The journal of trauma and acute care surgery
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J Trauma Acute Care Surg · Jun 2012
Comparative StudyAdmission base deficit and lactate levels in Canadian patients with blunt trauma: are they useful markers of mortality?
Elevated base deficit (BD) and lactate levels at admission in patients with injury have been shown to be associated with increased mortality. This relationship is undefined in the Canadian experience. The goal of this study was to define the association between arterial blood gas (ABG) values at admission and mortality for Canadians with severe blunt injury. ⋯ Prognostic study, level III.
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This study explored the relationships between health-related quality of life and postacute factors such as patients' perceived access to information and support, perceptions of illness and ability to provide self-care after traumatic injury. ⋯ Prognostic study, level III.
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J Trauma Acute Care Surg · Jun 2012
Comparative StudyAre the frail destined to fail? Frailty index as predictor of surgical morbidity and mortality in the elderly.
America's aging population has led to an increase in the number of elderly patients necessitating emergency general surgery. Previous studies have demonstrated that increased frailty is a predictor of outcomes in medicine and surgical patients. We hypothesized that use of a modification of the Canadian Study of Health and Aging Frailty Index would be a predictor of morbidity and mortality in patients older than 60 years undergoing emergency general surgery. ⋯ Prognostic study, level II.
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J Trauma Acute Care Surg · Jun 2012
Evaluating the use and utility of noninvasive angiography in diagnosing traumatic blunt cerebrovascular injury.
Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) is the gold standard for radiographic diagnosis of blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI), but use of computed tomography angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) has increased dramatically in BCVI screening. This study explores the utility, effectiveness, and cost of noninvasive CTA and MRA screening for BCVI. ⋯ Diagnostic study, level III; economic analysis, level IV.
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J Trauma Acute Care Surg · Jun 2012
Distraction lengthening by callotasis of traumatically shortened bones of the hand.
Callotasis of the hand has several advantages: it is less invasive than other techniques as bone grafting is unnecessary, gradual distraction is possible, joint mobilization can be performed during treatment, and sensation is maintained. Disadvantages include longer period of treatment and perhaps the need for complicated and bulky instrumentation. ⋯ Therapeutic study, level V.