Trauma Network Research Articles

Consideration and implementation of the elements of hospital mass casualty planning in the hospitals of the TraumaNetworks DGU® : An evaluation within the framework of the development process of the guidelines for clinical disaster medicine in Germany (LeiKliKatMeD) by the EKTC, NIS, AKUT, AUC

The protection and maintenance of hospital functionality and treatment capacity require preventative planning and preparation for amass casualty incident with respect to the scenarios, disasters or catastrophes to be expected. The hospital alarm and operations (KAEP) or stockpiling plan should include and organize the procedures and measures in the respective clinics and hospitals. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the hospitals of the Trauma Networks of the German Society for Trauma Surgery® (TNW DGU®) with respect to the established organizational structures and contents of the KAEP. In this study 622 hospitals from the TNW DGU® were surveyed to determine current treatment capacities depending on the principles and standards of care. This was done via the DGU Academy of Trauma Surgery (AUC) and an online-based survey with voluntary participation via aweb-based platform (SurveyMonkey Europe UC, Dublin, Ireland). The data presented here represent an excerpt of the overall data focused on the topic of this paper. Of the 622 certified clinics 252 (40%) took part in the survey in December 2022 and 250 data sets could be evaluated. LevelI,II,III trauma centers (LTZ, RTZ, ÜRTZ) took part in equal numbers. Of the participating clinics 90% have aKAEP that has been updated in the last 3 years. The manual of the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) was known in two thirds of the clinics surveyed. Only 30% of the clinics adapted their own KAEP after it was published and only 40% exercised it in the last 3 years. Elements for the care of those affected and injured (psychosocial network, end-of-life care, care of relatives) were included in 25-44% of hospitals. Regardless of the certification, it became obvious that around 80% of the hospitals rely exclusively on one alarm procedure and only 20% use aredundant system with 2 or more notification procedures. The survey showed that more than 75% of the hospitals already have the option of selective or partial alerting. Depending on the triage category, the LTZs were able to initially admit an average of 2SKI and 4SKII patients. These capacities were almost doubled by the RTZ and tripled by the ÜTZ. The DGU Trauma Networks represent an essential part for the care in disaster and major disaster situations. The KAEP has been implemented in the majority of hospitals. Updating the KAEPs to current content, practicing and digital, selective and redundant systems for alerting represent achallenge. In addition, the harmonization of terms and organizational elements but also the establishment of care for relatives and the care and psychosocial emergency treatment (PSNV) have not yet been fully implemented. Ultimately, aKAEP must be implemented to make hospitals and the healthcare system more resilient to disasters and major disasters. It is important to support the hospitals and ensure that costs for exercises and training course formats are covered.

Vittorio Putti's decalogue of fractures: a historical perspective in orthopaedic trauma practice.

This article explores the historical significance and lasting impact of Vittorio Putti's "Decalogue of Fractures" in the field of orthopedic trauma. Putti served as director of the Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute in Bologna from 1915 until his death in 1940 and was one of the founding members of the "Société Internationale de Chirurgie Orthopédique et de Traumatologie" (SICOT). He also played a key role in organizing the third SICOT World Congress, held in Bologna in 1936.The "Decalogue" distills Putti's extensive clinical experience and remains a cornerstone of modern traumatology. He developed the *Decalogue* to enhance the principles of fracture treatment, addressing what he viewed as suboptimal outcomes. This article examines each of the tenets, emphasizing their influence on contemporary fracture management and the evolution of orthopaedic trauma care. It also reflects on Putti's forward-thinking vision for a comprehensive trauma network, underscoring his belief in the critical importance of specialization and centralization to ensure efficiency, quality, and consistency, principles that continue to shape orthopaedic practice today.

