Major Trauma Centre Research Articles

Reducing Surgical Site Infections in Neurosurgery During the Intra-operative Phase: An Audit of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Guideline Adherence at a Major Trauma Centre.

Surgical site infections (SSIs) pose significant risks to patient safety and healthcare systems globally despite preventive measures. This study audits compliance with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines for SSI prevention during the intra-operative phase in the Neurosurgery Department at Salford Royal National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust. Conducted in two audit cycles from October 2022 to October 2023, the study assessed adherence to 19 key parameters aimed at minimising SSIs. Significant improvements were observed in various areas, including antibiotic prophylaxis information (from 44% to 90%) and bodywash compliance (from 14% to 80%). Compliance with skin preparation protocols also showed marked progress, with antiseptic application time improving from 12% to 80%. However, areas such as double gloving (increased from 36% to 44%) and the use of antimicrobial sutures (from 2% to 30%) indicate opportunities for further enhancement. The findings underscore the effectiveness of targeted interventions and the importance of continuous education and evaluation of surgical practices to reduce SSIs, ultimately improving patient outcomes and alleviating financial burdens on the NHS. Future audits are recommended to ensure sustained compliance and quality of care in Neurosurgery.

Retrospective Observational Study of the Management of Blunt Traumatic Splenic Injury 2017-2022 at Major Trauma Centres in England. What is the Current Role of Splenic Artery Embolisation?

PURPOSE: To compare the treatment and outcomes of blunt splenic injury (BSI) management strategy within Major Trauma centres in England between 2017 and 2022. Data was extracted from UK TARN (Trauma Audit Research Network) identifying all splenic injuries admitted to English Major Trauma Centres (MTCs) between 01/01/17 and 31/12/21. Mechanism, injuries, treatment and outcomes were compared between management strategies according to American Association of Surgery in Trauma (AAST) grade over the period. The main endpoints of splenic salvage rate, along with mortality and length of stay were compared between the treatment options. 3,723 patients sustained BSI; 2,906 (78.1%) were managed conservatively, 491 (13.2%) underwent embolisation while 326 (8.8%) underwent splenectomy. There were 1895 (50.9%) AAST grade 2 injuries, 1019 (27.4%) grade 3, 592 (15.9%) grade 4 and 247 (6.6%) grade 5. Embolisation was successful (i.e. no subsequent splenectomy) for 465/491 (94.7%). The length of stay of discharged patients in the splenectomy group was longer than in those receiving embolisation (p = 0.001) or conservative management (p < 0.001) (median (IQR) of 12 (7, 27), 10 (6, 19), 10 (6, 20) days, respectively). Mortality at 30days was not significantly different in those who underwent splenectomy (12.3%) compared to embolisation (8.6%) and conservative management (11.5%) (p = 0.129). Splenic embolisation results in a high rate of splenic salvage.

Early high-dose cryoprecipitate to reduce mortality in adult patients with traumatic haemorrhage: the CRYOSTAT-2 RCT with cost-effectiveness analysis.

Traumatic haemorrhage is common after severe injury, leading to disability and death. Cryoprecipitate, a source of fibrinogen, may improve outcomes for patients with traumatic haemorrhage. To investigate the effects of early fibrinogen supplementation in the form of 3 pools (15 units, approximately 6g of fibrinogen) of cryoprecipitate on 28-day mortality. A randomised, parallel-group, unblinded, multicentre, international trial and economic evaluation. Patients were randomised to either the intervention (early cryoprecipitate) or the comparator (standard major haemorrhage protocol) arm via opaque, sealed envelopes in the emergency department or the transfusion laboratory/blood bank. All analyses were performed on an intention-to-treat basis. A cost-effectiveness analysis was undertaken. Twenty-five major trauma centres in the UK and one level 1 trauma centre in the USA. Adults who had traumatic haemorrhage following severe injury requiring activation of the major haemorrhage protocol and had received a blood transfusion. Early cryoprecipitate - 3 pools (equivalent to 15 single units of cryoprecipitate or 6 g of fibrinogen supplementation), infused as rapidly as possible, within 90 minutes of arrival at hospital in addition to standard major haemorrhage protocol or standard major haemorrhage protocol only. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality at 28 days. The secondary outcomes were all-cause mortality at 6 hours, 24 hours, 6 months and 12 months from admission; death from bleeding at 6 hours and 24 hours; transfusion requirements at 24 hours from admission; destination of participant at discharge; quality-of-life measurements (EuroQol-5 Dimensions, five-level version and Glasgow Outcome Scale) at discharge/day 28 and 6 months after injury; and hospital resource use up to discharge or day 28 (including ventilator-days, hours spent in critical care and inpatient stays). Eight hundred and five patients were randomised to receive the standard major haemorrhage protocol (control arm). Seven hundred and ninety-nine patients were randomised to receive an additional three pools of cryoprecipitate in addition to standard care (intervention arm). Baseline characteristics appeared well matched. Patients had a median age of 39 (interquartile range 26-55) years, and the majority (79%) were male. All-cause 28-day mortality (n=1531 patients; intention to treat) was 25.3% in the intervention arm compared with 26.1% in the control arm (odds ratio 0.96; p=0.74). There was variability in the timing of cryoprecipitate administration, with overlap between the treatment arms, limiting the degree of intervention separation. There was no evidence that early empiric administration of high-dose cryoprecipitate reduced the risk of death in unselected patients with traumatic haemorrhage. There was also no difference in adverse events. The cost-effectiveness of the intervention was similar to that of standard care. Research to evaluate if fibrinogen replacement is more beneficial for selected patients, for example those with low fibrinogen blood levels, is needed, as is further exploration of whether there is a difference in outcome according to mechanism of injury. This trial is registered as ISRCTN14998314. This award was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme (NIHR award ref: 15/57/02) and is published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 28, No. 76. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information.

