Emergency Department Trauma Research Articles

Evaluating traumatic event scoring schemas for their predictive value to concurrent diagnostic profiles: Texas Childhood Trauma Research Network

BackgroundTo prospectively chart pathways of risk and resiliency following childhood trauma studies need to address three limitations of prior work: 1) recruit beyond social service/ treatment settings; 2) include broad spectrum of trauma types and 3) cast a broad longitudinal measurement framework of both clinical diagnoses and traumatic exposures. The Texas-Childhood Trauma Research Network (TX-CTRN) is a multi-site collaboration that addresses these limitations. In this baseline-only report, we examined domains of trauma and evaluated the concurrent predictive validity of various traumatic event scoring schemas for clinical diagnoses. MethodsBroad-base recruitment of 8–20 year-olds (N = 1289) included trauma centers, emergency departments, pediatric and primary care clinics, and other community settings. Assessments were comprehensive and based on clinical interviews by trained research interviewers. ResultsFactor analyses supported a five-factor solution of trauma domains including unintentional/acute, intentional/interpersonal, bullying, in-home versus community witnessed interpersonal harms. Trauma burden scoring schemas were examined for their predictive superiority. Domain-specific counts of traumas that met DSM-5 post-traumatic-stress disorder (PTSD) Criterion-A was the best overall schema in distinguishing among youth with no diagnosis, comorbidities, those with depression, suicidality, substance misuse, and PTSD. LimitationsThere were no assessments of neglect. ConclusionsFindings largely aligned with earlier studies on the relative importance of intentional interpersonal traumas and showed bullying may be an important source of traumatic stress that independently adds to prediction of several diagnoses and should be considered in clinical practice.

Biomechanical Behavior of Dynamic vs. Static Distal Locking Intramedullary Nails in Subtrochanteric Femur Fractures.

Hip fractures are one of the most frequent fractures presenting to the emergency department and orthopedic trauma teams. The aim of this study was to determine the best indication and therapeutic technique for subtrochanteric fractures and unifying criteria when choosing the most suitable type of nail. To analyze the influence of the material and the type of distal locking of intramedullary nails (static or dynamic), a femur model with a fracture in the subtrochanteric region stabilized with a long Gamma intramedullary nail was applied using finite element method (FEM) simulation. The mechanical study shows that titanium nails allow for greater micromobility at the fracture site, which could act as a stimulus for the formation of callus and consolidation of the fracture. In the mechanical study, the type of distal locking mainly affects mobility at the fracture site and stress in the cortical bone around the distal screws, without in any case exceeding values that may compromise the viability of the assembly or that may result in detrimental effects (in terms of mobility at the fracture site) for the consolidation process. Subtrochanteric fractures treated with titanium nail and static distal locking is safe and does not hinder consolidation.

Psychosocial interventions for survivors of rape and sexual assault experienced during adulthood.

Psychosocial interventions for survivors of rape and sexual assault experienced during adulthood.

379 Vital Signs Among Emergency Department Trauma Patients in the Setting of Alcohol or Drug Use

379 Vital Signs Among Emergency Department Trauma Patients in the Setting of Alcohol or Drug Use

Vital signs among emergency department trauma patients in the setting of alcohol or drug use

IntroductionThe incidence of alcohol use among trauma patients has been estimated at 19–55%. This study was undertaken to identify any relationship between vital signs and alcohol and drug use among Emergency Department (ED) patients with trauma. MethodsIn this retrospective case control study, eligible subjects included trauma patients ages 18 and over, with trauma and drug or alcohol use, between 2018 and 2022. The control group was comprised of trauma patients ages 18 and over, with trauma and no drug or alcohol use, who were matched by Injury Severity Score (ISS). Vital signs on ED arrival were compared among patients with and without alcohol use, and with and without recreational drug use. ResultsAmong 16,159 eligible trauma subjects, 5,323 had tests available for drugs and alcohol of whom 2,750 had complete ISS and vital signs data. 684 subjects were identified with alcohol intoxication, 707 subjects were identified with recreational drug use. Patients with alcohol use had lower mean systolic blood pressure (Mean=133, SD=26.7), compared to patients without alcohol use (Mean=143, SD=29.4) (p < 0.001). Patients with alcohol use had higher mean heart rate (Mean=93, SD=19.9) compared to patients without alcohol use (Mean=91, SD=19.7) (p = 0.01). Patients with recreational drug use had lower mean systolic blood pressure (Mean=137, SD=28.5) compared to patients without drug use (Mean=143, SD=29.6) (p < 0.001). Patients with drug use had higher mean heart rate (Mean=94, SD=22.8), compared to patients without drug use (Mean=91, SD=20.0) (p = 0.002). Cannabinoids were associated with lower SBP (Case Mean=136 (25.4) vs. Control Mean=141 (31.0), p = 0.009). Opioids were associated with lower SBP (Case Mean=138 (28.0) vs. Control Mean=145 (29.4), p = 0.01). Benzodiazepines were associated with increased HR and decreased SBP and RR. ConclusionsThere appear to be no clinically relevant differences in vital signs among trauma patients with drug use and/or alcohol use, compared to patients without drug or alcohol use. Abnormal vital signs should not be prematurely attributed solely to acute substance intoxication before fully evaluating for associated traumatic injuries.