Possibilities of the utilization of trauma networks of the German Society for Trauma Surgery using digital solutions

This paper describes the use of digital solutions to improve the care of trauma patients in Germany. The focus is on the trauma networks of the German Society for Trauma Surgery (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Unfallchirurgie, DGU). The use of digital solutions includes quality assurance through the TraumaRegister, which enables comprehensive data analysis as well as preregistration and resource utilization through programs such as the interdisciplinary proof of treatment IVENA eHealth, Rescuetrack and Rescue-Net. In addition, Predictive Hospital Resource Planning is presented, which optimizes resource forecasting using artificial intelligence (AI). Telemedical services such as Medgate and teleradiology solutions (Nexus/Chili) offer additional support, especially in rural areas. The paper shows how the digitalization of medical care is crucial to improving the efficiency and quality of treatment of trauma patients. In addition, the paper shows possible developments in the field of clinical decision making through AI.

Prehospital Delta Shock Index Predicts Mortality and Need for Life Saving Interventions in Trauma Patients

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES The delta shock index (ΔSI), defined as the change in shock index (SI) over time, is associated with hospital morbidity and mortality, but prehospital studies about ΔSI are limited. We investigate the association of prehospital ΔSI with mortality and resource utilization, hypothesizing that increases in SI among field trauma patients are associated with increased mortality and blood product transfusion. METHODS We performed a multicenter, retrospective, observational study from the Linking Investigators in Trauma and Emergency Services (LITES) network. We obtained data from January 2017 to June 2021. We fit logistic regression models to evaluate the association between an increase ΔSI > 0.1 and 28-day mortality and blood product transfusion within 4 hours of emergency department (ED) arrival. We used negative binomial models to evaluate the association between ΔSI > 0.1 and days in hospital, intensive care unit (ICU), and on ventilator (up to 28 days). RESULTS We identified 33,219 prehospital patients. We excluded burn patients and those without documented prehospital or ED heart rate or blood pressure, resulting in 30,511 cases for analysis. In adjusted analysis for the primary outcome of 28-day mortality, patients who had a ΔSI > 0.1 based on initial vital signs were 31% more likely to die (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of 1.31, 95% CI 1.21-1.41) compared to those patients who had a ΔSI ≤0.1. These patients also spent 16% more days in hospital (adjusted incident rate ratio (AIRR) 1.16, 95% CI 1.14-1.19), 34% more days in ICU (AIRR 1.34, 95% CI 1.28-1.41), and 61% more days on ventilator (ARR 1.61, 95% CI 1.47-1.75). Additionally, patients with a ΔSI > 0.1 had higher odds of receiving blood products (AOR 2.00, 95% CI 1.88-2.12) within 4 hours of ED arrival. Models fit excluding hypotensive patients performed similarly. CONCLUSIONS An increase of greater than 0.1 in the ΔSI was associated with increased 28-day mortality; increased days in hospital, in ICU, and on ventilator; and increased need for blood product transfusion within 4 hours of ED arrival. This association held true for initially normotensive patients. Validation and implementation are needed to incorporate ΔSI into prehospital and ED triage.

Association of Initiation of Statewide Pediatric Trauma Collaborative and Hospital Preventable Transfer Rates

INTRODUCTIONThe Utah Pediatric Trauma Network (UPTN), established in 2019, is a collaboration of hospitals that have implemented guidelines to optimize pediatric trauma care. The purpose of this study was to determine whether preventable transfer (PT) rates decreased following the establishment of the UTPN and what hospital characteristics were associated with decreased preventable transfers. METHODSChildren with traumatic injuries transferred from hospitals in the UPTN to the state's only Level I Pediatric Trauma Center between 2013 and 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. A PT was a child discharged within 48 hours of arrival without surgical intervention or advanced imaging studies. The main hospital-level outcome measure was an overall decrease in PT after the UPTN establishment in 2019. RESULTSAfter 2019, 34 of the 46 hospitals meeting inclusion criteria saw a decrease in the percentage of PTs, while 12 saw an increase in PT rate, with an overall median change of -7% (IQR -14%, 0%). We observed that hospitals with decreased PT had higher rates of PT before the establishment of the UPTN and had higher overall transfer volume than hospitals without a decreased PT rate. Can we put the overall p value in this? CONCLUSIONMost hospitals were able to successfully decrease PT rates following the creation of the UPTN. More smaller hospitals did not successfully decrease PT, so more work may need to be done to target lower-volume hospitals.