Improving communication during damage control surgery: a survey of adult major trauma centres in England.

Deficiencies in non-technical skills can severely impede the functioning of teams in high-intensity scenarios, such as in damage control surgery for the critically injured trauma patient. Truncated preoperative checklists, modified from the standard World Health Organization preoperative checklist, and situational reporting at intervals during surgery are long-established practices in the military, and are recommended in the National Health Service guidelines on major incidents. These tools allow the multiprofessional team to create a shared mental model of the anaesthetic and operative plan, thereby improving team efficiency. Our aim was to establish whether adult major trauma centres in England are using truncated preoperative checklists and situational reporting for damage control surgery. An online survey was devised and distributed via the national programme of care for trauma in November 2020. Responses were received from all 23 adult major trauma centres in England. Nine centres (39.1%) reported using a truncated preoperative checklist for damage control surgery albeit in a variety of formats. Common components were blood products received and/or available, presence of allergies, tranexamic acid and antibiotic administration, availability of viscoelastic tests, equipment required, availability of cell saver, role allocation and reference to other personnel needed, and discussion of the plan. Twelve centres (52.2%) have formal policies in place for situational reporting. Again, these were in multiple formats but all focused on patient physiology to direct surgical planning. We have identified key components to advanced communication aids for damage control surgery, providing a foundation on which other major trauma centres can build their own versions of these potentially lifesaving tools.

Comparison of the epidemiology of elderly trauma between major trauma centres in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Melbourne, Australia.

To review the epidemiology of elderly trauma at the Kind Saud Medical City (KSMC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and carry out risk-adjusted analyses to benchmark outcomes with the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, the largest Australasian trauma service. This retrospective study included records of injured patients (≥65 years) from the hospital trauma registries during 2022. Demographic and injury data were extracted. Risk-adjusted endpoints were: inpatient mortality and length of stay, analysed using logistic and median regression. A total of 193 elderly patients were registered on the KSMC registry and 1233 elderly patients were registered on the Alfred Hospital registry. Kind Saud Medical City saw proportionally less major trauma (injury severity score of >12, 24.4% vs. 44.2%, p<0.001) and less females (31.1% vs 44.4%, p<0.001). The modal injury group was low level falls in both centres (≈60%). Discharge destination was different, particularly for patients discharged home (86.5% vs. 56%) or to a rehabilitation facility (0.5% vs. 28.2%). The risk-adjusted length of stay was 4.5 days less at the Alfred Hospital (95% CI: [3.25-5.77] days, p<0.001). The odds of in-hospital death were not significantly different (OR=0.72, 95% CI: [0.36-1.47], p=0.37). Despite the different settings, low level falls were the major cause of injury in older patients. A longer length of stay in the acute hospital was identified for KSMC, however, this may be partly explained by discharge destination practices in the 2 countries.

