Trauma Literature Research Articles

The Mindful Interactions (MI) tool: promoting student mental health in tertiary education

This conceptual paper introduces the Mindful Interactions (MI) tool designed to enable university teaching academics to promote student mental health and in so doing, impact positively on academic outcomes. The MI tool is comprised of three elements: understandings to provide theoretical guidance which inform pedagogy, practices to provide strategies for translating theory into practice, and guiding principles which provide a catalyst for critical reflexion, challenge existing beliefs, and create a shared vision from which to work. Relationships are at its core, acknowledging that university students report teacher-student relationships as key to their mental health. Issues related to university student mental health, of which psychological distress is an important component, have been well documented and exacerbated since the onset of COVID-19, increasing demands on universities to meet student mental health needs. It is contended in this paper that understanding the causes of psychological distress, particularly in relation to Adverse Childhood Experiences, offers an alternative lens through which to view student mental health. This lens suggests additional ways of thinking about how university teaching academics and universities might proactively respond to student mental health needs. Cultural Historical Activity Theory informed the theoretical framework for the study, whilst two ‘approaches’ (the ‘Three Pillars of Trauma-informed Care’ and ‘Trust Based Relational Intervention’) along with associated trauma literature underpinned the development of the MI tool.

Analysis of the orthopaedic trauma literature utilizing machine learning and latent dirichlet allocation

Objectives: To demonstrate a new method to review literature utilizing machine learning and latent Dirichlet allocation and summarize the past 20 years of orthopaedic trauma research. Methods: All original research articles published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery American volume, Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma, Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery British volume, Trauma, Injury, Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, and the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons from 2000-2020 were analyzed using latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA), which is a form of machine learning. 100 topics were created by the algorithm and only topics that were relevant to trauma were included, leaving 30 topics ranked by popularity and associated with a best-fitting article and trend over the past 20 years. Results: Research article abstracts totaling 21,968 from 2000-2020 in the orthopaedic trauma literature were analyzed to create 30 topics. The topics were ranked by popularity, trended over the specified time period, and associated with a best fitting article. The 3 “hottest” and “coldest” topics were visualized in graphical form. Conclusions: This is the first study of its kind to utilize machine learning as a method of reviewing the orthopaedic trauma literature. Machine learning possesses the ability to rapidly synthesize a large body of literature to assess the current state of research and trends of research topics. Machine learning can aid clinicians and researchers in time-intensive tasks to quickly provide clues that will promote avenues further research.

False claims of equivalence in the neurosurgical trauma literature: prevalence and associated factors—a systematic review protocol

IntroductionResearch quality within the neurosurgical field remains suboptimal. Therefore, many studies published in the neurosurgical literature lack enough statistical power to establish the presence or absence of clinically important differences...

National peculiarities of a traumatic experience in H. Mantel’s novel “A Change of Climate”

This article examines the problem of depicting traumatic experiences in modern British literature based on H. Mantel’s novel “A Change of Climate” (1994). In the course of the trauma literature development and its research (trauma studies), new opportunities and ways of depicting a traumatic event in fiction appear, for example, the attention of writers shifts from a large-scale description of historical trauma to the private lives of certain people and individual traumas. Mantel’s work presents several traumatic events at once, but only one is actual – the loss of a child by the Eldred family during their missionary trip to South African. In addition to the “standard” devices of trauma literature (unreliable narrator, lacunae, etc.), H. Mantel also introduces a national component into the novel, which determines the specifics of the main characters’ traumatic experience. So, such concepts as family, religion, virtue, good manners and missionary work become important for the characters born and raised by English society, through the prism of these concepts they perceive reality and try to overcome their trauma. However, this trauma is not only a personal experience, but also a cultural one in a certain sense, since leaving Africa after the child’s death at the hands of aborigines shows the failure of their mission. Thus, in his novel, H. Mantel demonstrates how deeply English national character traits are rooted in people’s lives, and how they become an obstacle in overcoming a traumatic event.

Bibliometric and visual analysis of severe trauma literature in the past 20 years

AbstractSevere trauma is a critical aspect of medical practice, profoundly impacting patient care and outcomes. Over the past 20 years, advancements in trauma care concepts and the utilization of advanced technologies have led to substantial growth in severe trauma research, evidenced by a notable increase in research activity and subsequent publications. To understand the publication landscape in severe trauma, identify prevailing research trends, and highlight areas requiring further development for future insights, we conducted a bibliometric analysis. Our analysis indicates that there are 16,939 severe trauma‐related publications from the past 20 years, with a continuous increase in publication volume, particularly showing a rapid growth trend from 2018 to 2021. The United States leads in both volume and citation frequency. Moreover, we synthesized data on productive countries/regions and research institutions, showcasing extensive collaboration across diverse geographic locations and institutional affiliations. Substantial progress has been achieved in severe trauma research, particularly in clinical diagnosis, treatment, epidemiology, prevention, and pathogenesis. However, there is still a gap in adopting cutting‐edge interdisciplinary methodologies. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of severe trauma research and suggests pathways for future advancement.

