J Trauma
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Active mesenteric hemorrhage and bowel perforation after blunt abdominal trauma warrant immediate surgical intervention. We investigate whether findings on multiphasic computed tomography (CT) can identify life-threatening mesenteric hemorrhage and bowel injuries. ⋯ Multiphasic CT is accurate in identifying life-threatening mesenteric hemorrhage and transmural bowel injuries.
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Artificial dural substitutes are increasingly being used in decompressive craniectomy to prevent peridural fibrosis and facilitate cranioplasty for patients with head injury. The safety of the dural substitute should be systemically evaluated. We focus on Neuro-Patch (B. Braun, Boulogne, France), a nonabsorbable substitute and commonly used by neurosurgeons. ⋯ The use of Neuro-Patch does not increase the incidence of neurosurgical site infection and hydrodynamic complications, including subdural hygroma and cerebrospinal fluid leakage, after decompressive craniectomy or cranioplasty for severe traumatic brain injury. However, extra-axial hematoma at the site of craniectomy is more often encountered in patients with Neuro-Patch and forms a compressive lesion on the adjacent brain.
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Fall incidents are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in older adults. The aim of this cohort study was to determine the incidence, costs, and quality of life for fall-related injuries in the older Dutch population presenting at the emergency department. ⋯ Fall-related injuries in older adults are age and gender related, leading to high healthcare consumption, costs, and long-term reduced quality of life. Further implementation of falls prevention strategies is needed to control the burden of fall-related injuries in the aging population.
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Low-velocity pelvic gunshot injuries occur commonly in urban trauma centers, occasionally involving concomitant intestinal viscus injury leading to potential fracture site contamination. Surgical debridement of the fractures may be necessary to prevent osteomyelitis, although not routinely performed in many centers. The purpose of this study was to determine whether fracture debridement should be done to prevent osteomyelitis in these injuries. ⋯ Extra-articular gunshot pelvic fractures do not require formal orthopedic fracture debridement even in cases with concomitant intestinal viscus injury. However, debridement with bullet removal should be done in cases with intra-articular involvement, particularly if there are retained bullet fragments in the joint, to prevent deep infection.
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Much controversy exists over the fluid composition for hypotensive resuscitation. We previously showed that addition of 6% Dextran-70 or hetastarch to 7.5% NaCl led to heart instability and mortality. Our aim was to examine the early resuscitative effects of 7.5% NaCl with adenosine, lidocaine, and magnesium (ALM) on hemodynamics and mortality in a rat model of severe hemorrhagic shock. ⋯ Ultra-small intravenous bolus of 7.5% NaCl with ALM led to a significantly higher MAP, higher diastolic rescue, and higher rate-pressure product compared with other treatment groups. The possible clinical and military applications for permissive hypotensive resuscitation are discussed.