Hip Fracture Management in a Major Trauma Centre: The Impact of 'Smart Phrase' Integration Into Electronic Clerking on Culture and Adherence to Guidelines.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) introduced guidelines in 2011 for the management of hip fractures in patients over the age of 65. NICE CG124 recommended different procedures depending on the demographics of the patient and fracture pattern. In terms of compliance in 2019, Addenbrooke's Hospital (ADH) was found to be in line with the national average, although room for improvement was noted. The aim of this study was to identify and address areas of substantial non-compliance at ADH. A total of 1636 patients who sustained a hip fracture between 2017 and 2020 and who subsequently underwent surgery at ADH were retrospectively analysed. We collected data from the National Hip Fracture Database (NHFD), digital medical records, and digital imaging systems. We then amended the clerking proforma by adding a 'smart phrase' and re-analysed another 543 patients who attended ADH following hip fracture between 2021 and 2022, using the same data collection methods. From 2017-2020, total adherence to CG124, Section 1.6, was 76.04%. Our results demonstrated that 56.43% of all hip fracture patients indicated for total hip arthroplasty (THA) did not have documented consideration for the procedure. In 2021-22, following the addition of our 'smart phrase,' we made to the clerking proforma, total adherence improved to 87.43%, with only 42.11% of THA-indicated patients lacking documented consideration of the procedure, down from 65.41% in 2020. The use of our smart phrase decreased during the follow-up without a corresponding drop in compliance. In January 2023, NICE CG124 underwent changes, rendering our ADH changes outdated. However, we have demonstrated that we can increase NICE guideline compliance by standardising and encouraging formal documentation of the decision-making process. As electronic patient record (EPR) systems become more widespread, we have shown how 'smart phrases' can be used to generate change and increase compliance, even over a short period of time.

“For the Care of the Underserved” A Descriptive Analysis of MTOA Admitted Under the Non-Trauma Specialties in a MTC

Abstract Background The recent NOCA report highlights a significant portion of major trauma cases resulting from falls among older adults, who often face limited access to trauma centres and age-related biases in treatment. Existing protocols and services for older trauma patients are lacking. This study aimed to audit the incidence and outcomes of MTOA admitted under the non-trauma specialties at a Major Trauma Centre. Methods Data from handover documents between January 2019 and December 2023 were screened for cases of “older trauma” (patients &amp;gt;65 with new trauma injuries) and analysed using Microsoft Excel. Results Between 2019 and 2023, 992 older patients were admitted under non-trauma specialties, with a mean age of 83 years and a majority being female 73% (N=170). The mean length of stay was 14 days, with pelvis injuries being most common 31% (N=307). Falls from standing height accounted for 83% (N=823) of injuries. Only 28% (N=217) of patients at immediate risk of further fragility fractures received bone protection. Most patients were discharged home 49% (N=456), while 6% (N=55) were institutionalized. The total mortality rate in hospital was 7% (N=66). The total mortality at one year was 17% (N=121). The injury with the highest mortality in hospital 24% (N=21) and at one year 40% (N=35) was traumatic brain injuries. Conclusion This audit reveals disparities in trauma care for older patients, despite advances in the field. While initiatives like the hip fracture database have improved care for specific injuries, pathways for older trauma patients not requiring surgery are lacking. Given the excess morbidity and mortality among this population, establishing a Geriatric Trauma Service is imperative. This is in line with literature supporting the idea that older trauma patients demand specialist attention; they are not just older adults.

Emergency management of orbital compartment syndrome: Lateral canthotomy and cantholysis case series

BackgroundOrbital compartment syndrome (OCS) is considered a time critical condition that requires urgent surgical decompression to preserve vision. This study aims to evaluate the current clinical criteria for performing a lateral canthotomy and cantholysis (LCC) in the emergency management of suspected traumatic OCS. MethodsA retrospective audit of patients with suspected traumatic OCS presenting to an adult major trauma centre between January 1, 2017, and August 1, 2022, was performed. Results20 patients with traumatic OCS treated with a LCC were identified. Five patients satisfied the definitive clinical criteria for LCC. The remaining 15 patients received LCC based on secondary clinical findings, or computed tomography (CT) findings suggestive of OCS. 17 patients received non-contrast CT scanning prior to LCC. Of the nine patients noted to regain baseline or close to baseline vision, only one was decompressed within two hours of injury. ConclusionDespite OCS being a clinical diagnosis, the signs and symptoms associated with OCS are difficult to elicit on presentation. Seeking imaging should not delay time to decompression when clinical diagnostic criteria are present. However, imaging may have a role in determining the need for orbital decompression where the absolute indications for LCC cannot be adequately assessed.

