Acute spine care services during covid-19 pandemic and ‘lockdown’: case series and our perspective from a level 1 trauma centre

Abstract Background Non-operative management (NOM) is generally accepted as a treatment method of traumatic paediatric splenic rupture. However, considerable variations in management exist. This study analyses local trends in aetiology and management of paediatric splenic injuries and evaluates the implementation of the guidelines proposed by the American Paediatric Surgical Association (APSA) in a level 1 trauma centre. Methods The charts of paediatric patients with blunt splenic injury (BSI) who were admitted or transferred to a level 1 trauma centre between 2003 and 2020 were retrospectively assessed. Information pertaining to demographics, mechanism of injury, injury description, associated injuries, intervention and outcomes were analysed and compared to international literature. Results There were 130 patients with BSI identified (63.1% male), with a mean age of 11.3 ± 4.0 and a mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) of 21.6 ± 13.7. Bicycle accidents were the most common trauma mechanism (23.1%). Sixty-four percent were multi-trauma patients, 25% received blood transfusions, and 31% were haemodynamically unstable. Mean injury grade was 3.0, with 30% of patients having a high-grade injury. In total, 75% of patients underwent NOM with a 100% efficacy rate. Total splenectomy rate was 6.2%. Four patients died due to brain damage. Patients with a high-grade BSI (grades IV–V) had a significantly higher ISS and longer bedrest and more often presented with an active blush on computed tomography (CT) scans than patients with a low-grade BSI (grades I–III). Non-operative management was mainly the choice of treatment in both groups (76.6% and 79.5%, respectively). Haemodynamic instability was a predictor for operative management (OM) (p = 0.001). Predictors for a longer length of stay (LOS) included concomitant injuries, haemodynamic instability and OM (all p < 0.02). Interobserver agreement in the grading of BSI is moderate, with a Cohens Kappa coefficient of 0.493. Conclusion Non-operative management has proven to be a realistic management approach in both low- and high-grade splenic injuries. Consideration for operative management should be based on haemodynamic instability. Compared to the anticipated length of bedrest and hospital stay outlined in the APSA guidelines, the Netherlands can reduce the length of bedrest and hospital stay through their non-operative management. Level of evidence Therapeutic study, level III

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Development and temporal external validation of a simple risk score tool for prediction of outcomes after severe head injury based on admission characteristics from level-1 trauma centre of India using retrospectively collected data

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-040778 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. e040778

Author(s):

Vineet Kumar Kamal ◽

Ravindra Mohan Pandey ◽

Deepak Agrawal

Keyword(s):

Hospital Mortality ◽

External Validation ◽

Trauma Centre ◽

Unfavourable Outcome ◽

Motor Score ◽

Validation Data ◽

Data Set ◽

Development Data ◽

Level 1 ◽

Pupillary Reactivity

ObjectiveTo develop and validate a simple risk scores chart to estimate the probability of poor outcomes in patients with severe head injury (HI).DesignRetrospective.SettingLevel-1, government-funded trauma centre, India.ParticipantsPatients with severe HI admitted to the neurosurgery intensive care unit during 19 May 2010–31 December 2011 (n=946) for the model development and further, data from same centre with same inclusion criteria from 1 January 2012 to 31 July 2012 (n=284) for the external validation of the model.Outcome(s)In-hospital mortality and unfavourable outcome at 6 months.ResultsA total of 39.5% and 70.7% had in-hospital mortality and unfavourable outcome, respectively, in the development data set. The multivariable logistic regression analysis of routinely collected admission characteristics revealed that for in-hospital mortality, age (51–60, >60 years), motor score (1, 2, 4), pupillary reactivity (none), presence of hypotension, basal cistern effaced, traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage/intraventricular haematoma and for unfavourable outcome, age (41–50, 51–60, >60 years), motor score (1–4), pupillary reactivity (none, one), unequal limb movement, presence of hypotension were the independent predictors as its 95% confidence interval (CI) of odds ratio (OR)_did not contain one. The discriminative ability (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (95% CI)) of the score chart for in-hospital mortality and 6 months outcome was excellent in the development data set (0.890 (0.867 to 912) and 0.894 (0.869 to 0.918), respectively), internal validation data set using bootstrap resampling method (0.889 (0.867 to 909) and 0.893 (0.867 to 0.915), respectively) and external validation data set (0.871 (0.825 to 916) and 0.887 (0.842 to 0.932), respectively). Calibration showed good agreement between observed outcome rates and predicted risks in development and external validation data set (p>0.05).ConclusionFor clinical decision making, we can use of these score charts in predicting outcomes in new patients with severe HI in India and similar settings.

