Critical care for concomitant severe traumatic brain injury and acute spinal cord injury in the polytrauma patient: illustrative case

BACKGROUND The occurrence of traumatic brain injury with spinal cord injury (SCI) in polytrauma patients is associated with significant morbidity. Clinicians face challenges from a decision-making and rehabilitative perspective. Management is complex and understudied. Treatment should be systematic beginning at the scene, focusing on airway resuscitation and hemodynamic stabilization, immobilization, and timely transport. Early operative interventions should be provided, followed by minimizing secondary pathophysiology. The authors present a case to delineate decision-making in the treatment of combined cranial and spinal trauma. OBSERVATIONS A 19-year-old man presented as a level I trauma patient after falling 30 feet as the result of scaffolding collapse. The patient was unresponsive and was intubated; he had an initial Glasgow Coma Scale score of 4. Computed tomography revealed multicompartmental bleeding and herniation, for which supra- and infratentorial decompressive craniectomies were performed. The patient also suffered from thoracic SCI that resulted in complete paraplegia. Multimodality monitoring was used. After stabilization and lengthy rehabilitation, the patient obtained significant functional improvement. LESSONS The approach to initial management of concomitant head and spine trauma is to establish intracranial stability followed by intraspinal stability. Patients can make considerable recovery, particularly younger patients, who are more likely to benefit from early aggressive interventions and medical treatment.

Current Concepts about Managing of Trauma Patients.

Background: Managing principles for traumatized patients have continued to evolve with advances in technology. Hemorrhage remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in trauma, pre-hospital management by well-trained and well-equipped medical teams at the scene as well as in hospitals have continued to improve treatment outcomes. Although new treatment options continue to be evidence, as well as the implementation of concepts related to the optimal time for the operation. Although the preliminary assessment was performed using the Injury Significance Score (ISS) as an assessment and prognostic element to determine the timing of the intervention The current consensus argues that unnecessary delays in fracture care should be avoided while respecting the complex physiology of certain groups of patients who may remain at increased risk for complications. Using innovative techniques and understanding concepts such as the anatomy of traumatic injuries, the optimal approach to the polytrauma patient continues to evolve day by day.

Failure of dual plating in a complex open distal femur fracture as the result of major trauma

A 61-year-old polytrauma patient was admitted with a right distal comminuted metaphyseal femoral fracture with intra-articular extension (Orthopaedic Trauma Association 33C2.3 classification) among other injuries. Due to the high degree of comminution and massive bone loss, this was initially managed with a dual plating open reduction internal fixation. Dual plating has shown to be a superior fixation method than single variable angle locking compression plate (VA-LCP) plating providing greater fixation in metaphyseal bone. Our case reports the failure of dual plating which required removal of metalwork and subsequent fixation using intramedullary nail and plate technique. Failure of dual plating is not well documented in the literature. The most recent radiographs taken 15 months postrevision surgery show that the bone has started to heal with evidence of callus formation.

The Pathophysiology and Management of Hemorrhagic Shock in the Polytrauma Patient

The recognition and management of life-threatening hemorrhage in the polytrauma patient poses several challenges to prehospital rescue personnel and hospital providers. First, identification of acute blood loss and the magnitude of lost volume after torso injury may not be readily apparent in the field. Because of the expression of highly effective physiological mechanisms that compensate for a sudden decrease in circulatory volume, a polytrauma patient with a significant blood loss may appear normal during examination by first responders. Consequently, for every polytrauma victim with a significant mechanism of injury we assume substantial blood loss has occurred and life-threatening hemorrhage is progressing until we can prove the contrary. Second, a decision to begin damage control resuscitation (DCR), a costly, highly complex, and potentially dangerous intervention must often be reached with little time and without sufficient clinical information about the intended recipient. Whether to begin DCR in the prehospital phase remains controversial. Furthermore, DCR executed imperfectly has the potential to worsen serious derangements including acidosis, coagulopathy, and profound homeostatic imbalances that DCR is designed to correct. Additionally, transfusion of large amounts of homologous blood during DCR potentially disrupts immune and inflammatory systems, which may induce severe systemic autoinflammatory disease in the aftermath of DCR. Third, controversy remains over the composition of components that are transfused during DCR. For practical reasons, unmatched liquid plasma or freeze-dried plasma is transfused now more commonly than ABO-matched fresh frozen plasma. Low-titer type O whole blood may prove safer than red cell components, although maintaining an inventory of whole blood for possible massive transfusion during DCR creates significant challenges for blood banks. Lastly, as the primary principle of management of life-threatening hemorrhage is surgical or angiographic control of bleeding, DCR must not eclipse these definitive interventions.