Motorcycle riders and pillion passengers injury patterns and in-hospital outcomes based on the National Trauma Registry of Iran

Objective Road traffic injury (RTI) is the second leading cause of death and disability, and motorcycle crashes rank as the first cause of traffic fatality in Iran. We aimed to compare various characteristics between traumatized motorcycle riders and pillion passengers registered with the National Trauma Registry of Iran (NTRI). Methods This is a retrospective study of the NTRI, an ongoing multicenter trauma database built on a registry. This study included injured motorcyclists from six major trauma centers nationwide admitted between February 2017 and November 2023. Motorcyclists should have been hospitalized for RTIs and met the NTRI’s inclusion criteria. We assessed patients regarding their demographics, clinical features, the pattern of injuries, and diverse in-hospital outcomes. Results Of 54,342 registered patients in the NTRI, 7,594 motorcyclists were included. Of them, 6,636 (87.4%) were riders, and 958 (12.6%) were pillion passengers. Among all, 7165 (94.5%) were male, and 420 (5.5%) female (p < 0.001). Only 656 (9.9%) of riders and 24 (2.5%) of pillion passengers were wearing helmets (p < 0.001). Lone motorcyclist crashes led to injuries in 1,394 (21.2%) riders and 332 (35.5%) pillion passengers (p < 0.001). Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was 3 to 8 in 204 (3.1%) riders and 16 (1.7%) pillion passengers (p = 0.016). The most frequent pattern of poly-trauma was “head and thorax,” with 43 (32.3%) riders and 5 (25.0%) pillion passengers (p = 0.362). Univariable logistic regression analysis showed that Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission (OR = 0.78, CI 95% = 0.62 to 0.97, p = 0.028) and mechanical ventilation (OR = 0.58, CI 95% = 0.39 to 0.84, p = 0.004) were significantly lower in pillion passengers compared to motorcycle riders. After adjustment for age, gender, occupational status, and helmet use, being a rider or a pillion passenger didn’t have a significant association with any of the in-hospital outcomes. Conclusions Motorcycle riders and pillion passengers sustain the same injuries in terms of pattern, severity, and in-hospital outcomes. Therefore, healthcare providers can approach them similarly. Since there is a high number of underage riders and helmets are not used commonly, there should be more police enforcement in this case.

The Importance of Surgical Cutting Time as a Key Performance Indicator Alongside Touchtime Utilisation in Operating Theatre Efficiency Optimisation.

Aims The Getting It Right First Time(GIRFT) programme has set targets to achieve 85% touchtime utilisation by 2024/25. Touchtime utilisation is a measure of theatre productivity, defined as the time from the start of anaesthesia to the time a patient leaves the theatre for all cases on a defined theatre list as a percentage of total available theatre time. No published evidence examines touchtime utilisation as a measure of theatre efficiency and its correlation with surgical cutting time. This study aims to determine if there is a statistical relationship between touchtime utilisation and surgical cutting time, and whether the use of touchtime utilisation is sufficient to inform about surgical productivity. Methods A retrospective analysis of two orthopaedic theatres spanning 100 days at both a major trauma centre and an elective hospital in London was performed. Electronicrecords identifiedanaesthetic start time, knife-to-skin time, end-of-procedure time, and patient-leaving-theatre time. Time intervals were calculated and the relationship between touchtime utilisation and surgical cutting time was assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficient (r). Results The mean total touchtime was 403 minutes (SD, 84 minutes) at the major trauma centre and 383 minutes (SD, 103 minutes) at the elective hospital. The mean total surgical cutting time was 259 minutes(SD, 72 minutes) at the major trauma centre and 233 minutes (SD, 75 minutes) at the elective hospital, from a total available time of 510 minutes per list. There was a significant correlation between touchtime and surgical cutting time at both hospitals (elective hospital: r (198) = 0.815, p < 0.001; major trauma centre: r (198) = 0.892, p < 0.001). The mean touchtime utilisation was 79.31% for the major trauma centre and 75.20% for the elective hospital; however, the mean total surgical cutting time was 51% and 46%, respectively, of total available time. Conclusion Despite a good correlation between touchtime and surgical cutting time, the range between these measures suggests that using touchtime utilisation alone to measure theatre efficiency may not sufficiently inform about efficient practices. We suggest complementing touchtime utilisation data with surgical cutting time may provide more information to contextualise efficiencies or inefficiencies in an operating theatre.

