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BACKGROUND The presence of severe associated injuries in flail chest complicates the interpretation of outcomes and the role of rib fixation. This study aimed to examine the impact of fixation in isolated flail chest patients. METHODS All patients diagnosed with flail chest injuries were queried from the National Trauma Data Bank (2016-2017). Patients who died within 72 hours, transferred from an outside hospital, had associated thoracic aortic injuries or significant extrathoracic injuries were excluded. Patients with rib fixation were propensity score matched 1:3 with similar patients treated nonoperatively and outcomes were evaluated. Multivariate analysis was used to identify independent predictors for mortality and prolonged mechanical ventilation. RESULTS Of 287,947 patients with rib fractures, there were 12,110 (4.2%) patients with flail chest. After exclusion, 5,293 patients with isolated blunt flail chest injuries were included in the analysis. Rib fixation was performed in 575 (10.9%) and 4,718 (89.1%) were managed nonoperatively. After matching, the mortality rate was significantly lower in the fixation group (2.0% vs 5.5%, p= 0.001). On multivariate analysis, rib fixation was associated with improved mortality (OR 0.355, p= 0.002). The timing of operation was not a significant independent risk factor for mortality. However, early fixation (≤72 hours) was associated with a significantly lower need for prolonged ventilation (>7 days). CONCLUSIONS Operative fixation in patients with isolated flail chest is associated with improved survival and should be considered liberally. The timing of fixation did not affect mortality, but early fixation was associated with a reduced need for prolonged mechanical ventilation.

COVID-19 stay-at-home (SAH) orders were impactful on adolescence, when social interactions affect development. This has the potential to change adolescent trauma. A post-hoc multicenter retrospective analysis of adolescent (13-17 years-old) trauma patients (ATPs) at 11 trauma centers was performed. Patients were divided into 3 groups based on injury date: historical control (CONTROL:3/19/2019-6/30/2019, before SAH (PRE:1/1/2020-3/18/2020), and after SAH (POST:3/19/2020-6/30/2020). The POST group was compared to both PRE and CONTROL groups in separate analyses. 726 ATPs were identified across the 3 time periods. POST had a similar penetrating trauma rate compared to both PRE (15.8% vs 13.8%, P = .56) and CONTROL (15.8% vs 14.5%, P = .69). POST also had a similar rate of suicide attempts compared to both PRE (1.2% vs 1.5%, P = .83) and CONTROL (1.2% vs 2.1%, P = .43). However, POST had a higher rate of drug positivity compared to CONTROL (28.6% vs 20.6%, P = .032), but was similar in all other comparisons of alcohol and drugs to PRE and POST periods (all P > .05). Hence ATPs were affected differently than adults and children, as they had a similar rate of penetrating trauma, suicide attempts, and alcohol positivity after SAH orders. However, they had increased drug positivity compared to the CONTROL, but not PRE group.

The standard burn wound treatment is the application of silver zinc sulfadiazine cream, covered with sterilized gauze dressing. This method has been used for decades because of its reasonable costs and applicability for larger wound sizes. However, gauze with a large pore size may stick to the wound bed and cause wound trauma, leading to delayed healing. The patient may also experience additional pain during changing the dressing. The non-adherent property of a hydrocolloid dressing coated with herbal extract (SIHERB) can promote wound healing as well as reduce pain. This study compared the two methods of burn wound treatment in the same patients, who were split into a “treatment group”, who were applied both silver sulfadiazine cream and hydrocolloid dressing, and “control group”, who were applied only silver sulfadiazine cream. The studied outcomes were the number of days for wound closure, the percentage epithelialization, and the pain score (evaluated every three days until epithelialization was completed). In total, 24 patients at the Burn Clinic, Siriraj Hospital were enrolled on this study. The starting wound areas were ranged from 210–220 cm2. The treatment group exhibited significant results regarding faster wound healing, referring to the number of days taken for wound closure (18 days in the control group vs. 15 days in the experimental group) and the percentage epithelialization compared to the control group. The average pain score in the experimental group was also lower on days 9, 12, and 15 after treatment (p < 0.05). No adverse effects were observed during the study. In conclusion, the combination of hydrocolloid dressing and silver sulfadiazine cream could reduce the wound shearing force and wound bed injury, accelerating the rate of wound closure and decreasing the pain during changing the dressing. This technique could improve upon the standard burn wound treatment.

