Injury
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In multisystem trauma, the assessment and management of globe and adnexal trauma is often complex. Ophthalmology input may assist managing such patients. To understand the role of ophthalmology in tertiary trauma centres we report on the management of globe and adnexal trauma at two tertiary trauma centres in Sydney, Australia. ⋯ Falls followed by burns were common causes of globe and adnexal trauma in Sydney, Australia. The presence of orbital/mid-facial injury may indicate a patient has globe trauma. In multisystem trauma, globe trauma may be diagnosed late or not identified. Ophthalmology review has an important role in diagnosing and managing globe trauma in multisystem trauma.
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We aimed to evaluate the accuracy and reproducibility of the CT-based volume estimation formula V = d2 * h, where d and h represent the maximum depth and height of the effusion, for acute traumatic hemothorax. ⋯ An estimation formula varies with actual hemothorax volume by hundreds of mL. There is low accuracy in stratifying hemothorax volumes close to 300 mL. Variability between raters was substantially higher with the estimation formula than with manual measurements.
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Head trauma accounts for a large proportion of unpowered scooter injuries in children. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of considerable mortality and morbidity in children, who are the main users of unpowered scooters. The aim of this study was to explore the characteristics of unpowered scooter injuries in children and to identify predictors of the occurrence of TBI. ⋯ Unpowered scooter injuries in children are increasing in South Korea. It is essential for younger children riding unpowered scooters to wear helmets and for caregivers to actively supervise their children to prevent TBI.
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A quad bike or an all-terrain vehicle is a four-wheeled powered vehicle generally designed for off-road use. They are widely used for farm-related work and more recently for recreational purposes. The potential for serious injury and death with quad bike use is a growing public health concern. There is an inherent instability in their design and they are typically used on rugged terrain characterised by dangerous driving surfaces. This study examines quad bike related trauma in Ireland using a national trauma registry to identify patient demographics, injury mechanism and type, treatments received and outcomes. ⋯ Quad bike related trauma predominantly affects a young male cohort with serious injury characteristics. A sizeable proportion of patients are under 18 years of age. This data can better inform national policies and public awareness campaigns targeting this trauma subset. The head was the most common severely injured body region, highlighting the potential need for legislative intervention regarding mandatory helmet use. A large cohort of patients required transfer for definitive care which has implications for trauma care pathways and advocates for the development of an integrated trauma system in Ireland.
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S100 B is an extensively studied neuro-trauma marker, but its specificity and subsequently interpretation in major trauma patients might be limited, since extracerebral injuries are known to increase serum levels. Thus, we evaluated the potential role of S100B in the assessment of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) in multiple injured patients upon emergency room (ER) admission and the first days of intensive care unit (ICU) stay. ⋯ In conclusion, S100B is a valid biomarker for prediction of mortality in major trauma patients with a higher accuracy when assessed at the first day of ICU stay vs. immediately after ER admission. Since S100B did not correlate with pathologic TBI findings in multiple injured patients, it failed as predictive neuro-marker because extracerebral injuries demonstrated a higher influence on admission levels than neurotrauma. Although S100B levels are indicative for injury severity they should be interpreted with caution in polytrauma patients.