Survival of the fastest? A descriptive analysis of severely injured trauma patients primarily admitted or secondarily transferred to major trauma centers in a Danish inclusive trauma system

BackgroundTrauma systems are crucial for enhancing survival and quality of life for trauma patients. Understanding trauma triage and patient outcomes is essential for optimizing resource allocation and trauma care.AimsThe aim was to explore prehospital trauma triage in Region Zealand, Denmark. Specifically, characteristics for patients who were either primarily admitted or secondarily transferred to major trauma centers were described.MethodsA retrospective descriptive study of severely injured trauma patients was conducted from January 2017 to December 2021.ResultsThe study comprised 744 patients including 55.6% primary and 44.4% secondary patients. Overall, men accounted for 70.2% of patients, and 66.1% were aged 18–65 years. The secondary patients included more women—34.2% versus 26.3% and a higher proportion of Injury Severity Score of ≥ 15—59.6% versus 47.8%, compared to primary patients. 30-day survival was higher for secondary patients—92.7% versus 87%. Medical dispatchers assessed urgency as Emergency level A for 98.1% of primary patients and 86.3% for secondary patients. Physician-staffed prehospital units attended primary patients first more frequently—17.1% versus 3.5%. Response times were similar, but time at scene was longer for primary patients whereas time from injury to arrival at a major trauma center was longer for secondary patients.ConclusionsSecondary trauma patients had higher Injury Severity Scores and better survival rates. They were considered less urgent by medical dispatchers and less frequently assessed by physician-staffed units. Prospective quality data are needed for further investigation of optimal triage and continuous quality improvement in trauma care.

ThP7.3 - Time of admission has no impact on outcome in trauma laparotomy

Abstract Introduction Trauma laparotomy outcomes are influenced by both patient and system factors. Out of hours (OOH) is associated with reduced staffing and on-site seniority which may impact patient outcomes. We aimed to establish if OOH laparotomy is associated with poorer outcomes. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on all patients that underwent a trauma laparotomy at a major trauma centre between 2019 and 2023. Groups were divided into in-hour admission (IH) (08:00 - 20:00) and OOH (20:00– 08:00). The primary outcome was mortality and secondary outcomes included intensive care and total length of stay. Statistical analysis was performed to determine differences between groups. Results 176 patients were included. The majority (62.5%) were OOH and penetrating the commonest mechanism of injury in both OOH (63.6%) and IH (57.5%). Comparing those admitted OOH and IH there was no difference inactivation of code red protocols (42.7% vs 39.4% p=0.663). ITU admissions (36.3% vs 43.9% p=0.318), length of ITU stay (mean days 9.1 ± 11.1 vs 15.7 ±17.4 p=0.068), total hospital stay (mean days 14.4 ± 25.3 vs 19 ± 25.4 p=0.204) or mortality (7.3% vs 4.5% p=0.469). Conclusion Although a larger proportion of trauma laparotomies occur in the OOH period, no statistical difference was found in any patient outcomes. This is likely due to established processes in our mature trauma model.

SP7.7 - A 6-month retrospective re-audit of “Code Red” trauma requiring surgical intervention in a regional major trauma centre

Abstract Aim Major trauma (MT) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the United Kingdom, with an estimated incidence of 20,000 cases annually in England. A certain proportion of patients presenting following MT require immediate operative intervention. This study is a re-audit of the process for managing these patients in order to assess the impact of introduction of a Damage Control Surgery (DCS) pathway. Methods Data were reviewed for all patients presenting as Code Red MT and requiring immediate operative intervention from May to November 2023. This accounts for all patients since the implementation of the DCS pathway. Patient details were taken from a MT database, Electronic Care Records were used to determine aetiologies of trauma and outcomes, and Theatre Management System software was used to determine timings. Results 9 patients were identified, with a median age of 30.33. 89% of patients underwent preoperative CT imaging, with an average time to CT of 15 minutes (range 5 to 57 minutes). Median time to theatre was 88 minutes (range 39 to 325 minutes). Specialties involved included General Surgery, Vascular, Cardiothoracics and Trauma and Orthopaedics, with multispecialty involvement in some cases. Overall mortality was 22%. Seven cases were the result of road traffic collisions. Conclusions MT remains a significant cause of mortality in our cohort, but implementation of a DCS pathway has led to significant improvements in both time to CT and time to theatre compared with our initial audit cycle (32 minutes/144.5 minutes).

