Comparing the Outcomes of Early and Late Tracheostomy in Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Patient

Background: Patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) were expected to have poor Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) recovery and prolonged intubation. Therefore, an early tracheostomy procedure was indicated for all severe TBI. In view of growing concern regarding the safety and outcome of early tracheostomy on these patients, it was deemed valid and needed to be addressed. Methods: This study was conducted to compare the outcomes of early and late tracheostomies in severe TBI. Only severe TBI patients who were admitted to the Neurosurgery High Dependency Unit (NHDU), Hospital Sultanah Aminah (HSA), Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia and who had underwent a tracheostomy were recruited. Three main outcomes noted: duration on ventilation, length of NHDU stay and rate of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP). Results: Out of 155 patients, 72 (46.5%) were in early tracheostomy group (ETG) and 83 (53.5%) were in late tracheostomy group (LTG). The majority of the participants, 95 (61.3%) were ethnic Malays. The mean duration on ventilator use was 2.65 days (1.57) for ETG and 5.63 days (2.35) for LTG. While, mean NHDU stay was 4.75 days (1.98) for ETG and 9.77 days (2.70) for LTG. Upon independent t-test, early duration of tracheostomies had shown significant outcome in reducing length of NHDU stay, (P < 0.001) and had shortening participants’ time on mechanical ventilator (P < 0.001). Then, based on forward multiple logistic regression test, there were significant association between comorbid (P = 0.003) and tracheostomy (P = 0.020) towards presence of VAP when adjusted for other variables. Conclusion: In this study it was found that early tracheostomy was significant in shortening the duration on ventilator, reducing the length of NHDU stay and reducing the rate of VAP.

Differences in management and treatment of traumatic adult pan brachial plexus injuries: a global perspective regarding continental variations

An expert opinion study was designed to query five countries and six brachial plexus surgeons regarding the demographics, mechanisms of injury, evaluation, timing of surgery, reconstructive strategies and controversies in adult traumatic pan brachial plexus injuries. Variations in assessing outcomes, management of neuropathic pain and future considerations were elucidated. Clear differences in regional demographics, mechanisms of injury, patient evaluation and treatment strategies were identified. The role of phrenic nerve and contralateral C7 transfer, acute use of free functioning muscle transfers, root reimplantation and amputation/myoelectric prosthetic fitting were regional/surgeon dependent. Comparison of outcomes across regions requires an understanding of the regional nuances of patient demographics, injury mechanisms, preferred reconstructive strategies and how outcomes are measured. Future studies are required to allow accurate regional comparisons.

Reporte de un caso clínico: Reimplante de mano

BACKGROUND: The upper limb plays a vital role in our daily function; injuries to this vital structure can result in devastating consequences to functional, psychological and social well-being; especially traumatic amputations of the upper limb are challenging to manage and deciding which patients would benefit from limb salvage versus amputation is critical. CASE REPORTS: A 52-year-old male patient, who suffered a traumatic partial amputation in the distal third of his right forearm with an industrial machine, presenting an ulnar and radius fracture, with severe soft tissue injuries, who underwent a replantation surgery after 12 hours of ischemia. EVOLUTION: Patient presented good postsurgical outcome. 24 hours after surgery he presented normal Allen’s test results, adequate temperature, pink coloration, hypoesthesia and 2/5 muscle strength in the injured limb. He was discharged 7 days after surgery with follow-up and rehabilitation prescription. The percutaneous needles were removed 13 weeks after, with proper bone healing of the fracture. 5 months after surgery, he presented a DASH Score of 60.83. CONCLUSION: The replantation field has become very sophisticated in recent years; the decision to perform replantation of the amputated limb must be individualized to each patient, based on several established factors such as the characteristics of the injury, patient related factors, and the functional recovery capacity.