Risk Factors for Acute-Level Hospital Course in Pediatric Craniofacial Fractures.

The pediatric craniofacial trauma literature is limited to single institutions or short study periods. Herein, this study analyzes a national database over 10 years to delineate the epidemiology of pediatric craniofacial fractures and to identify risk factors for acute-level hospital course in the largest series to date. Utilizing the National Trauma Data Bank, pediatric craniofacial fractures admitted between 2010 and 2019 were identified. Descriptive analyses and multivariable regression were performed to identify risk factors for acute-level hospital course. A total of 155,136 pediatric craniofacial fracture cases were reviewed, including cranial vault (49.0%), nasal (22.4%), midface (21.0%), mandibular (20.2%), and orbital floor fractures (13.7%). Midface and orbital floor fractures occurred commonly as multicraniofacial fractures. Cranial vault fractures were the most common among all age groups, but frequency declined with age. In contrast, facial fractures increased with age. Despite the inherent complexity of multicraniofacial trauma, isolated fractures remained a concern for acute-level hospital course.Cranial vault and midface fractures had an increased risk of intracranial injury and intensive care unit admission (P<0.001). Mandibular and midface fractures had an increased risk for cervical spine fracture and tracheostomy (P<0.001). Patient and injury-specific risk factors among the fractures with the strongest association for each outcome-cranial vault and mandible-were identified. The inherent limitations of prior studies-geographical biases, small cohorts, and short-term study periods-were addressed. Describing the independent contribution of each craniofacial fracture to the risk of acute-level hospital course outcomes can be employed to better optimize risk stratification, counseling, and management.

Incidence, Diversity, and Quality of Publications in Orthopaedic Trauma Literature

Introduction: Modern medicine increasingly relies on evidence-based care, using academic journals as vehicles for information dissemination. Increasing rates of publication have led to an overwhelming volume of literature. This study evaluates the proportion of dedicated orthopaedic trauma literature, the frequency of different topic domains, and the quality of currently published information. Methods: Top orthopaedic journals were selected by impact factor and scientific articles published between 2016 –2019 were evaluated. All articles were categorized by subspecialty and pre-defined topic domains and level of evidence was recorded. Results: 3,697 articles were published in Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma (JOT), Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research (CORR), the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS), and Bone and Joint Journal (BJJ). 32% of articles were dedicated to orthopaedic trauma topics. Joint Arthroplasty was the most published subspecialty in general journals (35.37%, P&lt;0.002). Hip fractures were the most prevalent trauma topic domain in all four journals (15.5%, P&lt;0.002). Pelvic ring injuries were the second most prevalent topic in orthopaedic trauma journals, versus distal radius fractures in non-trauma journals (P&lt;0.05). 48.4% of published literature was level III evidence, with no differences between trauma and non-trauma publications (P&gt;0.05). Conclusion: Orthopaedic trauma is well represented within the orthopaedic literature with a diverse distribution of topics over the four-year period, second only to Joint Arthroplasty which was by far the most common topic in general orthopaedic journals. Level of Evidence in trauma literature parallel other orthopaedic subspecialties, but there is an overall low proportion of level I and II studies in the orthopaedic literature. Level of Evidence: Level II

The Impact of Pre-Trauma Steroid Use on Wound Healing and Outcomes.

This study presents data on pre-trauma steroid use, a topic underrepresented in the trauma literature. Long-term steroid use has been linked to impaired wound healing, compromised immune responses, and hindrance of bone healing, alongside the potential for adrenal insufficiency during traumatic events. The aim of this study was to conduct a retrospective analysis of clinical outcomes for trauma patients with chronic steroid use. Examining adult trauma cases with pre-trauma steroid use at a level 1 trauma center (January 2016-September 2023), we identified 18 patients (58.6 ± 19.4years, 55.6% males). All were on prednisone prior to trauma activation and 66.7% had autoimmune disease. Complications included orthopedic fractures (72.2%), ICU admissions (16.7%), and low mortality (5.6%). Future larger, multi-center studies are needed to determine the impact of immunosuppression and pre-trauma steroids on clinical outcomes.

