Eur J Trauma Emerg S
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Eur J Trauma Emerg S · Oct 2013
Motorcycle injuries at a tertiary referral hospital in Kenya: injury patterns and outcome.
The rise in the use of motorcycles in Kenya in the last 10 years has been associated with increased injury rates. Between 2004 and 2009, motorcycle injuries increased at a rate of 29 % and, in some hospitals, motorcycle users have become the predominant road user category injured. Although most road traffic injuries occur in Nairobi, there has been no previous account of motorcycle injury and associated outcomes at its main hospital. ⋯ Injuries to the lower limbs and the head predominate in motorcycle trauma. The high mortality rate, need for surgery in the majority of patients, and prolonged admission days call for motorcycle control and expedited care. Significant head injury mortality calls for efforts to embrace helmet laws for riders and passengers.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg S · Oct 2013
Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomies in a newly established trauma center: a report from Qatar.
Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) is a routine surgical procedure for critically ill patients who require prolonged ventilatory support. ⋯ PDT is safe and can be performed with minimal complications even in a newly established trauma center.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg S · Oct 2013
Management of biliary complications following damage control surgery for liver trauma.
The liver is the most frequently injured solid intra-abdominal organ. The major cause of early death following severe liver trauma is exsanguination. Although perihepatic packing improves survival in severe liver trauma, this leaves parenchymal damage untreated, often resulting in post-traumatic biliary leakage and a subsequent rise in morbidity. The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence and treatment of biliary leakage following the operative management of liver trauma. ⋯ Biliary complications continue to occur frequently following damage control surgery for liver trauma. The majority of biliary complications can be managed without an operation. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and internal stenting represent a safe strategy to manage post-operative biliary leakage and bilhemia in patients following liver trauma. Minor biliary leakage should be managed by percutaneous drainage alone.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg S · Oct 2013
Do cervical spine X-rays for trauma have clinically significant incidental findings?
About 800,000 cervical X-rays for trauma are taken every year in the USA. Those X-rays are reviewed by orthopedic specialists in the emergency room (ER) for traumatic findings. The quantity of incidental atraumatic findings in this very prevalent examination is unknown. We sought to determine the incidence of those findings. ⋯ Incidental findings in the cervical spine were associated with older age. Awareness of the prevalence of incidental findings is important in order to ensure that they are detected and managed appropriately.