Childhood Trauma, Perceived Social Support, and Post-Partum Depression among Newly Married Women after Miscarriage

The study examined childhood trauma, perceived social support, and postpartum depression in married women with first-time miscarriages. After reviewing the literature, these hypotheses were formed. 1).Childhood trauma, perceived social support, and postpartum depression are significantly associated with newly married women with first miscarriage. 2)Early trauma and support networks are two major contributors to the new-onset maternal depression in newly married women experiencing a first perinatal loss. 3). There are significant family system differences in early trauma, support networks, and new-onset maternal depression for newly married women experiencing a first perinatal loss. The research has surveyed 250 newly married females in the b/t age group of 18–35 years after their first loss event. The sample includes public and private hospitals in Lahore and Faisalabad. Calculations were done according to the psychological measures: 1)Childhood Trauma Questionnaire 2)Perceived Social Support, and 3) Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Data analysis was done through SPSS.

Factors influencing secondary overtriage in trauma patients undergoing interhospital transfer: A 10-year multi-center study in Hong Kong

BackgroundWith the development of regionalised trauma networks, interhospital transfer of trauma patients is an inevitable component of the trauma system. However, unnecessary transfer is a common phenomenon, and it is not without risk and cost. A better understanding of secondary overtriage would enable emergency physicians to make better decisions about trauma transfers and allow guidelines to be developed to support this decision making. This study aimed to describe the pattern of secondary overtriage in Hong Kong and identify its associated factors. MethodsThis was a retrospective review of 10-years of prospectively collected multi-center data from two trauma registries in the New Territories of Hong Kong (2013−2022). The primary outcome is secondary overtriage, which was defined as early discharge alive within 48 h, Injury Severity Score (ISS) <15, and no surgical operation done. Patient characteristics, physiology, anatomy and investigation variables were compared against secondary overtriage using univariate and multivariable analyses. ResultsDuring the study period, 3852 patients underwent interhospital transfer from a non-trauma center to a trauma center, and 809 (21 %) of the transfers were considered secondary overtriage. The secondary overtriage rate was higher in pediatric age groups at 34.8 % (97/279). Logistic regression analysis showed secondary overtriage to be associated with blunt trauma and an Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score of <3 for head or neck, thorax, abdomen and extremities. ConclusionInterhospital transfer is an essential component of the trauma system. However, over one-fifth of the transfers were considered unnecessary in Hong Kong, and this could be considered to be an inefficient use of resources as well as cause inconvenience to patients and their families. We have identified related factors including blunt trauma, AIS <3 scores for head or neck, thorax, abdomen and extremities, and opportunities to establish and improve on transfer protocols. Further research should be aimed to safely reduce interhospital transfers in the future to improve the efficiency of the Hong Kong trauma system.

SP6.13 - Management of Older Major Trauma Patients: Impact of a dedicated guideline for facilitating older trauma care within a Pan London Trauma Network

Abstract Background and Aim Older age trauma is an increasing challenge for trauma networks with many clinical protocols needing to adapt and reflect age-related changes in physiology and management. In 2018, our older trauma guidance was introduced into our trauma system to improve early recognition of injury, admission pathways, clinical management and outcomes for those aged ≥65yrs (LMTS Older Trauma Guidance). The aim of our study was to assess the impact of the guideline on our trauma processes and patient outcomes. Methods This retrospective analysis of TARN compared process and outcome data for patients aged ≥65yrs admitted to hospitals within the North East London and Essex Trauma Network, pre (01/01/2016-31/07/2018) and post (01/08/2018-31/07/2020) guidance introduction. The primary outcome was mortality at 30 days post injury. Results and conclusions There were 4317 patients pre and 3992 patient post guidance. Time to CT reduced on average by 57 minutes, Neurotrauma transfers decreased from 2116 patients to 1519 patients and more older patients were discharged for rehabilitation. Older trauma mortality reduced across the network post guidance (13.59% vs 10.64%). The greatest mortality reductions were seen in Trauma Units, (19.20% pre vs 6.99% post) with increasing benefit seen with advancing age: reduced 75-84 years by 2.20%; 85-94 years 2.41%; 95+ years by 7.44%. This analysis suggests that dedicated guidance highlighting the special needs and risk profiles of older trauma patients significantly improves processes and outcomes. Improvements in early assessment and time to imaging appear to result in enhanced survival. Further research at a system level is required.