SP7.5 - Time to CT for Acute General Surgery and Trauma in patients undergoing emergency laparotomy. A major trauma centre experience

Abstract Introduction In our institution separate care pathways exist for patients presenting with major trauma and acute abdomen (AA). Trauma patients activate a Consultant led trauma team attendance on arrival and CT imaging within 30 minutes where indicated. Our acute abdomen pathway attracts ST3+ general surgical review within 2 hours of emergency department referral and CT within a further 1 hour. We aimed to compare the two laparotomy cohorts with respect to clinical outcomes. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on patients that underwent an emergency laparotomy following CT at our institution between December 2020 and February 2022. Patients were identified from the NELA and TARN databases. Results 66 trauma and 64 AA patients were identified. The mean time to CT in trauma was 56.1 minutes ± 24.8 and in AA 390.7 minutes ± 306.1 (p&amp;lt;0.001). There was no difference in length of ITU stay (mean days 3.1 ± 8.1 vs 4.2 ±9.8 p=0.260) or hospital stay (mean days 13.7 ± 19.2 vs 13.8 ±11.7 p=0.494). no correlation between time to CT and length of hospital stay (r=0.233 p=0.97) or ITU stay (r=0.224 p=0.964) in trauma patients or AA (r=0.217 p=0.58 and -0.001 p=0.562 respectively for hospital and ITU stays) was detected. However, there was a trend towards lower mortality in the trauma cohort (3% vs 7.8% p=0.227). Conclusion Trauma patients were scanned quicker than acute abdomen presentations likely due to greater personnel resource and better care pathways. This was associated with a trend towards lower mortality because of earlier pathology detection and Consultant directed care from hospital arrival.

ThP7.2 - Nonoperative versus Operative Management in Traumatic Liver Injuries: A Prospective LiPTA Multicentre Study

Abstract Aims The liver is the most injured abdominal organ, with subsequent significant morbidity and mortality. Over the last 30-years liver trauma management has changed, with an increase in nonoperative versus operative approaches. However, contemporary UK data on how liver trauma is managed is limited. Methods This prospective, multicentre audit was conducted through the National Trauma Research and Innovation Collaborative at 18 participating major trauma centres and units across the UK between 01/01/2021-01/10/2021. Differences in demographics, physiology, injury mechanisms, complications, length of stay, and 30-day mortality were compared between patients undergoing definitive nonoperative, including interventional radiology, or operative management. Univariable tests were used to compare data where appropriate with adjusted odds ratios of 30-day mortality used to assess definitive management via a multivariable model. Results Of 266 patients, 76.69% underwent nonoperative management. Operative patients were significantly younger, median age 29 (IQR 20-41) vs. 34 (IQR 23-52) p=0.0146, sustained more penetrating compared to blunt injuries (62.90% vs. 9.80%, p&amp;lt;0.0001), had more active bleeding on CT (32.65% vs. 5.97%, p&amp;lt;0.0001), required massive transfusions (27.42% vs. 8.33%, p=0.0001), sustained more inpatient complications (29.03% vs. 1.96%, p&amp;lt;0.001) and more physiologically unstable on admission. Operative compared to nonoperative management resulted in a significant 20-fold increase in 30-day mortality, (aOR 20.21, 95%CI 3.28-124.43, p=0.001). Conclusions These findings highlight the current approach to UK liver trauma management. Patients undergoing operative management have significantly greater morbidity and mortality yet may represent the severest of liver injures. Where appropriate nonoperative management should be used following liver trauma to reduce this.

SP6.14 - The Burden of Penetrating Junctional Injuries in a UK Major Trauma Centre: a Retrospective Cohort Study

Abstract Background Junctional injuries occur at the join of ‘anatomically distinct zones’. The emergence of junctional injuries in trauma care has been a consequence of recent battlefield casualties; accounting for 21% of potentially survivable deaths from haemorrhage. Although well described in military literature, there are no civilian studies into junctional injuries. This study aims to examine the epidemiology and resource burden of junctional penetrating injuries. Methods Retrospective study of adult and paediatric patients with penetrating injuries to a junctional zone presenting to an urban MTC in one year. Electronic patient records were searched and data on anatomical distribution of injury, imaging and theatre utilisation, inpatient stay, and discharge codes extracted. Discharge codes were referenced with the National Schedule of NHS costs to produce a cost. Results In 132 patients 92.4% (n=122) were male with median age 27.5 and in hospital mortality 1.6% (n=2). Saturday and Sunday were most frequent 37.9% (n=50) and 81.8% (n=108) attended after 1700 and before 0800. 37.9% (n=50) of injuries were buttock; 22% (n=29) neck; 18.9% (n=25) multiply-injured; 8.3% (n=11) axilla; 6.8% (n=9) diaphragm; and 6.1% (n=8) groin. Median Injury Severity Score (ISS) 8. 46.2% (n=61) underwent surgery; 50.8% (n=67) were admitted, 7.6% (n=10) to ITU. Median length of ward stay was 3 days. 15.9% (n=21) received blood products. The overall cost was £914,076. Conclusion Junctional injuries are a significant resource burden. Buttock wounds were the most common but had the lowest median ISS and cost. Diaphragmatic injuries appear distinct from junctional wounds in terms of ISS and cost, and may be separate to other junctional zones.