Trauma-Induced Rupture of Liver Hydatid Cyst: A Rare Cause of Anaphylactic Shock

Hydatid disease is rare; nevertheless, several areas of the world are endemic. Lebanon is one of the endemic countries. This disease requires careful management, as its diagnosis is tough, and its complications are severe and can lead to sudden death. These complications include fistulas, infection, and rupture. Rupture of a hydatid cyst can mimic acute abdomen and show an array of nonspecific symptoms. It could be mistaken for hemorrhagic shock, trauma, or injury to an intra-abdominal organ. The diagnosis of ruptured hydatid cyst should be kept in mind in cattle-raising countries. We report the case of a polytrauma patient who was suspected to have severe intra-abdominal bleeding and hemorrhagic shock, but imaging and laparotomy showed the rupture of a liver hydatid cyst that drove the patient into anaphylactic shock. This article reviews similar cases in the literature and discusses the diagnostic tools, appropriate management, and expected complications.

Acute limb ischemia following perineal reconstruction in lithotomy position: take-home message for plastic surgeons

Despite the extensive use of lithotomy position in several plastic surgery procedures, most reports regarding the related incidence of complications are presented in the urologic, gynecologic, and anesthesiologic fields. We present the case of a 54-year-old male patient. polytrauma patient who underwent internal iliac artery embolization leading to extensive gluteal necrosis requiring: debridement, abdominoperineal resection and composite anterolateral thigh flap reconstruction with prolonged lithotomy position. The patient presented lower limb ischemia briefly after surgical theater. A computed tomography scan revealed the obstruction of the left superficial femoral artery requiring emergency revascularization. Arterial thrombosis is a potentially devastating complication and plastic surgeons should be aware of the possible dangers when performing surgeries in prolonged lithotomy position. Preoperative detection of patients at high risks for developing complications should be performed in order to implement preventive measures and avoid potentially life-threatening sequelae.

707 Principles of Damage Control Surgery in Trauma and Beyond: Experience at A Tertiary Centre

Damage control surgery (DCS) is an abbreviated laparotomy used as a temporising measure in critically unwell patients who have limited physiological reserves to tolerate complex definitive surgeries. The aim of DCS is to address life-threatening haemorrhage and manage abdominal contamination. Following an abbreviated laparotomy, patients are continuously resuscitated in intensive care unit until physiological stability can be maintained for definitive surgeries. The role of DCS in the trauma setting is well-described; however, its principles can also be applied in General Surgery for a variety of indications such as mesenteric ischaemia, uncontrolled haemorrhage, and secondary peritonitis. Judicious selection of the non-trauma patient who will benefit from this strategy is paramount. We present two cases of a polytrauma patient (Patient A), and non-trauma patient with abdominal septic shock (Patient B) who underwent DCS at our tertiary centre. Patient A is a 49-year-old male involved in a road traffic accident who sustained multiple injuries including liver laceration, splenic laceration, and colonic injury. Intra-abdominal packing and repair of serosal tears were performed, with a re-look laparotomy 48 hours later -- no further bleeding or visceral injuries were identified. Patient B is a 51-year-old gentleman who re-presented in septic shock due to infected retroperitoneal collection following a bleeding duodenal ulcer, initially managed radiologically. A T tube was inserted into the duodenum with two abdominal drains at initial DCS. After thorough washout, a feeding jejunostomy was sited at the re-look laparotomy. 30-days mortality is 0% and both patients are under follow-up.