Feminist Narrativization of trauma in Julia Alvarez's In the Time of the Butterflies

The study explores on the feminist standpoint of trauma narration in Julia Alvarez's magnum opus, In the Time of the Butterflies. Set against the tragic backdrop of the Mirabel sisters' 1960 massacre and the pervasive exploitation of women during Trujillo's cruel reign in the Dominican Republic, Alvarez intricately weaves personal and political struggles. In this backdrop, the research focuses on Alvarez's use of storytelling techniques to illuminate the traumatic experiences of women, particularly highlighting Dede Mirabel as a testimonial figure in the broader feminist strife. So, the study purposes to unravel the complex layers of feminist discourse within the novel. Utilizing a descriptive based qualitative approach grounded in narrative procedures, this research integrates insights from trauma studies scholars such as Leigh Gilmore, Cathy Caruth, Laura Stark, Hawkins et al., and Jeffrey C. Alexander. The overarching goal is to develop a theoretical framework that elucidates how the novel depicts traumatic experiences within patriarchal structures. This research is significant as it uncovers the intersection of gender and historical trauma, offering a subtle understanding of women steering their experiences amid political oppression. The findings are expected to deepen our grasp of the novel's feminist dimensions and serve as a foundation for future inquiries into the juncture of feminist literature encouraging further exploration of how women's stories shape societal perceptions. Thus, this study lays the groundwork for future research in similar themes across trauma literature.

Identifying Age-Specific Risk Factors for Poor Outcomes After Trauma With Machine Learning

IntroductionRisk stratification for poor outcomes is not currently age-specific. Risk stratification of older patients based on observational cohorts primarily composed of young patients may result in suboptimal clinical care and inaccurate quality benchmarking. We assessed two hypotheses. First, we hypothesized that risk factors for poor outcomes after trauma are age-dependent and, second, that the relative importance of various risk factors are also age-dependent. MethodsA cohort study of severely injured adult trauma patients admitted to the intensive care unit 2014-2018 was performed using trauma registry data. Random forest algorithms predicting poor outcomes (death or complication) were built and validated using three cohorts: (1) patients of all ages, (2) younger patients, and (3) older patients. Older patients were defined as aged 55 y or more to maintain consistency with prior trauma literature. Complications assessed included acute renal failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome, cardiac arrest, unplanned intubation, unplanned intensive care unit admission, and unplanned return to the operating room, as defined by the trauma quality improvement program. Mean decrease in model accuracy (MDA), if each variable was removed and scaled to a Z-score, was calculated. MDA change ≥4 standard deviations between age cohorts was considered significant. ResultsOf 5489 patients, 25% were older. Poor outcomes occurred in 12% of younger and 33% of older patients. Head injury was the most important predictor of poor outcome in all cohorts. In the full cohort, age was the most important predictor of poor outcomes after head injury. Within age cohorts, the most important predictors of poor outcomes, after head injury, were surgery requirement in younger patients and arrival Glasgow Coma Scale in older patients. Compared to younger patients, head injury and arrival Glasgow Coma Scale had the greatest increase in importance for older patients, while systolic blood pressure had the greatest decrease in importance. ConclusionsSupervised machine learning identified differences in risk factors and their relative associations with poor outcomes based on age. Age-specific models may improve hospital benchmarking and identify quality improvement targets for older trauma patients.

Disruption of trauma research: an analysis of the top cited versus disruptive trauma research publications

IntroductionThe analysis of surgical research using bibliometric measures has become increasingly prevalent. Absolute citation counts (CC) or indices are commonly used markers of research quality but may not adequately capture...

Lessons from decolonial and liberation psychologies for the field of trauma psychology.

Trauma, ranging from interpersonal to intergenerational, can create severe dysregulation and psychic suffering. Trauma may disrupt the nervous system, identity, affect regulation, and relationship schemas. Traumatic events can also disconnect survivors from the various aspects of themselves as well as their community. As a trauma survivor and trauma psychologist, I have dedicated my career to exploring ways of restoring and healing those severed connections. Exploring decolonial and liberation psychologies awakened me to conceptualizations and frameworks that center reclamation as a form of holistic healing and empowerment for trauma survivors. While much of the individually centered trauma literature focuses on skills-based psychoeducation and cognitive behavioral coping strategies, there has traditionally been less, although growing, attention paid to the diverse culturally grounded, sociopolitical pathways for survivors to reclaim themselves. In this article, I explore my scholarship and the scholarship of other underrepresented scholars as we discuss decolonial and liberation psychologies, the pathways they illuminate that can benefit the trauma recovery process, especially for marginalized survivors, and their implications for practice, training/teaching, research, and policy. The trauma and healing-informed decolonial and liberation pathways that emerge from the literature are culture as medicine, community support, spirituality and religiosity, expressive arts, and resistance. This article argues that the field would benefit from a more inclusive view of trauma and trauma recovery if it incorporates, builds on, explores, and learns from the scholarship of decolonial and liberation psychologists and traditional cultural healers. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Harms Reporting in the RCTs Underpinning the AAOS Clinical Practice Guidelines for Clavicle Fractures

