The journal of trauma and acute care surgery
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Computed tomography (CT) scans have become imaging modalities of choice in trauma centers. The purposes of this study were to evaluate the trend of radiation exposure in acute trauma patients. Our hypothesis was that radiation dosage and charges would increase over time without change in patient acuity or outcome. ⋯ III, retrospective.
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J Trauma Acute Care Surg · Feb 2012
Sequential duplex ultrasound screening for proximal deep venous thrombosis in asymptomatic patients with acetabular and pelvic fractures treated operatively.
Recent evidence-based practice guidelines recommend against routine ultrasound screening for proximal deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in asymptomatic pelvic fracture patients. However, the majority of trauma surgeons favor this practice. Furthermore, the timing of screening has been inconsistently described. The purpose of this study was to examine the utility of sequential scans in asymptomatic acetabular and pelvic fracture patients treated operatively. ⋯ IV.
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J Trauma Acute Care Surg · Feb 2012
Transplantation of uncultured omental adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction improves sciatic nerve regeneration and functional recovery through inside-out vein graft in rats.
Despite presence of various nerve coaptation materials and techniques, achievement of desired functional peripheral nerve regeneration is still inadequate. Effects of transplantation of uncultured and uncharacterized stromal vascular fraction (SVF) from omental adipose tissue on peripheral nerve regeneration were studied using a rat sciatic nerve transection model. ⋯ SVF could be considered as a readily accessible source of stromal cells that improve functional recovery of sciatic nerve because of reduction in the interval from tissue collection until cell injection and simplicity of laboratory procedure, especially where atraumatic injury is dealt with.
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J Trauma Acute Care Surg · Jan 2012
A management of blunt thoracic trauma in an emergency department observation unit: pre-post observational study.
The best management of patients with isolated blunt thoracic trauma at high risk of pulmonary complications (HRPC-BTT: ≥3 isolated rib fractures, sternal fracture, single or few pulmonary contusions or minimal pneumothorax) is still unclear. We compared efficacy and cost-effectiveness of a new clinical pathway involving an Emergency Department Observation Unit (EDOU) with routine care. ⋯ In managing patients affected by HRPC-BTT, a clinical pathway involving the EDOU seems to be more effective than routine care with little impact on cost.