Incidence and Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism in Severely Injured Patients with Lower Extremity Fracture

Abstract Introduction In 1999 an inclusive trauma system was initiated in the Netherlands and a nationwide trauma registry, including all admitted trauma patients to every hospital, was started. The Dutch trauma system is run by trauma surgeons who treat both the truncal (visceral) and extremity injuries (fractures). Materials and Methods In this comprehensive review based on previous published studies, data over the past 20 years from the central region of the Netherlands (Utrecht) was evaluated. Results It is demonstrated that the initiation of the trauma systems and the governance by the trauma surgeons led to a region-wide mortality reduction of 50% and a mortality reduction for the most severely injured of 75% in the level 1 trauma centre. Furthermore, major improvements were found in terms of efficiency, demonstrating the quality of the current system and its constructs such as the type of surgeon. Due to the major reduction in mortality over the past few years, the emphasis of trauma care evaluation shifts towards functional outcome of severely injured patients. For the upcoming years, centralisation of severely injured patients should also aim at the balance between skills in primary resuscitation and surgical stabilization versus longitudinal surgical involvement. Conclusion Further centralisation to a limited number of level 1 trauma centres in the Netherlands is necessary to consolidate experience and knowledge for the trauma surgeon. The future trauma surgeon, as specialist for injured patients, should be able to provide the vast majority of trauma care in this system. For the remaining part, intramural, regional and national collaboration is essential

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The impact of regionalized trauma care on the distribution of severely injured patients in the Netherlands

European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery ◽

10.1007/s00068-021-01615-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Suzan Dijkink ◽

Erik W. van Zwet ◽

Pieta Krijnen ◽

Luke P. H. Leenen ◽

Frank W. Bloemers ◽

...

Keyword(s):

The Netherlands ◽

Trauma Care ◽

Trauma System ◽

Future Research ◽

Severely Injured ◽

Trauma Centers ◽

Severely Injured Patients ◽

The Right ◽

Injured Patients ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Twenty years ago, an inclusive trauma system was implemented in the Netherlands. The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of structured trauma care on the concentration of severely injured patients over time. Methods All severely injured patients (Injury Severity Score [ISS] ≥ 16) documented in the Dutch Trauma Registry (DTR) in the calendar period 2008–2018 were included for analysis. We compared severely injured patients, with and without severe neurotrauma, directly brought to trauma centers (TC) and non-trauma centers (NTC). The proportion of patients being directly transported to a trauma center was determined, as was the total Abbreviated Injury Score (AIS), and ISS. Results The documented number of severely injured patients increased from 2350 in 2008 to 4694 in 2018. During this period, on average, 70% of these patients were directly admitted to a TC (range 63–74%). Patients without severe neurotrauma had a lower chance of being brought to a TC compared to those with severe neurotrauma. Patients directly presented to a TC were more severely injured, reflected by a higher total AIS and ISS, than those directly transported to a NTC. Conclusion Since the introduction of a well-organized trauma system in the Netherlands, trauma care has become progressively centralized, with more severely injured patients being directly presented to a TC. However, still 30% of these patients is initially brought to a NTC. Future research should focus on improving pre-hospital triage to facilitate swift transfer of the right patient to the right hospital.

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Outpatient lower extremity fracture surgery: should we be concerned?

European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology ◽

10.1007/s00590-021-03029-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Charlotte N. Shields ◽

Sara Solasz ◽

Leah J. Gonzalez ◽

Yixuan Tong ◽

Sanjit R. Konda ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lower Extremity ◽

Lower Extremity Fracture ◽

Extremity Fracture ◽

Fracture Surgery

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The (Absence of a) Role of Venous Duplex Scan in the Diagnosis of Pulmonary Embolism after Severe Trauma

The American Surgeon ◽

10.1177/000313480607200102 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 72 (1) ◽

pp. 7-10

Author(s):

George C. Velmahos ◽

Carlos V. Brown ◽

Demetrios Demetriades

Keyword(s):

Intensive Care Unit ◽

Pulmonary Embolism ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Sensitivity And Specificity ◽

Clinical Suspicion ◽

Severely Injured ◽

Duplex Scan ◽

Severely Injured Patients ◽

High Level ◽

Injured Patients

Venous duplex scan (VDS) has been used for interim bedside diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) in severely injured patients deemed to be at risk if transported out of the intensive care unit. In combination with the level of clinical suspicion for PE, VDS helps select patients for temporary treatment until definitive diagnosis is made. We evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of VDS in critically injured patients with a high level of clinical suspicion for PE. We performed a prospective observational cohort study at the surgical intensive care unit of an academic level 1 trauma center. Patients were 59 critically injured patients suspected to have PE over a 30-month period. The level of clinical suspicion for PE was classified as low or high according to preset criteria. Interventions were VDS and a PE outcome test (conventional or computed tomographic pulmonary angiography). The sensitivity and specificity of VDS to detect PE in all patients and in patients with high level of clinical suspicion was calculated against the results of the outcome test. PE was diagnosed in 21 patients (35.5%). The sensitivity and specificity of VDS was 33 per cent and 89 per cent, respectively. Among the 28 patients who had a high level of clinical suspicion for PE, the sensitivity of VDS was 23 per cent and the specificity 93 per cent. In this latter population, 1 of the 4 (25%) positive VDS was of a patient without PE and 10 of the 24 (42%) negative VDS were of patients who had PE. VDS does not accurately predict PE in severely injured patients, even in the presence of a high level of clinical suspicion.

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Study on the Risk Factors of Preoperative Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) in Patients With Lower Extremity Fracture

Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis ◽

10.1177/10760296211002900 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 27 ◽

pp. 107602962110029

Author(s):

Wenjie Chang ◽

Bin Wang ◽

Qiwei Li ◽

Yongkui Zhang ◽

Wenpeng Xie

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Deep Vein Thrombosis ◽

Lower Extremity ◽

Color Doppler ◽

Fracture Site ◽

Vein Thrombosis ◽

Lower Extremity Fracture ◽

Extremity Fracture ◽

Deep Vein ◽

D Dimer

Objective: The objective of this work is to discuss and analyze the related factors of lower extremity fracture complicated by preoperative deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Methods: A total of 11,891 patients with closed fractures of lower extremities were selected. By analyzing each patient’s gender, age, presence or absence of diabetes and hypertension, preoperative plasma D-dimer level, and color Doppler ultrasound of the lower extremity vein, the pertinent factors of the patients with lower extremity fractures complicated by preoperative DVT were analyzed. Results: A total of 578 with preoperative DVT were detected, displaying a total incidence of 4.86%. All patients were categorized into either the DVT group or non-DVT group. The results demonstrate that there were statistically significant differences between the 2 groups in age, the presence of diabetes and hypertension, the fracture site, and the preoperative plasma D-dimer level ( P < 0.05). Logistic multivariate analysis revealed that age, the presence of diabetes, and the preoperative plasma D-dimer level of patients were independent risk factors for lower extremity fracture complicated by DVT. Conclusion: Age, the presence of diabetes, the fracture site, and increased D-dimer levels were found to be potential risk factors and indicators for preoperative DVT in patients with lower extremity fractures. In addition, the preoperative plasma D-dimer level has certain guiding significance for the prediction of venous thrombosis after lower extremity fracture, which is conducive to the early prediction and diagnosis of DVT, but it often must be followed with good clinic acumen and examinations.

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