Background: The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) publishes clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for various pathologies. An extension to the Consolidated Standards for Reporting (CONSORT) checklist provides authors with a framework for reporting harms in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Objectives: The purpose of this study was to measure harms reporting among RCTs cited as supporting evidence for the AAOS CPG on the treatment of clavicle fractures. This study also sought to determine whether these reporting rates changed over time. Methods: Adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we used the AAOS CPG for clavicle fractures and conducted a linear regression analysis to model the relationship between the year of publication and the total CONSORT checklist percentage adherence over time. Results: There were 28 RCTs cited as supporting evidence for the clavicle fractures CPG included in the final sample. The average number of the 18 CONSORT Extension for Harms items appropriately reported across all included RCTs was 9.32 (51.8%). Nine checklist items had more than 50% compliance (50%), 3 items had between 20% and 50% compliance (16.7%), and 6 items had less than 20% compliance (33.3%). The linear regression model demonstrated no significant improvement in CONSORT Harms reporting over time. Conclusions: Adverse events are inadequately reported in RCTs cited as supporting evidence for the AAOS Treatment of Clavicle Fractures CPGs. We recommend the utilization of standardized adverse event reporting tools specific to orthopedic trauma literature to facilitate ease in adverse event reporting among RCTs.

Access to evidence-based care: a systematic review of trauma and surgical literature costs across resource settings

BackgroundEvidence-based medicine has become the foundation for surgeons around the world to provide the most effective surgical care. However, the article processing charges (APCs) and subscription fees for surgical journals...

Trauma, Haunting, and Representation: Rereading and the Translation Examination of Kokoro

The Japanese novel, Kokoro (1914), offers a profound insight into early 20th-century Japanese society encompassing history, politics, and literature. Although this novel has been extensively explored in literary and translation studies, the convergence remains underexplored. This study advocates integrating literary criticism with translation practice for a more faithful representation of narratives. Applying trauma/PTSD studies theory, it meticulously analyzes Kokoro, particularly examining the English and Chinese renditions of the pivotal term “談判 (danpan; negotiation)”. The methodology involves constructing a trilingual database, incorporating the Japanese source text and seven translations in English and Chinese. By scrutinizing specific passages, the study delves into trauma-related responses and behaviors, revealing their impact on long-lasting changes in personality and relationships. Emphasis is placed on the translation of key terms, preserving cultural and linguistic nuances. This innovative approach advances both literary criticism and translation theory, emphasizing psychological elements for a nuanced portrayal of characters’ states of mind. The study underscores the significance of trauma narratives in comprehending personal and historical traumas, asserting that translators of trauma literature must blend theoretical knowledge with social responsibility. They serve as “secondary witnesses,” entrusted with accurately transmitting traumatic stories between languages, fostering empathy, and preventing the repetition of tragedies in history. This approach provides an innovative interpretation of Kokoro and its translations, bridging the realms of literary criticism and translation studies.

Trauma and Psychological Self-Destruction: An Overview of the Exasperating Emotional Imbalance in K R Meera’s The Unseeing Idol of Light

The present article discusses trauma and its impact on human emotions, particularly on women, in literature, with a focus on K R Meera's novel, The Unseeing Idol of Light. The research paper highlights the rise of trauma theory in literature and explores the cultural and psychological influence of trauma in literature. It also analyses the characters in the novel through the lens of emotional imbalance and interdependency and examines the interrelation between vision, love, and trauma. The prevalence of negative emotions over positive emotions in the novel has been discussed. The paper emphasises the importance of mental stability in contemporary society and discusses various themes such as psychic changes, loss, longing, and transformation. The researcher aims to analyse and relate the selected work with critical thinking to shed light on the cultural and psychological impressions of literature.

Neglected Trauma: The Lives of Women Dissidents and Émigrés in Daňa Horáková’s Memoirs

At the end of the 1970s, the Czechoslovak State Security, under the banner of the so-called ASANACE (‘sanitation’) campaign, used brutal means to deport leading dissidents abroad and break up the domestic opposition. As a result, many cultural figures emigrated, among them Daňa Horáková, a philosopher and collaborator of Václav Havel. Drawing on her memoir and the testimonies of other Czech female dissidents (and émigrés), the text reflects on the difficulties that life in dissent brought to women, as well as the pitfalls in which women were most at risk of becoming traumatized. Among the most risky moments was emigration and the uprootedness associated with it. Against the backdrop of research on emigration and trauma in literature, the present study offers an interpretation of O Pavlovi as a testament to the destructive impact of power.