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Clinical and economic effects of selective radiological evaluation of high-energy trauma patients: a prospective experience of a level 1 busy trauma centre

Emergency Medicine Journal ◽

10.1136/emermed-2014-204083 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 32 (7) ◽

pp. 535-538 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Shahram Paydar ◽

Armin Ahmadi ◽

Behnam Dalfardi ◽

Alireza Shakibafard ◽

Hamidreza Abbasi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Energy ◽

Trauma Centre ◽

Economic Effects ◽

Trauma Patients ◽

Radiological Evaluation ◽

High Energy Trauma ◽

Level 1

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Improving the care and safe movement of patients with pelvic fractures by developing a local guideline at a level 1 major trauma centre

International Journal of Surgery ◽

10.1016/j.ijsu.2016.08.391 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 36 ◽

pp. S109

Author(s):

J. Lunn ◽

A. Clark-Morgan ◽

M. Gee ◽

P. Harnett

Keyword(s):

Major Trauma ◽

Trauma Centre ◽

Pelvic Fractures ◽

Major Trauma Centre ◽

Level 1 ◽

Local Guideline

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Development of a financially viable model for the outpatient management of mandibular fractures in a Level 1 Major Trauma Centre

British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery ◽

10.1016/j.bjoms.2014.07.249 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 52 (8) ◽

pp. e125-e126

Author(s):

Jahrad Haq ◽

S Chegini ◽

K Fan ◽

C Huppa ◽

R Bentley

Keyword(s):

Major Trauma ◽

Trauma Centre ◽

Mandibular Fractures ◽

Outpatient Management ◽

Major Trauma Centre ◽

Level 1 ◽

Viable Model

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Testicular rupture: Simplifying the diagnosis

Journal of Clinical Urology ◽

10.1177/2051415819887314 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 217-220

Author(s):

Lap Yan Leung ◽

Jai Seth ◽

Michael Gonsalves ◽

Nick Watkin ◽

Davendra Sharma

Keyword(s):

Ultrasound Imaging ◽

Road Traffic ◽

Tunica Albuginea ◽

Case Series ◽

Trauma Centre ◽

Level Of Evidence ◽

Difficult Condition ◽

Major Trauma Centre ◽

Testicular Rupture ◽

Mechanism Of Trauma

Objective: To review the use of ultrasound imaging in the diagnosis of testicular rupture and in relation to current guidelines. Methods: Data was retrospectively collected for all patients diagnosed with testicular rupture at a major trauma centre between 2011 and 2018. Data included patient demographics, mechanism of trauma, specific findings on ultrasound and outcomes. On review of ultrasound imaging, specific findings identified include a breach in the tunica albuginea (currently advised in guidelines), heterogenicity and contour loss. Results: Eight patients were identified with average age 37 years old, mechanism of trauma was 50%, 37.5% and 12.5% for motorcycle road traffic collision, sporting injury and workplace injury respectively. A breach of tunica albuginea was identified on ultrasound in 65% of cases, compared with 100% of cases showing contour loss and heterogenicity. Of the 87.5% patients who were managed surgically one needed orchidectomy (and later testosterone replacement). Conclusion: Guidelines have varied on how to use ultrasound imaging in diagnosing a clinically difficult condition. Our case series demonstrates that diagnosing testicular rupture by looking for more easily identifiable characteristics (heterogenicity and contour loss) than currently recommended in the guidelines (breech in the tunica albuginea) will aid diagnosis and patient pathway and improve outcomes. Level of evidence: 5

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