Antibiotic Prophylaxis in the Management of Distal Fingertip Amputation and Crush Injury

We sought to investigate the role of prophylactic antibiotics for distal fingertip crush injury or transphalangeal amputation treated outside of an operating room and better understand the factors that contribute to antibiotic-prescribing decisions. We hypothesized that prophylactic antibiotics do not meaningfully reduce the incidence of infection and that antibiotics are prescribed in a predictable way. This is a retrospective review of all patients treated in a MedStar-affiliated emergency department or urgent care for nonsurgical distal fingertip trauma in 2019. Patient demographics, comorbidities, injury characteristics, interventions, and follow-up details were recorded. Exclusion criteria included signs of infection at the time of presentation, minor injuries not requiring intervention, bite wounds, one-time intravenous antibiotic administration without oral course, and surgical intervention. Outcomes included infection and interventions at follow-up. Chi-square analysis was performed, comparing antibiotic and no-antibiotic groups. A stepwise binomial regression was used to evaluate for variables predictive of antibiotic prescription. We identified eight infections in 323 patients included in the study (2.5% incidence of infection). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of infection between patients treated with antibiotics (2.7%) and those who did not receive antibiotics (2.2%). However, due to the low incidence of infections, we were likely underpowered for this analysis. We also created a model to predict antibiotic prescribing, which achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.86 (P < .0001) based on age, bleeding disorders, depressive disorders, open wound status, amputation, fractures, and encounter type. The low incidence of infection (2.5%) and lack of a meaningful difference between the groups call into question prophylactic antibiotic prescribing after these distal fingertip injuries. Our model does predict provider prescribing habits, identifying areas for potential practice pattern change. Therapeutic III.

Characteristic and Management Of Oro-Maxillofacial Trauma in Emergency Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery During Covid-19 Pandemic: Retrospective Crosssectional Study

AbstractIntroduction: Oromaxillofacial traumas comprise injuries to the face, jaws, or both that are largely caused by physical forces, foreign bodies, or burns; they include injury to any of the bony structures, skin, and soft tissues around the face. Maxillofacial trauma is related to human activity or mobility, so traffic accidents are the highest cause. During the Covid-19 pandemic, human activity was mostly at home with movement restrictions. This paper aims to describe the types of characteristics and management of oromaxillofacial traumas during covid-19 pandemic at the emergency room RSUP Dr.Hasan Sadikin Bandung Hospital.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate every maxillofacial trauma in patients treated by the oral surgeon in the emergency room at RSUP Dr.Hasan Sadikin Bandung Hospital. Maxillofacial trauma incidence records were taken directly from case reports department of oral and maxillofacial surgery emergency room patients from January 2020-December 2021. The variables considered were: patient age, gender, etiologies, sites, classifications, and management of the trauma. All the information found is then integrated into a table to be analyzed epidemiologically. Result: 177 maxillofacial trauma patients were registered in the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery report. It was found that the gender ratio, female to male, is equal to 2.3: 7.6. The 18-36 age group accounted for the largest subgroup in both sexes. Motorcycle accidents accounted for as much as 80.22% of the etiology of the most common traumas. While dentoalveolar (28.22%) was the most common site of the fracture, followed by the mandible (23.31%). Injuries around the mouth make up the most portion (62.15%) regarding the area that is directly impacted by the injuries, followed by injuries to the face (18.64%) and injuries to the mouth and nose combined (6.21%). Among the 177 patients mentioned above, 10.17% were hospitalized.Conclusion: It can be concluded from this cross-sectional study that traffic accidents, mainly motorcycle crashes, are the primary cause of traumas, with males being more prone to accidents. Meanwhile, the dentoalveolar fracture was the most common site of fracture. For this reason, we might be better prepared with all the resources necessary to diagnose and treat patients with oromaxillofacial traumas in the future.