Two tiers of judicial officers

In this article I reflect on the conception, methodology and findings of a study of judicial officers’ psychological wellbeing undertaken by a team comprised of two psychology and two law researchers. I am one of the lawyers. The article unpicks the unexpected significance of court hierarchy for those on the bench and the ethical challenges arising from judges’ revelations of their exposure to potentially lethal degradation and abuse. Law, and I as a lawyer, view the adjudication process as outcome oriented. Judges are less visibly ‘human’ than parties, lawyers and witnesses. Instead, judges present and perform the Law. This lawyer anticipated judges’ tasks of deploying legal knowledge at high levels, confronting graphic evidence and high profile unfair public criticism would be prominent triggers to invoking judicial stress. My psychology colleagues drew on psychological trauma literature that suggests that unlike first responders, judges are high-achieving professionals exercising authority in complex, highly visible, but isolating environments. The study’s findings were surprising, debunking my expectation of relatively homogeneous judicial experiences. Instead, they showed that the impact and nature of magistrates’ exposure to workplace trauma is sui generis.

Chronic knee pain following infrapatellar/suprapatellar magnetic intramedullary lengthening nails versus external fixators in limb length discrepancy: A retrospective review

Aims & objectivesPrior to the popularization of magnetic intramedullary nails (MILNs), gradual deformity correction using external fixation was the norm in limb lengthening. Trauma literature has shown MILN via a suprapatellar approach (SP) to be associated with less knee pain than either an infrapatellar entry (IP) or external fixation. Yet, no research has investigated chronic knee pain and MILNs. We assessed differences in chronic knee pain following lengthening via an IP or SP approach with an MILN versus external fixation. Materials & methodsWe reviewed 147 limbs (55 MILN/IP, 22 MILN/SP, 71 external fixator) in 124 patients who underwent tibial lengthening with ≥12 months follow-up between February 2012 and July 2020. Knee pain was assessed pre- and postoperatively at 6 and 12 months, with the Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale (LKSS) and numeric pain scale (0-10). Differences in knee pain outcomes were compared across methods, with subgroup analysis of MILN/SP and MILN/IP. ResultsMean LKSS was 96.3 for external fixation and 88.5 for MILN (P = .011). In the MILN subgroups, mean LKSS was 91.7 for IP and 85.3 for SP. The IP group reported a lesser mean pain score (0.6 versus 2.1) at 12 months. Bilateral nail recipients demonstrated no knee pain differences versus unilateral. At 12 months postoperative, external fixation had better knee outcomes. ConclusionTibial lengthening with external fixation was associated with less chronic anterior knee pain and better functional outcomes than MILN overall. In terms of MILN approach, IP surpassed SP on subjective pain scores. Larger tibial lengthening and knee pain studies are warranted.

Summary Paper of the Updated 2023 European Association of Urology Guidelines on Urological Trauma

ContextThe European Association of Urology (EAU) Guidelines Panel for Urological Trauma has produced guidelines in order to assist medical professionals in the management of urological trauma in adults for the past 20 yr. It must be emphasised that clinical guidelines present the best evidence available to the experts, but following guideline recommendations will not necessarily result in the best outcome. Guidelines can never replace clinical expertise when making treatment decisions for individual patients regarding other parameters such as experience and available facilities. Guidelines are not mandates and do not purport to be a legal standard of care. ObjectiveTo present a summary of the 2023 version of the EAU guidelines on the management of urological trauma. Evidence acquisitionA systematic literature search was conducted from 1966 to 2022, and articles with the highest certainty evidence were selected. It is important to note that due to its nature, genitourinary trauma literature still relies heavily on expert opinion and retrospective series. Evidence synthesisDatabases searched included Medline, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Libraries, covering a time frame between May 1, 2021 and April 29, 2022. A total of 1236 unique records were identified, retrieved, and screened for relevance. ConclusionsThe guidelines provide an evidence-based approach for the management of urological trauma. Patient summaryTrauma is a serious public health problem with significant social and economic costs. Urological trauma is common; traffic accidents, falls, intrapersonal violence, and iatrogenic injuries are the main causes. Developments in technology, continuous training of medical professionals, and improved care of polytrauma patients reduce morbidity and maximise the opportunity for quick recovery.