The Impact of Social Deprivation on Anterior Urethral Stricture Recurrence After Urethroplasty: A Trauma and Urologic Reconstructive Network of Surgeons Analysis.

Several factors influence recurrence after urethral stricture repair. The impact of socioeconomic factors on stricture recurrence after urethroplasty is poorly understood. This study aims to assess the impact that social deprivation, an area-level measure of disadvantage, has on urethral stricture recurrence after urethroplasty. We performed a retrospective review of patients undergoing urethral reconstruction by surgeons participating in a collaborative research group. Home zip code was used to calculate Social Deprivation Indices (SDIs, 0-100), which quantify the level of disadvantage across several sociodemographic domains collected in the American Community Survey. Patients without zip code data were excluded from the analysis. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to study the association between SDI and the hazard of functional recurrence, adjusting for stricture characteristics as well as age and BMI. Median age was 46.0 years with a median follow-up of 367 days for the 1452 men included in the study. Patients in the fourth SDI quartile (worst social deprivation) were more likely to be active smokers with traumatic and infectious strictures compared to the first SDI quartile. Patients in the fourth SDI quartile had 1.64 times the unadjusted hazard of functional stricture recurrence vs patients in the first SDI quartile (95% CI 1.04-2.59). Compared to anastomotic ± excision, substitution-only repair had 1.90 times the unadjusted hazard of recurrence. The adjusted hazard of recurrence was 1.08 per 10-point increase in SDI (95% CI 1.01-1.15, P = .027). Patient social deprivation identifies those at higher risk for functional recurrence after anterior urethral stricture repair, offering an opportunity for preoperative counseling and postoperative surveillance. Addressing these social determinants of health can potentially improve outcomes in reconstructive surgery.

Impact of mistriages in on-scene injury assessment on trauma network and patient safety

An accurate on-scene assessment of a trauma patient’s injury by emergency medical service providers is critical to determining the right hospital for prompt care delivery. However, literature and anecdotal evidence from trauma professionals in the Midwestern U.S. suggest that mistriages (i.e., an error in assessing a severely injured patient as having non-severe injuries, and vice versa) often occur in practice. Due to a lack of approaches that consider such mistriages while designing the trauma network, we propose a stochastic nested multi-level, multi-transportation capacitated facility location model, which explicitly considers mistriages in injury assessment, to maximize patient safety by determining the number and locations of major trauma centers (MTCs). Assessment-related mistriages are modeled using a Bernoulli random variable for each of the two injury groups, moderate (ISS 9–15) and severe (ISS>15). We propose a Simheuristic approach that integrates Monte Carlo Simulation with a genetic algorithm. We convert infeasible solutions into feasible ones during offspring generation and maintain a superior population pool to balance quality against computational time. Our findings based on a realistic data set suggest that assessment-related mistriages in the ISS>15 group can substantially decrease patient safety and may lead to a clustering of MTCs, while mistriages in the ISS 9–15 group tend to have a dispersed distribution of MTCs in the resulting network. Our case study using actual 2019 data from a midwestern state of the U.S. resulted in an over 20% reduction in the mistriages, further providing evidence for incorporating injury assessment-related mistriages in trauma network design.