Improving the 'Golden Patient' Initiative at a British Major Trauma Centre: A Single-Centre Study.

Introduction Delays in theatre start times are expensive and associated with poor outcomes. To reduce these delays, a Golden Patient (GP) protocol was used at one of Britain's major trauma centres, the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow. We sought to clarify how often Golden Patients (GPs) were stepped down from being first on the day's trauma list and to identify significant contributing factors. Methods We collected data over an eight-week period, with 80 GPs collated in total. If stepped down, we recorded their age, gender, injury, location, and day of planned surgery. Univariate analyses were then performed to test for statistical significance. We also followed stepped-down patients, noting how long until they received their operation. Results The incidence of GPs stepped down from being first on the list was 11.25%. This did not vary with age, gender, or type of injury, but was significantly associated with patients being at home the night before their planned operation (p=0.0114) and cases occurring on Fridays (p=0.0139). Of those stepped-down GPs who remained for operative management, all received their operation within one day. Conclusion This study, the first of its kind since the COVID-19 pandemic, shows low rates of GP step down, comparable to previous audits of GP initiatives in similar centres. When delays did occur, GPs received timely operative management once underlying issues were resolved. This study suggests that planned GPs should be admitted the night before their operation. Whilst the GP system serves trauma patients well, we identified areas for improvement in the efficiency of our own service applicable to other busy major trauma centres.

Shifts in Paediatric Road Trauma Dynamics Pre- vs. Post-COVID-19 Lockdown: Insights from a Major Trauma Centre.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented changes globally, significantly affecting public health sectors, including paediatric road trauma. This study aims to explore the changes in paediatric road trauma presentations and outcomes before and after the COVID-19 lockdown. This retrospective study analysed paediatric trauma data from the Saudi TraumA Registry (STAR) from August 2017 to December 2022, comparing pre- and post-COVID-19 lockdown periods (August 2017-March 2020 and July 2020-December 2022, respectively). The study analysed demographic data, mechanism of injury, severity, ICU admissions, and mortality rates using multivariate logistic regression models. Out of 950 paediatric trauma cases analysed, there was an 44.2 [561/389 = 1.442] % increase in the number of cases post-lockdown. A significant shift was noted in the age group of 5-9 years, with cases increasing from post-lockdown. Head injuries were the most prevalent type of injury, with their proportion slightly increasing from 163 (20.5%) pre-lockdown to 248 (23.2%) post-lockdown. The ICU admission were consistent across both periods, while the definitive care mode of arrival post-lockdown showed a notable shift towards private or government ambulances. Our study provides critical insights into the significant impact of the COVID-19 on paediatric road trauma. The observed increase in trauma cases post-pandemic, particularly among younger children and a notable rise in driver-related injuries among adolescents, underscores the profound effect of lockdown measures and subsequent societal changes on paediatric health. Efforts to reduce paediatric traffic injuries require collaboration among parents, educators, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the community at large.

Characteristics of equestrian accidents and injuries leading to permanent medical impairment