Assessing the utility of night-time presentations as a proxy for alcohol-related harm among young emergency department trauma patients.

To assess the usefulness of night-time presentations to measure alcohol-related harm (ARH) in young trauma patients, aged 12-24 years, attending Western Australian EDs. A retrospective longitudinal study examined alcohol-related ED presentations in Western Australia (WA; 2002-2016) among 12- to 24-year-olds. Data from the Emergency Department Data Collection, WA State Trauma Registry Database and Hospital Morbidity Data Collection were used to identify ARH through specific codes and text searches. These were compared to ARH estimates based on presentation time. Statistical analysis involved sensitivity and specificity calculations and Cox proportional hazards modelling. We identified 2644 (17.8%) night-time presentations as a proxy measure of ARH among the 14 887 presentations of patients aged 12-24 years. This closely matched the 3064 (20.6%) identified as ARH through coding methods. The highest risk for an ARH presentation occurred during the night hours between 00.00 and 04.59 hours. During these hours, the risk was 4.4-5.1 times higher compared to presentations at midday (between 12.00 and 12.59 hours). However, when looking at individual patients, we observed that night-time presentations were not a strong predictor of ARH (sensitivity: 0.39; positive predictive value: 0.46). Implementing targeted interventions during night hours could be beneficial in addressing ARH presentations. However, relying solely on the time of presentation as a proxy for ARH is unlikely to effectively identify ARH in young individuals. Instead, the present study emphasises the importance of implementing mandatory data collection strategies in EDs to ensure accurate measurement of ARH cases.

The persistent inflammation, immunosuppression, and catabolism syndrome 10 years later.

With the implementation of new intensive care unit (ICU) therapies in the 1970s, multiple organ failure (MOF) emerged as a fulminant inflammatory phenotype leading to early ICU death. Over the ensuing decades, with fundamental advances in care, this syndrome has evolved into a lingering phenotype of chronic critical illness (CCI) leading to indolent late post-hospital discharge death. In 2012, the University of Florida (UF) Sepsis Critical Illness Research Center (SCIRC) coined the term Persistent Inflammation, Immunosuppression, and Catabolism Syndrome (PICS) to provide a mechanistic framework to study CCI in surgical patients. This was followed by a decade of research into PICS-CCI in surgical ICU patients in order to define the epidemiology, dysregulated immunity, and long-term outcomes after sepsis. Other focused studies were performed in trauma ICU patients and emergency department sepsis patients. Early deaths were surprisingly low (4%); 63% experienced rapid recovery. Unfortunately, 33% progressed to CCI, of which 79% had a poor post-discharge disposition and 41% were dead within one year. These patients had biomarker evidence of PICS, and these biomarkers enhanced clinical prediction models for dismal one-year outcomes. Emergency myelopoiesis appears to play a central role in the observed persistent immune dysregulation that characterizes PICS-CCI. Older patients were especially vulnerable. Disturbingly, over half of the older CCI patients were dead within one year and older CCI survivors remained severely disabled. Although CCI is less frequent (20%) after major trauma, PICS appears to be a valid concept. This review will specifically detail the epidemiology of CCI, PICS biomarkers, effect of site of infection, acute kidney injury, effect on older patients, dysfunctional high-density lipoproteins, sarcopenia/cachexia, emergency myelopoiesis, dysregulated erythropoiesis, and potential therapeutic interventions.

Factors that influence interprofessional implementation of trauma-informed care in the emergency department.