682 Impact of Regionalisation of Major Trauma Services on Hip Fracture Care in England: A Comparative Study

Abstract Aim Following the establishment of Major Trauma Networks in England in 2012, there were concerns that pressures regarding resource allocation in Major Trauma Centres (MTCs) may negatively impact their care of hip fracture patients. This study aimed to compare outcomes in hip fracture care between MTCs and trauma units (TUs). Method National Hip Fracture Database data was extracted from 01/01/2015 to 31/12/2022 for all hospitals in England. Outcome measures included perioperative medical and physiotherapy assessments, time to surgery, Best Practice Tariff (BPT) compliance, discharge to original residence, and mortality. Data was pooled and weighted for MTCs and remaining hospitals (TUs). Results 487,089 patients were included from 167 hospitals (23 MTCs, 144 TUs). MTCs achieved marginally higher rates of orthogeriatrician assessment within 72 hours of admission (91.1% vs 90.4%, p&amp;lt;0.001) and mobilisation by first postoperative day (81.9% vs 79.7%, p&amp;lt;0.001). Fewer patients underwent surgery by the day after admission in MTCs (65.2% vs 69.7%, p&amp;lt;0.001). There was poorer compliance with BPT criteria in MTCs (57.3% vs 60.4%, p&amp;lt;0.001), and fewer MTC patients were discharged to their original residence (60.4% vs 63.5%, p&amp;lt;0.001). There was no difference between MTCs and TUs in 30-day mortality (6.8% vs 6.8%, p=0.825). Conclusions This study demonstrates that MTCs have greater difficulty in providing prompt surgery to hip fracture patients. However, their marginally superior perioperative care outcomes appear to compensate for this, with similar mortality rates compared to TUs. These findings suggest that the regionalisation of major trauma in England has not significantly compromised the overall care of hip fracture patients.

Major Trauma Triage Tool Study (MATTS) expert consensus-derived injury assessment tool.

Major trauma centre (MTC) care has been associated with improved outcomes for injured patients. English ambulance services and trauma networks currently use a range of triage tools to select patients for bypass to MTCs. A standardised national triage tool may improve triage accuracy, cost-effectiveness and the reproducibility of decision-making. We conducted an expert consensus process to derive and develop a major trauma triage tool for use in English trauma networks. A web-based Delphi survey was conducted to identify and confirm candidate triage tool predictors of major trauma. Facilitated roundtable consensus meetings were convened to confirm the proposed triage tool's purpose, target diagnostic threshold, scope, intended population and structure, as well as the individual triage tool predictors and cut points. Public and patient involvement (PPI) focus groups were held to ensure triage tool acceptability to service users. The Delphi survey reached consensus on nine triage variables in two domains, from 109 candidate variables after three rounds. Following a review of the relevant evidence during the consensus meetings, iterative rounds of discussion achieved consensus on the following aspects of the triage tool: reference standard, scope, target diagnostic accuracy and intended population. A three-step tool comprising physiology, anatomical injury and clinical judgement domains, with triage variables assessed in parallel, was recommended. The triage tool was received favourably by PPI focus groups. This paper presents a new expert consensus derived major trauma triage tool with defined purpose, scope, intended population, structure, constituent variables, variable definitions and thresholds. Prospective evaluation is required to determine clinical and cost-effectiveness, acceptability and usability.

The accuracy of prehospital triage decisions in English trauma networks – a case-cohort study

BackgroundCare for injured patients in England is provided by inclusive regional trauma networks. Ambulance services use triage tools to identify patients with major trauma who would benefit from expedited Major Trauma Centre (MTC) care. However, there has been no investigation of triage performance, despite its role in ensuring effective and efficient MTC care. This study aimed to investigate the accuracy of prehospital major trauma triage in representative English trauma networks.MethodsA diagnostic case-cohort study was performed between November 2019 and February 2020 in 4 English regional trauma networks as part of the Major Trauma Triage Study (MATTS). Consecutive patients with acute injury presenting to participating ambulance services were included, together with all reference standard positive cases, and matched to data from the English national major trauma database. The index test was prehospital provider triage decision making, with a positive result defined as patient transport with a pre-alert call to the MTC. The primary reference standard was a consensus definition of serious injury that would benefit from expedited major trauma centre care. Secondary analyses explored different reference standards and compared theoretical triage tool accuracy to real-life triage decisions.ResultsThe complete-case case-cohort sample consisted of 2,757 patients, including 959 primary reference standard positive patients. The prevalence of major trauma meeting the primary reference standard definition was 3.1% (n=54/1,722, 95% CI 2.3 – 4.0). Observed prehospital provider triage decisions demonstrated overall sensitivity of 46.7% (n=446/959, 95% CI 43.5-49.9) and specificity of 94.5% (n=1,703/1,798, 95% CI 93.4-95.6) for the primary reference standard. There was a clear trend of decreasing sensitivity and increasing specificity from younger to older age groups. Prehospital provider triage decisions commonly differed from the theoretical triage tool result, with ambulance service clinician judgement resulting in higher specificity.ConclusionsPrehospital decision making for injured patients in English trauma networks demonstrated high specificity and low sensitivity, consistent with the targets for cost-effective triage defined in previous economic evaluations. Actual triage decisions differed from theoretical triage tool results, with a decreasing sensitivity and increasing specificity from younger to older ages.