BackgroundEquestrian sports, also referred to as equestrianism, is practiced all over the world and a popular leisure activity in Sweden. Equestrianism is the country’s second-largest youth sport, and previous studies indicate that accidents are common in equestrianism. However, few previous studies have examined acute equestrian injuries leading to permanent medical impairment (PMI).MethodsBy using nationwide insurance data comprising all injured equestrians registered in the Swedish Equestrian Federation, the aim was to analyse characteristics of equestrian accidents and particularly injuries leading to PMI, both in general and by age, gender, incident type, injury type and injured body region. Injury incidence and injuries leading to PMI were examined. All equestrians injured during 2017–2021 were included (n = 6,876), however, only injuries occurring in 2017 and 2018 were used to analyse the risk and the injury distribution of injuries leading to PMI. Injury incidence was calculated separately for males and females, as well as for different age groups, by dividing the number of insurance claims by the number of members multiplied by 1,000. Risk Ratio (RR) was calculated between gender. Pearson’s chi-squared test was used to analyse differences in distribution for categorical variables.ResultsThe majority of injuries affected females, correlating to approximately three times higher risk, compared to males. The age group 21–40 years were associated with the highest injury risk (14.26/1,000 registered riders). In total 12% of all injuries led to PMI. Injuries to the upper and lower extremities, along with fractures, had a higher risk of resulting in a PMI. The risk of injury leading to PMI was higher among riders over 20 years of age.ConclusionsThe fact that females face nearly three times the injury risk of males, and riders aged 21–40 had the highest injury risk while younger riders (Luke KL, McAdie T, Smith BP, Warren-Smith AK. New insights into ridden horse behaviour, horse welfare and horse-related safety. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 2022;246:105539.); (Havlik HS. Equestrian sport-related injuries: a review of current literature. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2010;9(5):299–302.); (Samuels K, Bettis A, Davenport DL, Bernard AC. Occupational vs. non-occupational equestrians: Differences in demographics and injury patterns. Injury. 2022;53(1):171–5.); (Gharooni A-A, Anwar F, Ramdeep R, Mee H. Severe equestrian injuries: A seven-year review of admissions to a UK major trauma centre. Trauma. 2023;25(1):41–7.); (Hasler RM, Gyssler L, Benneker L, Martinolli L, Schotzau A, Zimmermann H, et al. Protective and risk factors in amateur equestrians and description of injury patterns: A retrospective data analysis and a case - control survey. J Trauma Manag Outcomes. 2011;5:4.); (Meredith L, Brolin K, Ekman R, Thomson R. Analyses of injuries to equestrians in a Swedish district over a 16-year period. Translational Sports Med. 2019;2:270–8.) had a lower risk, indicates that preventive efforts should target both older and female riders. Injuries predominantly resulting in PMI involve upper and lower extremities, however, to prevent the most serious injuries significantly affecting a rider’s daily life, measures preventing head and spinal cord neck injuries, must be implemented. Head injures remain the most frequent, serious and most significant group of injuries to prevent and mitigate, within equestrian sports.

The UK resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta in trauma patients with life-threatening torso haemorrhage: the (UK-REBOA) multicentre RCT.

The most common cause of preventable death after injury is haemorrhage. Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta is intended to provide earlier, temporary haemorrhage control, to facilitate transfer to an operating theatre or interventional radiology suite for definitive haemostasis. To compare standard care plus resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta versus standard care in patients with exsanguinating haemorrhage in the emergency department. Pragmatic, multicentre, Bayesian, group-sequential, registry-enabled, open-label, parallel-group randomised controlled trial to determine the clinical and cost-effectiveness of standard care plus resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta, compared to standard care alone. United Kingdom Major Trauma Centres. Trauma patients aged 16 years or older with confirmed or suspected life-threatening torso haemorrhage deemed amenable to adjunctive treatment with resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta. Participants were randomly assigned 1 : 1 to: standard care, as expected in a major trauma centre standard care plus resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta. Primary: Mortality at 90 days. Secondary: Mortality at 6 months, while in hospital, and within 24, 6 and 3 hours; need for haemorrhage control procedures, time to commencement of haemorrhage procedure, complications, length of stay (hospital and intensive care unit-free days), blood product use. Health economic: Expected United Kingdom National Health Service perspective costs, life-years and quality-adjusted life-years, modelled over a lifetime horizon. Case report forms, Trauma Audit and Research Network registry, NHS Digital (Hospital Episode Statistics and Office of National Statistics data). Ninety patients were enrolled: 46 were randomised to standard care plus resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta and 44 to standard care. Mortality at 90 days was higher in the standard care plus resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta group (54%) compared to the standard care group (42%). The odds ratio was 1.58 (95% credible interval 0.72 to 3.52). The posterior probability of an odds ratio > 1 (indicating increased odds of death with resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta) was 86.9%. The overall effect did not change when an enthusiastic prior was used or when the estimate was adjusted for baseline characteristics. For the secondary outcomes (3, 6 and 24 hours mortality), the posterior probability that standard care plus resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta was harmful was higher than for the primary outcome. Additional analyses to account for intercurrent events did not change the direction of the estimate for mortality at any time point. Death due to haemorrhage was more common in the standard care plus resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta group than in the standard care group. There were no serious adverse device effects. Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta is less costly (probability 99%), due to the competing mortality risk but also substantially less effective in terms of lifetime quality-adjusted life-years (probability 91%). The size of the study reflects the relative infrequency of exsanguinating traumatic haemorrhage in the United Kingdom. There were some baseline imbalances between groups, but adjusted analyses had little effect on the estimates. This is the first randomised trial of the addition of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta to standard care in the management of exsanguinating haemorrhage. All the analyses suggest that a strategy of standard care plus resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta is potentially harmful. The role (if any) of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta in the pre-hospital setting remains unclear. Further research to clarify its potential (or not) may be required. This trial is registered as ISRCTN16184981. This award was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme (NIHR award ref: 14/199/09) and is published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 28, No. 54. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information.