To describe factors that influence interprofessional staff decisions and ability to implement trauma-informed care (TIC) in a level-one emergency department (ED) trauma center. This qualitative research study consisted of semi-structured interviews and quantitative surveys that were conducted between March and December 2020 at an urban trauma center. Eligible participants were staff working in the ED. Interview questions were developed using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF), which is designed to identify influences on health professional behavior related to implementation of evidence-based recommendations. Interview responses were transcribed, coded using Atlas software, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Key themes identified included awareness of TIC principles, impact of TIC on staff and patients, and experiences of bias. Participants identified opportunities to improve care for patients with a trauma history, including staff training, more time with patients, and efforts to decrease bias toward patients. Most participants (85.7%) felt that a TIC plan, tiered trauma inquiry, and warm handovers would be easy or very easy to implement. We identified key interprofessional staff beliefs and attitudes that influence implementation of TIC in the ED. These factors represent potential individual, team-based, and organizational targets for behavior change interventions to improve staff response to patient trauma and to address secondary trauma experienced by ED staff.

Trauma mechanisms and patterns of blunt cervical vascular injury: A descriptive study using a nationwide trauma registry

ObjectiveBlunt cervical vascular injury (BCVI) is a non-penetrating trauma to the carotid and/or vertebral vessels following a direct injury to the neck or by the shearing of the cervical vessels. Despite its potentially life-threatening nature, important clinical features of BCVI such as typical patterns of co-occurring injuries for each trauma mechanism are not well known. To address this knowledge gap, we described the characteristics of patients with BCVI to identify the pattern of co-occurring injuries by common trauma mechanisms. MethodsThis is a descriptive study using a Japanese nationwide trauma registry from 2004 through 2019. We included patients aged ≥13 years presenting to the emergency department (ED) with BCVI, defined as a blunt trauma to any of the following vessels: common/internal carotid artery, external carotid artery, vertebral artery, external jugular vein, and internal jugular vein. We delineated characteristics of each BCVI classified according to three damaged vessels (common/internal carotid artery, vertebral artery, and others). In addition, we applied network analysis to unravel patterns of co-occurring injuries among patients with BCVI by four common trauma mechanisms (car accident, motorcycle/bicycle accident, simple fall, and fall from a height). ResultsAmong 311,692 patients who visited the ED for blunt trauma, 454 (0.1%) patients had BCVI. Patients with common/internal carotid artery injuries presented to the ED with severe symptoms (e.g., the median Glasgow Coma Scale was 7) and had high in-hospital mortality (45%), while patients with vertebral artery injuries presented with relatively stable vital signs. Network analysis showed that head-vertebral-cervical spine injuries were common across four trauma mechanisms (car accident, motorcycle/bicycle accident, simple fall, and fall from a height), with co-occurring injuries of the cervical spine and vertebral artery being the most common injuries due to falls. In addition, common/internal carotid artery injuries were associated with thoracic and abdominal injuries in patients with car accidents. ConclusionsBased on analyses of a nationwide trauma registry, we found that patients with BCVI had distinct patterns of co-occurring injuries by four trauma mechanisms. Our observations provide an important basis for the initial assessment of blunt trauma and could support the management of BCVI.

The impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic-related lockdowns on orthopedic trauma emergencies at a level-one trauma center.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and its associated lockdowns had a profound effect on orthopedic trauma emergencies. This study aimed to investigate the patient volume and injury patterns at a level-one trauma center during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and compare them to the pre-pandemic conditions. A retrospective chart review of all patients who presented to the orthopedic trauma emergency department of a level-one trauma center in Cologne, Germany within a 2year period from March 16th, 2019 to March 15th, 2020 (pre-pandemic control) and from March 16th, 2020 and March 15th, 2021 (pandemic) was performed. The pandemic year was separated into three periods: (1) first lockdown, (2) between lockdowns and (3) second lockdown. The absolute numbers of patient presentations, the Manchester triage score (MTS) and the relative proportion of patients with structural organ injuries, fractures and dislocations, of polytraumatized patients, of hospital admissions, of subsequent emergency or semi-elective surgeries and of work-related accidents were evaluated in comparison to the pre-pandemic control. A total of 21,642 patient presentations were included in this study. Significantly less weekly orthopedic trauma emergency patient presentations were recorded during the pandemic (p < 0.01). The MTS was significantly lower during the first lockdown and between lockdowns (p < 0.01). The proportional incidence of overall structural organ injuries, fractures and dislocations, of upper limb fractures/dislocations, of hospital admissions and of patients requiring surgery was significantly increased during the pandemic (p ≤ 0.03). The proportional incidence of work-related injuries was significantly decreased during the pandemic (p < 0.01). Orthopedic trauma emergency presentations were reduced during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Due to the reluctancy of patients to visit the emergency department during the pandemic, the proportions of relevant injuries in general and of upper limb injuries in particular as well as of patients requiring hospital admission and trauma-related surgery were significantly increased.