Major trauma patients and their outcomes – A retrospective observational study of critical care trauma admissions to a trauma unit with special services

IntroductionInternational data describes a changing pattern to trauma over the last decade, with an increasingly comorbid population presenting challenges to trauma management and resources. In Ireland, resource provision and management of trauma is being transformed to deliver a trauma network, in line with international best practice. Our hospital plays a crucial role within this network and is designated a Trauma Unit with Specialist Services (TUSS) to distinguish it from standard trauma units. MethodsThis study aims to describe the characteristics of patients and injuries and assess trends in mortality rates. It is a retrospective observational study of adult ICU trauma admissions from August 2010 to July 2021. Primary outcome was all-cause mortality at 30-days, 90-days, and 1 year. Secondary outcomes included length of stay, disposition, and complications. Patients were categorised by age, injury severity score (ISS), and mechanism of injury. ResultsIn all, 709 patients were identified for final analysis. Annual admissions doubled since 2010/11, with a trough of 41 admissions, increasing to peak at 95 admissions in 2017/18. Blunt trauma accounted for 97.6% of cases. Falls <2 m (45.4%) and RTAs (29.2%) were the main mechanisms of injury. Polytrauma comprised 41.9% of admissions. Traumatic brain injury accounted for 30.2% of cases; 18.8% of these patients were transferred to a neurosurgical centre. The majority of patients, 58.1%, were severely injured (ISS ≥ 16). Patients ≥ 65 years of age accounted for 45.7% of admissions, with falls <2 m their primary mechanism of injury. The primary outcome of all-cause mortality reduced with an absolute risk reduction (ARR) of 8.0% (95% CI: -8.37%, 24.36%), 12.9% (95% CI: -4.19%, 29.94%) and 8.2% (95% CI: -9.64%, 26.09%) for 30-day, 90-day and 1-year respectively. Regression analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in mortality for 30-days and 90-days post presentation to hospital (P-values of 0.018, 0.033 and 0.152 for 30-day, 90-day and 1-year respectively). ConclusionThe burden of major trauma in our hospital is considerable and increasing over time. Substantial changes in demographics, injury mechanism and mortality were seen, with outcomes improving over time. This is consistent with international data where trauma systems have been adopted.

Optimizing Interhospital Transfers in Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery: Challenges, Insights, and Proposals for Standardized Care in Germany.

Germany's high density of under-equipped hospitals and anticipated surge in orthopedic and trauma surgery-related diseases by 2030, combined with personnel shortages, are expected to increase patient transfers between hospitals, an issue that urgently needs standardized protocols. Despite some existing cooperative agreements, such as between joint-replacement centers or within the Trauma Network DGU®, these measures do not adequately address the full range of patient-transfer cases, including those due to a lack of specialization or staff shortages, resulting in delayed treatment and potential health risks. This study aims to dissect the intricacies of interhospital transfers in orthopedics and trauma surgery across Germany, focusing on understanding the underlying reasons for transfers, comparing the operational structures of small and large hospitals, and laying the groundwork for future standardized protocols to enhance patient care. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the form of an online survey via SoSci Survey, which was directed at orthopedic surgeons and trauma surgeons working in hospitals in Germany. The 22-question survey gathered information on participants' clinic roles, departmental details, transfer processes, frequent diagnoses, perceptions of transfer quality, and improvement areas. The survey was sent to orthopedic and trauma surgeons in Germany by the specialist society. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics to ensure a comprehensive insight into interhospital transfer practices. The study involved 152 participants from various hospital ranks and located in different hospital sizes and types across rural and urban areas. A significant difference was observed between the care structures of basic/regular care and central/maximum care hospitals, especially regarding the available facilities and specialties. These findings suggest improvements such as better patient documentation, increased digital communication, optimized patient distribution, and standardization of transfer requests, among others. This study highlights the urgent need for improved protocols and resource allocation to eliminate inequalities in transfers between hospitals in orthopedics and trauma surgery in Germany.

