J Trauma
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Management of penetrating colorectal injuries in the civilian trauma population has evolved away from diversionary stoma into primary repair or resection and primary anastomosis. With this in mind, we evaluated how injuries to the colon and rectum were managed in the ongoing war in Iraq. ⋯ Based upon injury severity, the complex nature of triage and medical evacuation, and the multiple levels of care involved for injured military personnel, temporary stoma usage should play a greater role in military casualties than in the civilian environment for penetrating colorectal injuries.
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Nonoperative management of blunt splenic injury (BSI) has become the standard of care for hemodynamically stable patients. Successful nonoperative management raises two related questions: (1) what is the time course for splenic healing and (2) when may patients safely return to usual activities? There is little evidence to guide surgeon recommendations regarding return to full activities. Our hypothesis was that time to healing is related to severity of BSI. ⋯ Although mild BSIs heal faster than severe BSIs, nearly 10% of all the BSIs followed as outpatients worsened. Close observation of patients with BSI should continue until healing can be confirmed.
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A flap that carries sufficient tissue with satisfactory pedicle length or diameter and with minor donor site morbidity is an ideal option for the reconstructive surgeon. Many flaps have been described with each one having specific advantages. The vastus lateralis (VL)-muscle flap is among them, but no special attention has been given to its valuable use. To evaluate and to propagate the versatility of the free VL-muscle flap, this flap was used in different pathology and in different anatomic areas. ⋯ The free VL-muscle flap is a versatile flap that offers specific advantages such as constant anatomy, ease of dissection in supine position, long pedicle length, large vessel diameter, good esthetic outcome, and minor donor site morbidity. This flap has proven to be most valuable also in difficult cases, including head and neck and lower limb reconstruction.
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The geography of Norway has led to an initiative to train teams from rural hospitals in damage control surgery using a team-oriented approach based on Crew Resource Management. Our aim was to evaluate this approach and its impact on trauma care in rural hospitals across Norway. ⋯ Teaching damage control surgery using a team-oriented approach is an innovative educational method for rural hospitals.