Pain Self-Management with Inhaled Methoxyflurane by Emergency Department Trauma Patients: A Prospective, Interventional, Single-Center Study.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to overcrowding in many emergency departments (EDs). The present single-center, prospective, interventional study (conducted at Bichat University Medical Center (Paris, France)) was designed to assess the impact of self-administered, inhaled, low-dose methoxyflurane on trauma pain in a pre-ED fast-track zone dedicated to the management of lower-acuity non-COVID-19 patients. In the first phase of the study, the control group consisted of patients with mild-to-moderate trauma pain, for whom the triage nurse initiated pain management (based on the World Health Organization (WHO)'s analgesic ladder). In the second phase, the intervention group consisted of similar patients who self-administered methoxyflurane as an adjuvant to the standard analgesic ladder. The primary endpoint was the numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) score (from 0 to 10) recorded at different time points during the patient's care (T0: arrival in the ED, T1: exit from the triage box, T2: in the radiology department, T3: clinical examination, and T4: discharge from the ED). The level of agreement between the NPRS and the WHO analgesic ladder was assessed by the calculation of Cohen's kappa. Pairwise comparisons of continuous variables were performed with Student's t-test or a non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test. Changes over time in the NPRS were analyzed in an analysis of variance (with Scheffe's post hoc test if a pairwise comparison was significant) or a non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis H test. In all, 268 and 252 patients were included in the control and intervention groups, respectively. The two groups had similar characteristics. The level of agreement between the NPRS score and the analgesic ladder was high in both the control and intervention groups (Cohen's kappa: 0.74 and 0.70, respectively). The NPRS score decreased significantly between T0 and T4 in both groups (p < 0.001), but the decrease between T2 and T4 was significantly greater in the intervention group (p < 0.001). The proportion of patients still in pain on discharge was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (p = 0.001). In conclusion, a combination of self-administered methoxyflurane and the WHO analgesic ladder improves pain management in the ED.

Characteristics of pediatric ocular trauma in a pediatric emergency department in Japan

IntroductionPediatric ocular trauma is a common complaint in pediatric emergency departments (ED) and is a major cause of acquired monocular blindness. However, data on its epidemiology and management in the ED are lacking. The objective of this study was to describe the characteristics and management of pediatric ocular trauma patients who visited a Japanese pediatric emergency department (ED). MethodsThe present, retrospective, observational study was conducted in a pediatric ED in Japan between March 2010 and March 2021. Children younger than 16 years who visited our pediatric ED and received the diagnosis of ocular trauma were included. ED visits for follow-up examinations for the same complaint were excluded. The patients' sex, age, arrival time, mechanism of injury, signs and symptoms, examinations, diagnosis, history of urgent ophthalmological consultation, outcomes, and ophthalmological complications were extracted from electronic medical records. ResultsIn total, 469 patients were included; of these, 318 (68%) were male, and the median age was 7.3 years. The incident leading to trauma occurred most frequently at home (26%) and most often involved being struck in the eye (34%). In 20% of the cases, the eye was struck by some body part. Tests performed in the ED included visual acuity testing (44%), fluorescein staining (27%), and computed tomography (19%). Thirty-seven (8%) patients underwent a procedure in the ED. Most patients had a closed globe injury (CGI), with only two (0.4%) having an open globe injury (OGI). Eighty-five (18%) patients required an urgent ophthalmological referral, and 12 (3%) required emergency surgery. Ophthalmological complications occurred in only seven patients (2%). ConclusionMost cases of pediatric ocular trauma seen in the pediatric ED were CGI, with only a few cases leading to emergency surgery or ophthalmological complications. Pediatric ocular trauma can be safely managed by pediatric emergency physicians.

Changes in Pediatric Non-accidental Trauma Emergency Department Visits During and Following the COVID-19 Lockdown.

A level 1 pediatric trauma registry database was examined for all non-accidental trauma (NAT) emergency department visits between 2016 and 2021, and average injury severity score assigned to those patients with physical injuries over 2019-2021. There was a decline in NAT visits in 2020 (267) from prior years (343 visits average over 2016-2019), with subsequent increase in 2021 (548). Injury severity score increased (ISS) in 2020 (7.3) when compared to 2019 (5.71), with a decline in average ISS in 2021 (5.42). This data highlights the potential for missed abuse during closures with increased detection following reopening. Our data regarding ISS demonstrates the pediatric population is at risk of more severe abuse during times of familial stress. We need increased awareness that periods of vulnerability to NAT exist, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prophylactic anti-emetic use to counter opioid adverse effects in the emergency department: Is it doing more harm than good?

