adherent practices occurred in 64% of patients with low-risk mild head injuries (SNC4) including overtesting or undertesting of S100B and CT scans.ConclusionAdherence to guidelines was low and associated with a higher admission rate than non-adherence practice but no significant increase in missed TICH or death associated with non-adherence to guideline was found. In routine care, we found that the sensitivity and NPV of serum protein S100B was excellent and safely ruled out TICH when measured in the patient category recommended by the guideline. However, measuring serum protein S100B in patients not recommended by the guideline rendered unacceptably low sensitivity with possible missed TICHs as a consequence. To further delineate the magnitude and impact of non-adherence, more studies are needed.

Inicijalno zbrinjavanje dece sa traumatskim oštećenjem mozga u jedinici intenzivnog lečenja

Introduction: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability in children. Objectives of our study were to determine the most commonly applied measures in the initial care of children with head trauma before admission to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and in the first 24 hours after admission to the PICU, as well as to identify measures correlated with the length of stay. Materials and methods: The research was conducted as a retrospective study analyzing data from medical records of patients who had a traumatic head injury and were hospitalized at the Institute for Health Protection of Children and Youth of Vojvodina (IHPYV) from August 2021 to August 2023, in the PICU. Results: The study included 34 children with an average age of 9.43 ± 5.3 years. Boys were statistically significantly more likely to sustain injuries (61.8%). Isolated head injury was present in 19 patients (55.9%), while 15 (44.1%) had associated injuries. The most common mechanism of injury was traffic accident trauma (61.8%). The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) averaged 11.38 ± 3.7. The average length of stay in the PICU was 4.18 ± 2.87 days. Eight patients (23.5%) underwent surgery after admission to the PICU and CT diagnostics, while anti-edema therapy was applied in 19 patients (55.9%). Mechanical ventilation was used in 10 patients (29.4%). Patients with lower GCS values had a longer stay in the PICU. GCS was not a suitable parameter for assessing the need for surgery in the first 24 hours of patient treatment in the PICU, nor was it an adequate indicator of the need for mechanical ventilation. Conclusion: The results of our research show that the average age of children was 9.43 ± 5.3 years, predominantly boys. Despite many pediatric patients initially having a low GCS, they ultimately had a positive clinical outcome. Low GCS on admission of pediatric patients with head trauma was statistically significantly associated with a longer hospitalization in the PICU.

Shock index, modified shock index, age shock index score, and reverse shock index multiplied by Glasgow Coma Scale predicting clinical outcomes in traumatic brain injury: Evidence from a 10-year analysis in a single center.

Early identification of traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients at a high risk of mortality is very important. This study aimed to compare the predictive accuracy of four scoring systems in TBI, including shock index (SI), modified shock index (MSI), age-adjusted shock index (ASI), and reverse shock index multiplied by the Glasgow Coma Scale (rSIG). This is a retrospective analysis of a registry from the Taipei Tzu Chi trauma database. Totally, 1,791 patients with TBI were included. We investigated the accuracy of four major shock indices for TBI mortality. In the subgroup analysis, we also analyzed the effects of age, injury mechanism, underlying diseases, TBI severity, and injury severity. The predictive accuracy of rSIG was significantly higher than those of SI, MSI, and ASI in all the patients [area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), 0.710 vs. 0.495 vs. 0.527 vs. 0.598], especially in the moderate/severe TBI (AUROC, 0.625 vs. 0.450 vs. 0.476 vs. 0.529) and isolated head injury populations (AUROC 0.689 vs. 0.472 vs. 0.504 vs. 0.587). In the subgroup analysis, the prediction accuracy of mortality of rSIG was better in TBI with major trauma [Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥ 16], motor vehicle collisions, fall injury, and healthy and cardiovascular disease population. rSIG also had a better prediction effect, as compared to SI, MSI, and ASI, both in the non-geriatric (age < 65 years) and geriatric (age ≥ 65 years). rSIG had a better prediction accuracy for mortality in the overall TBI population than SI, MSI, and ASI. Although rSIG have better accuracy than other indices (ROC values indicate poor to moderate accuracy), the further clinical studies are necessary to validate our results.

972 EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF FRAILTY FOLLOWING TRAUMA: AN ANALYSIS OF EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT (ED) MANAGEMENT AND LONG TERM OUTCOMES