Optimal management of bile leaks (BLs) after severe liver injury is unknown. Study objectives were to define current practices in diagnosis and management of BL to determine which patients may benefit from endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).American Association for the Surgery of Trauma grade ≥III liver injuries from 10 North American trauma centers were included in this retrospective study (February 2011 to January 2021). Groups were defined as patients who developed BL versus those who did not. Subgroup analysis of BL patients was performed by management strategy. Bivariate analysis compared demographics, clinical/injury data, and outcomes. Receiver operating characteristic curves were performed to investigate the relationship between bilious drain output and ERCP.A total of 2,225 patients with severe liver injury met the study criteria, with 108 BLs (5%). Bile leak patients had higher American Association for the Surgery of Trauma grade of liver injury ( p0.001) and were more likely to have been managed operatively from the outset (69% vs. 25%, p0.001). Bile leak was typically diagnosed on hospital day 6 [4-10] via surgical drain output (n = 37 [39%]) and computed tomography scan (n = 34 [36%]). On the BL diagnosis day, drain output was 270 [125-555] mL. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was the most frequent management strategy (n = 59 [55%]), although 32 patients (30%) were managed with external drains alone. Bile leak patients who underwent ERCP, surgery, or percutaneous transhepatic biliary drain had higher drain output than BL patients who were managed with external drains alone (320 [180-720] vs. 138 [85-330] mL, p = 0.010). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of BL demonstrated moderate accuracy (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.636) for ERCP at a cutoff point of 390 mL of bilious output on the day of diagnosis.Patients with BL300 to 400 mL were most likely to undergo ERCP, percutaneous transhepatic biliary drain, or surgical management. Once external drainage of BL has been established, we recommend ERCP be reserved for patients with BL300 mL of daily output. Prospective multicenter examination will be required to validate these retrospective data.Therapeutic and Care Management; Level IV.

The optimal observation time required to exclude hollow viscus injury in patients undergoing selective nonoperative management (SNOM) for abdominal stab wounds (SWs) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the safe period of observation required before discharge.In this prospective observational study, all patients who sustained an abdominal SW were screened for study inclusion (July 2018 to May 2021). The primary study outcome was time to SNOM failure, defined as the need for surgical intervention after an initial period of observation.During the study period, 256 consecutive patients with an abdominal SW met the study criteria. The mean age was 33 (26-46) years, and 89% were male. Of all patients, 77% had single SW, and 154 (60%) had an anterior abdominal SW (most common site right upper quadrant, 31%). Forty-six (18%) underwent immediate laparotomy because of evisceration (59%), hemodynamic instability (33%), or peritonitis (24%). The remaining 210 patients (82%) were taken for computed tomography scan (n = 208 [99%]) or underwent clinical observation only (n = 2 [1%]). Of the patients undergoing computed tomography scan, 27 (13%) triggered operative intervention, and 9 (4%) triggered angioembolization. The remaining 174 patients (83%) underwent SNOM. Of these, three patients (2%) failed SNOM and underwent laparotomy: two developed peritonitis at 10 and 20 hours after arrival, respectively, and at laparotomy had small bowel and gastric injuries. The third patient developed increasing leukocytosis but had nontherapeutic laparotomy.Selective nonoperative management of stab wounds to the abdomen commonly avoids nontherapeutic operative intervention and its resultant complications. A small percentage of patients will fail SNOM, and therefore, close clinical observation of these patients in hospital is critical. All patients in this series who failed SNOM did so within 24 hours of presentation. Therefore, we recommend a period of 24 hours of close clinical monitoring to exclude a hollow viscus injury before discharge of patients with abdominal stab wounds who do not meet the criteria for immediate operative intervention.Prognostic/Epidemiological; Level III.