Madam, Pain is a subjective and multifaceted issue in the ER that presents in both acute and chronic versions. Patients often present in the ER with complaints of pain and are assessed by physicians and hospital staff immediately for pain-relief medication. In recent studies it was proved that complaints of pain have an emerging high prevalence. In a study comprising of 1665 patients, 61.2% had pain mentioned and recorded on the chart, 34.1% did not have pain, and 4.7% were procedures. The Pain was a chief complaint for 52.2% of the visits1. The most common manner of treatment in the ER for pain management is the use of analgesic medicine, especially in the category of opioids. The most common parenteral opioids administered in trauma centres and emergency departments are meperidine, fentanyl, morphine, and hydromorphone. Although opioids serve a very integral and pivotal role in alleviating the pain in patients, it has certain adverse effects, including respiratory depression, drowsiness, pruritis, nausea and vomiting2, of which nausea and vomiting tend to be the most recurrent and frequent concerns. Patients feel that the severity of these side effects is more important than controlling the pain itself. For this reason, physicians routinely prescribe anti-emetic prophylaxis along with opioid medication. Anti-emetic categories used to prevent these side effects include Serotonin receptor antagonists (Ondansetron), Dopamine receptor antagonists (Metoclopramide) and Neurokinin receptor antagonists (aprepitant)3. Conversely, these anti-emetics have drastic adverse effects including, constipation or diarrhoea, headache, fatigue, blurred vision and dry mouth. However, serotonin and neurokinin inhibitors’ side effects of headaches and constipation are more pronounced4. Recently, a study on 3785 individuals and after removing duplicate copies, 3157 were not aligned with the scope of the review, so they were removed during the preliminary screening stage. Eight articles were reviewed and three studies were selected for inclusion. This meta-analysis did not exhibit positive findings for anti-emetics having prophylactic effects on patients given opioid pain management. Hence, this analysis showed that antiemetic treatment with opioids did not affect the risk of nausea or vomiting5. Conclusively, as a result of the abovementioned meta-analysis, it is imperative to understand that anti-emetics gives little benefit to the patient and do not alleviate side effects. Instead, they outweigh the analgesic benefits of giving opioids altogether, not just by causing discomfort but also by eliminating the cost-effectiveness of the medical treatment regimen.

Factors Contributing to Computed Tomography Trauma Scan Times at a Tertiary Center: Improving Emergency Department Trauma Imaging Workflow Through Targeted Interventions.

The aims of the study are to identify factors contributing to computed tomography (CT) trauma scan turnaround time variation and to evaluate the effects of an automated intervention on time metrics. Throughput metrics were captured via picture archiving and communication system from January 1, 2018, to December 16, 2019, and included 17,709 CT trauma scans from our institution. Initial data showed that imaging technologist variation played a significant role in trauma imaging turnaround time. In December 2019, we implemented a 2-pronged intervention: (1) educational intervention to techs and (2) modified trauma CT abdomen/pelvis to autogenerate and autosend reformats to picture archiving and communication system. A total of 13,169 trauma CT scans were evaluated from the postintervention period taking place from January 2020 to March 2021. Throughput metrics such as last image to first report interval and emergency department length of stay were captured and compared with performing technologist, time of day, and weekday versus weekend scans. Substantial variability among trauma CT scans was observed. For CT trauma abdomen/pelvis, the interval from last image to initial report decreased from 26.4 to 24.0 minutes ( P = 0.001) while the interval between first and last image time decreased from 11.4 to 4.2 minutes ( P < 0.001). Emergency department length of stay also decreased from 3.9 to 3.7 hours ( P < 0.0001) in the postintervention period. Variation among imaging technologist was statistically significant and became less significant after intervention ( P = 0.09, P = 0.54). Factors such as imaging technologist variability, time of day, and day of the week of trauma scans played a significant role in CT trauma turnaround time variability. Automation interventions can help with efficiency in image turnaround time.