Exploring the experiences of healthcare professionals when breaking bad news in major trauma care.

Breaking bad news is a challenging yet essential part of the role of healthcare professionals who care for major trauma patients and their families. This service evaluation investigated healthcare professionals' attitudes and experiences regarding breaking bad news in the context of major trauma. Healthcare professionals were recruited from the South Wales Trauma Network and their views collected via an online survey based on the Breaking Bad News Attitudes Scale. The survey was completed by 149 healthcare professionals and the responses demonstrated a range of experiences of breaking bad news in major trauma care, with challenges such as the environment, building rapport and setting expectations.

Effects of childhood trauma on the symptom-level relation between depression, anxiety, stress, and problematic smartphone use: A network analysis

BackgroundChildhood trauma experience is closely associated with depression, anxiety, stress, and problematic smartphone use (PSU). However, few studies have explored the complex symptom-level relations between these variables among people with and without trauma experiences, leaving a gap in treating and alleviating these mental disorders among individuals with childhood trauma. MethodsThe current study used a convenience sampling method and recruited 2708 participants who completed Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21), and Mobile Phone Addiction Tendency Scale (MPATS), dividing them into trauma (n = 1454, Mean age = 19.67) and no-trauma (n = 1254, Mean age = 19.57) groups according to the cut-off scores of CTQ-SF. Symptom network analysis and network comparison test were conducted to construct and compare the network models between trauma and no-trauma groups. ResultsThe findings indicate that the trauma group and females exhibit greater average levels of DASS-21 and PSU symptoms compared to the no-trauma group and males, respectively. Additionally, the edge between “Stress” and “Anxiety” is the strongest across trauma and no-trauma groups. “Social comfort” is a bridge symptom of the trauma group network and the results of bridge symptoms in the no-trauma group are not stable. LimitationsThis study did not categorize all individuals according to specific types of trauma experiences and it is a cross-sectional design. The prevalences calculated in this study may not be generalizable. ConclusionsInterventions targeting different bridge symptoms in the trauma and no-trauma network models may help reduce the severity of symptoms.

Polytrauma in Children.

Inadequate clinical experience still causes uncertainty in the acute diagnostic evaluation and treatment of polytrauma in children (with or without coagulopathy). This review deals with the main aspects of the acute care of severely injured children in the light of current guidelines and other relevant literature, in particular airway control, volume and coagulation management, acute diagnostic imaging, and blood coagulation studies in the shock room. This review is based on literature retrieved by a selective search in PubMed, Medline (OVIDSP), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Epistemonikos covering the period January 2001 to August 2023. Review articles and the updated S2k clinical practice guideline on polytrauma management in childhood were considered. Most accidents in childhood occur at home and in the child's free time, with varying mechanisms and patterns of injury depending on age. The outcome of treatment depends largely on the presence or absence or traumatic brain injury, which affects 66% of children with polytrauma and is thus the most common type of injury in this group, and of hemorrhagic shock with or without coagulopathy. Acute care follows the ABCDE algorithms with attention to special features in children, including age-specific reference values. According to a registry study, coagulopathy and hypovolemic shock are associated with 22% and 17% mortality, respec - tively. Treatment in a pediatric trauma reference center of the trauma network is recommended. Computed tomography (CT) should be carried out in children in accordance with defined criteria (PECARN), as a team decision and with the use of age-specific low-dose CT protocols. In children as in adults, viscoelasticity-based point-of-care tests enable the prompt diagnosis of relevant coagulopathies and their treatment in consideration of age-specific target values. The administration of tranexamic acid remains controversial. 4% of polytrauma patients are children. Because children differ from adults both anatomically and physiologically, the diagnostic evaluation and management of polytrauma in children presents a special challenge. The evidence base for pediatric polytrauma management is still inadequate; current recommendations are based on consensus, in consideration of the special features of children compared to adults.