Abstract Introduction Major trauma represents a large number of hospital presentations in Scotland. 1 We aimed to: -Describe the population of ‘major trauma’ patients presenting to the Emergency Department of QEUH, Glasgow -Compare assessment, management and clinical outcomes in frail versus non-frail patients with trauma. Method This was a retrospective, cohort study. Patients were identified using the Scottish Trauma Audit Group (STAG) database. 2 Patients aged over 18, admitted between 01/11/18 and 31/01/19 were included. STAG data was supplemented by individual case note review. Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) were calculated. Results 203 patients (173 non-frail, 30 frail) were included. Median age was 58 years (range 19–98). Isolated head injuries were the predominant injury type in frail patients (36.7%) versus polytrauma in non-frail cohort (44.5%). Injury Severity Score (ISS) was similar across both groups (median score: 10v9.5). CCI score correlated well with frailty. Frail patients were less likely to: -Have ambulance pre-alert call (10% v 28%, p = 0.041). -Be managed in ‘Resus’ (17% v 54%, p &amp;lt; 0.05). -Have consultant-led care in ED (6.6% v 36.4%, p = 0.001). -Undergo CT within 60 minutes (10% v 34.7%, p = 0.0095). They were more likely to be admitted under a Medical Team (20% v 2.9%, p &amp;lt; 0.05). Frailty was associated with poorer outcomes: -Mortality 30% v 9.8%: significant difference in unadjusted, 1-year survival curves (Log-rank test p = 0.0026). Frailty carried a hazard-ratio of death of 5.02 (CI:2.13–11.79, p = 0.0002) compared to non-frailty through the first year after trauma. -Longer median Length of Stay: 22 v 8 days. Conclusion We identified poorer clinical outcomes in our frail patient cohort. Despite this, and with similar ISS scores across both groups, our data would suggest a tendency to under-recognise significant trauma in Frail patients.

A PROSPECTIVE DESCRIPTIVE STUDY OF TRAUMA REGISTRY IN NETAJI SUBHASH CHANDRA BOSE MEDICAL COLLEGE, JABALPUR

Background: Trauma registries are databases of information regarding patients who have been came and treated in hospital for injuries caused by trauma. Aim: The objectives of this study to collect data related to trauma registry presenting to our center, as well as to analyze the demographic characteristics and other relevant data of patients admitted in our center. Methods: A Prospective descriptive demographic study was conducted in Tertiary care center Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College and Hospital Jabalpur from 1st January 2020 to 30th June 2021. In our study included patients who present at our center with history of recent Orthopaedic trauma and sustained fracture within 48 hours. In our study excluded isolated head injuries. The data collected was analyzed. Results: Out of 10241 patients, 7271(71%) were male and 2970(29%) were female with 2253(22%) in the 21-30 age group. Road traffic accident was the major cause of trauma (56%)followed by fall and slips (22%) and assaults(18%).The majority of these patients were brought by their family members (68%).Close to half of patients had upper extremity injury (48%) followed by lower extremity injury (45%) followed by Spinal injury (4%) and Pelvis injury(3%). Conclusion: Trauma registry is complex database of demographic, injuries and outcomes of trauma patients. This study can help to decreasing the burden of trauma and improve health system.

Clinical complications of surviving gunshot wounds to the head in children and adolescents: the Miami experience.

Gunshot wounds (GSWs) to the head in the pediatric population are both rare and devastating, with the clinical course of pediatric survivors poorly understood. Correspondingly, the aim of this study was to summarize the clinical complications clinicians can expect of survivors of GSW to the head in children and adolescents in hospital and after discharge. A retrospective review of our Level 1 trauma center database between 2011 and 2021 was performed. Clinical data was extracted for those patients aged ≤ 18years old who survived initial hospitalization with at least one documented follow-up. Categorical data were then compared using Chi-squared test. A total of 19 pediatric survivors of GSW to the head satisfied all selection criteria with an average age was 15.3years. The majority of cases were isolated head injuries (63%), with an average Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) of 11.9. Bullet trajectory was intraparenchymal in 11 (58%) cases and extraparenchymal in 8 (42%) cases, with 15 (79%) patients treated by surgical intervention. A total of 13 (68%) patients experienced a complication during their hospitalization, with the most common being sympathetic hypertension and endocrinologic salt wasting, each occurring in 5 (26%) patients. With respect to complication categories, the intraparenchymal patients experienced statistically more complications than extraparenchymal patients that were infectious (54% vs 0%, P = 0.01) and sympathetic (45% vs 0%, P = 0.03) in nature. However, with respect to overall neurologic (P = 0.24), endocrinologic (P = 0.24), and traumatic (P = 0.24) complications, their incidences were statistically comparable. All patients were successfully discharged on average post-injury day 22 with an average GCS of 14.0. Mean follow-up for the cohort was 42.6months, with an average GCS of 14.3. A total of 6 (32%) patients experienced a complication relatable to their initial GSW injury after discharge. The most common individual complication was new-onset seizures in 3 (16%) patients. Survivors of pediatric GSW to the head can experience multi-systemic complications during both initial hospitalization and afterwards, and bullet trajectory involving the parenchyma may be associated with specific complications more than others. Dedicated inpatient management and outpatient follow-up involving surveillance for complications across all systems, not just neurological, are recommended to ensure patients receive the best care possible.