Comparison of Trauma and Burn Evaluations in a Pediatric Emergency Department During Pre, Early and Late COVID-19 Pandemic

BackgroundPediatric trauma epidemiology altered during early COVID-19 pandemic period but the impact of the ongoing pandemic is unknown. ObjectivesTo compare pediatric trauma epidemiology between the pre, early and late pandemic periods and to evaluate the association of race and ethnicity on injury severity during the pandemic. MethodsWe performed a retrospective study of trauma consults for an injury/burn in children ≤16 years between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2021. Study period was categorized into pre (January 1, 2019–February 28, 2020), early (March 1, 2020–December 31, 2020), and late (January 1, 2021–December 31, 2021) pandemic. Demographics, etiology, injury/burn severity, interventions and outcomes were noted. ResultsA total of 4940 patients underwent trauma evaluation. Compared to pre-pandemic, trauma evaluations for injuries and burns increased during both the early (RR: 2.13, 95% CI: 1.6–2.82 and RR: 2.24, 95% CI: 1.39–3.63, respectively) and late pandemic periods (RR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.09–1.86 and RR: 2.44, 95% CI: 1.55–3.83, respectively). Severe injuries, hospital admissions, operations and death were higher in the early pandemic but reverted to pre-pandemic levels during late pandemic. Non-Hispanic Blacks had an approximately 40% increase in mean ISS during both pandemic periods though they had lower odds of severe injury during both pandemic periods. ConclusionsTrauma evaluations for injuries and burns increased during the pandemic periods. There was a significant association of race and ethnicity with injury severity which varied with pandemic periods. Level of evidenceRetrospective comparative study, Level III.

Trends in Emergency Department Visits and Surgeries due to Traumatic Brain Injury During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Finland

We aim to evaluate the changes in the incidence of TBI, trauma craniotomies, and craniectomies during the COVID-19 pandemic in Finland. This retrospective register study was conducted at three Finnish hospitals. We retrieved the numbers of emergency department (ED) visits, inpatient admissions, and trauma craniotomies and craniectomies due to TBI in the adult population from 2017 to 2020.We calculated the incidences per 100 000 inhabitants and compared the year 2020 to the reference years (2017–2019) by incidence rate ratios (IRR) with 95% confidence intervals. The incidence of TBI-related ED visits during the study period compared to the reference years started to decrease in March 2020 (IRR 0.86, CI: 0.73–1.02), and the lowest incidence was seen in April 2020 (IRR 0.83, CI: 0.68–1.01). The incidence of ED visits showed a second decrease in December (IRR 0.80, CI: 0.67–0.96). The incidence of concussion decreased during the national lockdown in March (IRR 0.80, CI 0.66–0.97). The incidence of ED visits due to TBI decreased after the declaration of national lockdown in spring 2020 and showed a second decrease during regional restrictions in December. In addition, the incidence of neurosurgically treated TBI decreased during restaurant restrictions in the spring.

Saturday Night Fever: Interpersonal Violence as a Reason for Presentation in a University Emergency Department

(1) Presentations to a trauma emergency department following a violent confrontation account for a relevant proportion of the overall population. To date, violence (against women) in the domestic setting has been studied in particular. However, representative demographic and preclinical/clinical data outside of this specific subgroup on interpersonal violence are limited; (2) Patient admission records were searched for the occurrence of violent acts between 1 January and 31 December 2019. A total of 290 patients out of over 9000 patients were retrospectively included in the "violence group" (VG). A "typical" traumatologic cohort (presentation due to, among other things, sport-related trauma, falls, or traffic accidents) who had presented during the same period served as comparison group. Then, differences in the type of presentation (pedestrian, ambulance, or trauma room), time of presentation (day of week, time of day), diagnostic (imaging) and therapeutic (wound care, surgery, inpatient admission) measures performed, and discharge diagnosis were examined; (3) A large proportion of the VG were male, and half of the patients were under the influence of alcohol. Significantly more patients in the VG presented via the ambulance service or trauma room and during the weekend and the night. Computed tomography was performed significantly more often in the VG. Surgical wound care in the VG was required significantly more often, with injuries to the head being the most common; (4) The VG represents a relevant cost factor for the healthcare system. Because of the frequent head injuries with concomitant alcohol intoxication, all mental status abnormalities should be attributed to brain injury rather than alcohol intoxication until proven otherwise, to ensure the best possible clinical outcome.