J Trauma
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Modern methods of open fracture management, skeletal fixation, and soft-tissue and bone reconstruction have dramatically improved the potential for limb salvage. The absence of adequate objective parameters on which to base the decision for salvage results in delayed amputations in many cases. The present study was undertaken to review the medical and economic impact of delayed versus primary amputations following severe open fractures of the tibia. ⋯ They averaged 22.3 days hospitalization, 1.6 surgical procedures to the involved lower extremity, and $28,964 hospital costs (range, $5,344-$81,282). The 29 patients with delayed amputations had an average of 53.4 days hospitalization, 6.9 surgical procedures, and $53,462 hospital costs (range, $14,574-$102,434). Six (20.7%) of the delayed amputation patients developed sepsis secondary to their involved lower extremity and died; no patient in the primary amputation group developed sepsis or died.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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In a 10-year period, we have seen and treated 70 patients with trauma to the genitalia. There were 42 penile, 38 scrotal, and 16 testicular injuries. Patients with severe multisystem or extensive genital wounds were successfully managed by early conservative debridement with delayed definitive repair.
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We evaluated the efficacy and safety of fibrin glue (FG) made with highly concentrated human fibrinogen and clotting factors in achieving hemostasis of superficial and deep hepatic injuries. Experimentally produced hepatic injuries were produced in 12 adult mongrel dogs and hemostatically sealed with FG. Half of the dogs each received two penetrating hepatic injuries consisting of a large laceration and a deep stab wound through the liver; the remaining dogs underwent resection of a large segment of the left lobe of the liver. ⋯ One dog died on postoperative day 1 from rebleeding from the hepatic injury; all other dogs survived without complications. We conclude that FG provides effective hemostasis of superficial and deep hepatic injuries, and has good systemic and local compatibility. Its use in surgery for hepatic trauma may lead to less intraoperative blood loss and transfusion requirements, as well as a reduced need for major hepatic resection to control hemorrhage.
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We prospectively evaluated the efficacy of comprehensive field triage in 8,891 trauma patients transported to trauma centers in Dade County, Florida, over a 1-year period ending in September 1986. There were 5,685 males (63.9%) and 3,206 females (36.1%) with a mean age of 32.4 +/- 18.4 years. The overall accuracy for identifying severe injury for the entire group was 30.2%. ⋯ Only nine deaths (0.9%) occurred in 1,004 patients with penetrating trauma whose Trauma Scores were greater than 12. Of the 8,891 patients 4,791 (53.9%) had moderate to severe injury. The overtriage rate was therefore 46.1% using this field categorization system.
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Case Reports Comparative Study
Management of post-traumatic cervical spine instability: operative fusion versus halo vest immobilization. Analysis of 49 cases.
A 5-year retrospective analysis was conducted for all cervical spine fractures associated with neurologic deficit initially treated at the University of Michigan Hospitals. Forty-nine cases of lower cervical spine fracture (C3-C7) were reviewed. Twenty-eight patients underwent early operative fusion followed by immobilization with either halo vests, or hard cervical collars, and 20 patients were initially immobilized in halo vests only. ⋯ Two of these five suffered progression of neurologic deficit secondary to loss of reduction while immobilized. Spinal instability occurred in two of the 28 patients initially fused (7%) (p less than 0.01), and in the patient treated in a collar. The findings indicate: 1) the halo vest does not protect patients with cervical instability from neurological injury, nor does it absolutely immobilize the cervical spine; 2) surgery may be required to provide spinal stability, even after a 3-month orthotic treatment period; and 3) there appears to be an increased rate of spinal stability with fusion and immobilization versus immobilization alone.