Interpretation of Emergency CT Scans of the Head in Trauma: Neurosurgeon vs Radiologist.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity across all ages in all countries. Management of the patient with TBI is time critical. Emergency computed tomography (CT) scans of the head are often assessed by neurosurgeons and patient management plans are implemented before the final radiological report is released in hospitals, particularly where there is a shortage of radiologists in LMIC. The aims of this study were to identify discrepancies in the interpretation of CT scans of the head in patients with isolated head injury between the neurosurgeon and radiologist and to assess if these differences impacted patient management. This 6-month long prospective observational study was performed at a tertiary hospital in South Africa. The study population comprised 347 patients with isolated head injury who had a CT scan of the head performed on admission. The neurosurgeons' initial CT scan interpretation and the final radiological report were compared. Out of 347 CT head scans, the neurosurgeons correctly interpreted 318 cases. Of the 29 incorrectly interpreted cases, there were 17 false negatives and 12 cases with mismatching abnormalities. The concordance rate was 91.64% (95% CI 88.73-94.55) with a kappa of 0.78. An accuracy rate of 95.33% (95% CI 92.63-97.26) was achieved by the neurosurgeon. No patient was negatively impacted by any neurosurgical error in misinterpretation. In the interpretation of CT head scans in trauma, there is good neurosurgical and radiological interobserver agreement without negative patient impact. The neurosurgeons' interpretation of CT scans of the head in TBI is safe especially when radiology reports are not timeously available.

The use of head computerized tomography in patients with GCS 15 following trauma: Less is more

IntroductionComputerized tomography (CT) imaging is a standard part of traumatic brain injury (TBI) evaluation but not all patients require it after mild head injury. Given the increasing incidence of TBI in the United States, there is an urgent need to better characterize CT head imaging utilization in evaluating trauma patients, especially patients at low risk of requiring intervention, such as those presenting with a normal GCS. MethodsWe analyzed the 2017–2019 National Trauma Databank using ICD-10 codes to identify patients who received a head CT. We used Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) scores to identify patients with a moderate to severe head injury defined as an AIS severity ≥ 3. Procedural TBI management was defined as having an intracranial monitor or operative decompression. We used a modified Poisson modeling to identify risk factors for a moderate/severe TBI and risk factors for undergoing procedural management among patients with head CT and GCS 15. ResultsOf 2,850,036 patients, 1,502,039 (52.7%) had a head CT. Among patients who had a head CT, 1,078,093 patients (74.9%) had a GCS 15 on arrival. Of this group, only 16.6% (n = 176,431) had a moderate/severe head injury. For those with moderate/severe head injury, 6.0% (n = 10,544/176,431) of patients underwent procedural head injury management. Risk factors for undergoing procedural head injury management included: isolated head injury (RR 2.43, 95% CI 2.34, 2.53), male sex (RR 1.73, 95% CI 1.67, 1.80), age > 50 years (RR 1.39 95% CI 1.32, 1.47), falls (RR 1.28, 95% CI 1.22, 1.35), and the use of anti-coagulation (RR 1.16, 95% CI 1.11, 1.21). ConclusionFew patients had moderate/severe head injury when presenting with a GCS 15. However, patients ≥ 50 years, men, and those who suffered falls were at higher risk. Anti-coagulation use was not associated with moderate/severe head injury but did increase the risk of procedural TBI management. Given the cost and associated radiation, reducing CT utilization for younger patients while using a more liberal head CT strategy for high-risk patients may provide substantial patient value.

Traumatic Hip Dislocations in Major Trauma Patients: Epidemiology, Injury Mechanisms, and Concomitant Injuries.

Introduction: Traumatic hip dislocations (THDs) are severe injuries associated with considerable morbidity. Delayed recognition of fracture dislocations and neurovascular deficits have been proposed to cause deleterious long-term clinical outcomes. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to identify characteristics of epidemiology, injury mechanisms, and associated injuries to identify patients at risk. Methods: For this study based on the TraumaRegister DGU® (January 2002–December 2017), the inclusion criterion was an Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥9 points. Exclusion criteria were an isolated head injury and early transfer to another hospital. The THD group was compared to a control group without hip dislocation. The ISS and New ISS were used for injury severity and the Abbreviated Injury Scale for associated injuries classification. Univariate and logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: The final study cohort comprised n = 170,934 major trauma patients. We identified 1359 individuals (0.8%) with THD; 12 patients had sustained bilateral hip dislocations. Patients with THD were predominantly male (79.5%, mean age 43 years, mean ISS 22.4 points). Aortic injuries (2.1% vs. 0.9%, p ≤ 0.001) were observed more frequently in the THD group. Among the predictors for THDs were specific injury mechanisms, including motor vehicle accidents (odds ratio (OR) 2.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.57–3.45, p ≤ 0.001), motorcycle accidents (OR 1.99, 95% CI 1.66–2.39, p ≤ 0.001), and suicide attempts (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.06–1.75, p = 0.016). Despite a lower rate of head injuries and a comparable level of care measured by trauma center admission, both intensive care unit and total hospital stay were prolonged in patients with THD. Conclusions: Since early diagnosis, as well as timely and sufficient treatment, of THDs are of high relevance for long-term outcomes of severely injured individuals, knowledge of patients at risk for this injury pattern is of utmost importance. THDs are frequently related to high-energy mechanisms and associated with severe concomitant injuries in major trauma patients.