IMPACT OF REGIONALIZATION OF MAJOR TRAUMA SERVICES ON HIP FRACTURE CARE IN ENGLAND: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Following the establishment of regional Major Trauma Networks in England in 2012, there were concerns that pressures regarding resource allocation in Major Trauma Centres (MTCs) may have a detrimental impact on the care of patients with hip fractures in these hospitals. This study aimed to compare outcomes in hip fracture care between MTCs and trauma units (TUs).National Hip Fracture Database data was extracted from 01/01/2015 to 31/12/2022 for all hospitals in England. Outcome measures included perioperative medical and physiotherapy assessments, time to surgery, consultant supervision in theatre, Best Practice Tariff (BPT) compliance, discharge to original residence, and mortality. Data was pooled and weighted for MTCs and remaining hospitals (TUs).A total of 487,089 patients with hip fractures were included from 167 hospitals (23 MTCs and 144 TUs). MTCs achieved marginally higher rates of orthogeriatrician assessment within 72 hours of admission (91.1% vs 90.4%, p&lt;0.001) and mobilisation out of bed by first postoperative day (81.9% vs 79.7%, p&lt;0.001). A lower proportion of patients underwent surgery by the day after admission in MTCs (65.2% vs 69.7%, p&lt;0.001). However, there was significantly higher consultant surgeon and anaesthetist supervision rates during surgery in MTCs (71.8% vs 61.6%, p&lt;0.001). There was poorer compliance with BPT criteria in MTCs (57.3% vs 60.4%, p&lt;0.001), and proportionately fewer MTC patients were discharged to their original residence (63.5% vs 60.4%, p&lt;0.001). There was no difference between MTCs and TUs in 30-day mortality (6.8% vs 6.8%, p=0.825).This study demonstrates that MTCs have greater difficulty in providing prompt surgery to hip fracture patients. However, their marginally superior perioperative care outcomes appear to compensate for this, as their mortality rates are similar to TUs. These findings suggest that the regionalisation of major trauma in England has not significantly compromised the overall care of hip fracture patients.

UNVEILING FINANCIAL REALITIES: THE SUBSTANTIAL ECONOMIC IMPACT OF CENTRALIZED COMPLEX TIBIAL FRACTURE CARE IN THE UK

IntroductionManagement of complex fractures poses a significant challenge. Evolving research and changes to national guidelines suggest better outcomes are achieved by transfer to specialist centres. The development of Major Trauma Networks was accompanied by relevant financial arrangements. These do not apply to patients with closed fractures referred for specialist treatment by similar pathways. Despite a surge in cases transferred for care, there is little information available regarding the financial impact on receiving institutions.Materials &amp; MethodsThis retrospective study examines data from a Level 1 trauma centre. Patients were identified from our electronic referral system, used for all referrals. Transferred adult patients, undergoing definitive treatment of acute isolated closed tibial fractures, were included for a 2-year period. Data was collected using our clinical and Patient Level Information and Costing (PLICS) systems including coding, demographics, treatment, length of stay (LOS), total operative time, number of operations, direct healthcare costs, and NHS reimbursements.Results104 patients were identified, 23 patients were treated by internal fixation and 81 with circular frames. Patients required a median of 190 minutes of total operative time and 6 days of hospital stay at a median cost of £16,233 each, median reimbursement was £10,625. The total cost of treatment for all 104 patients was £2,205,611 and total reimbursement was £1,391463, the median deficit per patient being £5825. The overall deficit over the 2 years was £814,148.ConclusionsThis study reveals a considerable economic burden associated with treating complex tibial fractures. It should be emphasised that these do not include patients referred for fracture-related infection or non-union, who may also incur similar deficits in recovered costs. These findings emphasise the importance of understanding and addressing the financial implications of managing tertiary referral orthopaedic trauma patients to ensure efficient and sustainable resource allocation.