Lower limb paediatric trauma with bone and soft tissue loss: Ortho-plastic management and outcome in a major trauma centre

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19) has created an immense strain on the NHS. During the height of the pandemic, trauma services were affected by redeployment, reduced theatre capacity and staff illness, and COVID BOAST guidelines were introduced.Methods: This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the standards of management of open fractures of the lower limb at a Major Trauma Centre in the United Kingdom during the COVID-19 pandemic and compare the same with the pre-pandemic period. Patient demographics, mechanism of injury, timing and mechanism of initial debridement and definitive soft tissue and skeletal fixation were noted. Outcomes including duration of hospital stay, 30 day and 1 year mortality were also assessed.Results: There was an overall 21% reduction in admissions with open lower limb fractures during the pandemic period with a 48% reduction during the first lockdown. There was a significant reduction in time taken from Emergency Department presentation to first debridement as well as a notable increase in operating outside of regular theatre hours. There was little difference in operative technique used for skeletal or soft tissue management at initial and definitive surgery, though fewer cases were performed as a two stage procedure. There was no difference in amputation rate in the two years. Length of stay was reduced from 21 days to 17, and 30 day mortality remained the same.Conclusions: Our study shows this Major Trauma Centre was able to provide a trauma service in accordance to the BOAST4 guidelines despite the increased pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Experience of managing open fractures of the lower limb at a major trauma centre

Annals of The Royal College of Surgeons of England ◽

10.1308/003588415x14181254789367 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 97 (4) ◽

pp. 287-290 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

AM Ali ◽

JM McMaster ◽

D Noyes ◽

AJ Brent ◽

LK Cogswell

Keyword(s):

Soft Tissue ◽

Median Time ◽

Lower Limb ◽

Major Trauma ◽

Deep Infection ◽

Trauma Centre ◽

Open Fractures ◽

Trauma Network ◽

Soft Tissue Cover ◽

Major Trauma Centre

Introduction In April 2012 the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford became a major trauma centre (MTC). The British Orthopaedic Association and British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons joint standards for the management of open fractures of the lower limb (BOAST 4) require system-wide changes in referral practice that may be facilitated by the MTC and its associated major trauma network. Methods From 2008 to 2013 a multistep audit of compliance with BOAST 4 was conducted to assess referral patterns, timing of surgery and outcomes (surgical site infection rates), to determine changes following local intervention and the establishment of the MTC. Results Over the study period, 50 patients had soft tissue cover for an open lower limb fracture and there was a significant increase in the proportion of patients receiving definitive fixation in our centre (p=0.036). The median time from injury to soft tissue cover fell from 6.0 days to 3.5 days (p=0.051) and the median time from definitive fixation to soft tissue cover fell from 5.0 days to 2.0 days (p=0.003). The deep infection rate fell from 27% to 8% (p=0.247). However, in 2013 many patients still experienced a delay of >72 hours between injury and soft tissue cover, primarily owing to a lack of capacity for providing soft tissue cover. Conclusions Our experience may be relevant to other MTCs seeking to identify barriers to optimising the management of patients with these injuries.

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592 Surgical Management of Open Tibia Fractures at A Major Trauma Centre: A Review of Cases Over A One-Year Period

British Journal of Surgery ◽

10.1093/bjs/znab134.153 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 108 (Supplement_2) ◽

Author(s):

A Khajuria

Keyword(s):

Soft Tissue ◽

Surgical Management ◽

Open Fracture ◽

Major Trauma ◽

Trauma Centre ◽

Soft Tissue Coverage ◽

Internal Stabilization ◽

Major Trauma Centre ◽

Tibia Fractures ◽

One Year

Abstract Introduction The BOAST/BAPRAS updated the open fracture guidelines in December 2017 to replace BOAST 4 Open fracture guidelines; the changes gave clearer recommendations for timing of surgery and recommendations for reducing infection rates. Method Our work retrospectively evaluates the surgical management of open tibia fractures at a Major Trauma Centre (MTC), over a one-year period in light of key standards (13,14 and 15 of the standards for open fractures). Results The vast majority of cases (93%) had definitive internal stabilization only when immediate soft tissue coverage was achievable. 90% of cases were not managed as ‘clean cases’ following the initial debridement. 50% of cases underwent definitive closure within 72 hours. The reasons for definitive closure beyond 72hours were: patients medically unwell (20%), multiple wound debridement’s (33%) and no medical or surgical reason was clearly stated (47%). Conclusions The implementation of a ‘clean surgery’ protocol following surgical debridement is essential in diminishing risk of recontamination and infection. Hence, this must be the gold standard and should be clearly documented in operation notes. The extent of availability of a joint Orthoplastic theatre list provides a key limiting step in definitive bony fixation and soft tissue coverage of open tibia fractures.

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Intravascular Shunt in Management of Limb Trauma- A Review

Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International ◽

10.9734/jpri/2021/v33i40a32244 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 274-281

Author(s):

Hashem Bark Awadh Abood ◽

Abdulaziz Munahi Alanazi ◽

Falah Bader Alhajraf ◽

Wejdan Nawaf Mesfer Alotaibi ◽

Bushra Saad Alghamdi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soft Tissue ◽

Lower Limb ◽

Patient Survival ◽

Survival Rates ◽

Tissue Loss ◽

Vascular Injuries ◽

Limb Trauma ◽

Life Threatening ◽

Arterial Insufficiency ◽

Soft Tissue Loss

Vascular injuries to the upper or lower limb in the context of significant soft tissue loss, fractures, or other life-threatening injuries are associated with a high amputation rate. Complex extremity vascular injuries in which acute arterial insufficiency combined with severe or prolonged shocks are unacceptable because warm, warm, skeletal muscle time is often exceeded before adequate revascularization, and are associated with extended ischemia periods or fractures or soft tissue wounds. Revascularizing the limb is essential for the success of the limb rescue. Selective intravascular temporary shunting hence allows better overall care of the patient and can therefore be predicted to increase both limb rescue and patient survival rates. The aim of this article was to review and summarize results of previous literature regarding effectiveness on intravascular shunting as management of limb trauma as well as reviewing its potential complications.

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