The purpose of this study was to compare therapeutic strategies and outcomes, following isolated gunshot wounds of the head, between military and civilian populations.Recent military conflicts introduced new concepts in trauma care, including aggressive surgical intervention in severe head trauma.This was a cohort-matched study, using the civilian Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) database of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the Department of Defense Trauma Registry (DoDTR), during the period 2013 to 2016. Included in the study were patients with isolated gunshots to the head. Exclusion criteria were dead on arrival, civilians transferred from other hospitals, and patients with major extracranial associated injuries (body area Abbreviated Injury Scale3). Patients in the military database were propensity score-matched 1:3 with patients in the civilian database.A total of 136 patients in the DoDTR database were matched for age, sex, year of injury, and head Abbreviated Injury Scale with 408 patients from TQIP. Utilization of blood products was significantly higher in the military population (P0.001). In the military group, patients were significantly more likely to have intracranial pressure monitoring (17% vs 6%, P0.001) and more likely to undergo craniotomy or craniectomy (34% vs 13%, P0.001) than in the civilian group. Mortality in the military population was significantly lower (27% vs 38%, P=0.013).Military patients are more likely to receive blood products, have intracranial pressure monitoring and undergo craniectomy or craniotomy than their civilian counterparts after isolated head gunshot wounds. Mortality is significantly lower in the military population.Level III-therapeutic.

Purpose There is mounting evidence that surgical patients with COVID-19 have higher morbidity and mortality than patients without COVID-19. Infection is prevalent amongst the trauma population, but any effect of COVID-19 on trauma patients is unknown. We aimed to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 on a trauma population, hypothesizing increased mortality and pulmonary complications for COVID-19-positive (COVID) trauma patients compared to propensity-matched COVID-19-negative (non-COVID) patients. Methods A retrospective analysis of trauma patients presenting to 11 Level-I and II trauma centers in California between 1/1/2019–6/30/2019 and 1/1/2020–6/30/2020 was performed. A 1:2 propensity score model was used to match COVID to non-COVID trauma patients using age, blunt/penetrating mechanism, injury severity score, Glasgow Coma Scale score, systolic blood pressure, respiratory rate, and heart rate. Outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 20,448 trauma patients were identified during the study period. 53 COVID trauma patients were matched with 106 non-COVID trauma patients. COVID patients had higher rates of mortality (9.4% vs 1.9%, p = 0.029) and pneumonia (7.5% vs. 0.0%, p = 0.011), as well as a longer mean length of stay (LOS) (7.47 vs 3.28 days, p p = 0.008), compared to non-COVID patients. Conclusion This multicenter retrospective study found increased rates of mortality and pneumonia, as well as a longer LOS, for COVID trauma patients compared to a propensity-matched cohort of non-COVID patients. Further studies are warranted to validate these findings and to elucidate the underlying pathways responsible for higher mortality in COVID trauma patients.

Background Isolated blunt renal artery injury (BRAI) is uncommon. Treatment options include observation, nephrectomy, surgical reconstruction and endovascular stenting. Over the last decade, there has been an increasing use of angiointervention techniques in vascular trauma. Previous studies reported underutilization of endovascular stenting in BRAI, in favor of observation. The aim of this study was to examine the epidemiology and assess changes in the management of isolated BRAI over the last decade. Methods Patients with BRAI identified from the National Trauma Data Bank (2016-2017). Deaths in the emergency department, transferral from outside hospital, and those with associated high-grade kidney injuries were excluded. Demographics, type of renal artery injury, and renal artery management were analyzed. Multivariate analysis was used to identify independent factors associated with isolated BRAI. Results During the study period, there were 1,708,076 patients with blunt trauma and 873 (0.05%) of them had BRAI. After exclusions, 563 patients with isolated BRAI who met the criteria for inclusion in the analysis. Auto versus pedestrian mechanism and male sex were associated with the highest risk for isolated BRAI. Comorbidities, such as hypertension or diabetes, were not associated with an increased risk of BRAI. Seatbelt use had a protective effect against BRAI. In the majority of patients (534, 95%), the renal artery injury was treated with observation, 23 (4%) with nephrectomy, 5 (0.9%) with endovascular stent and 1 (0.2%) with open renal artery repair. Among the 103 patients with isolated major renal artery laceration, 91.2% were treated with observation, 7.8% with nephrectomy and 1% with stenting. Conclusion Isolated blunt renal artery trauma is rare. The vast majority of patients with BRAI is managed with observation with only a small number undergoing endovascular intervention. Endovascular stenting utilization has remained very low and has not changed in the last decade.

Selective nonoperative management (SNOM) of abdominal gunshot wounds (GSWs) has not been specifically examined after shotgun injuries. Because of the unpredictable nature of shotgun pellets, it is unclear if SNOM after shotgun wounds is safe. The study objective was to examine outcomes after SNOM for shotgun wounds to the abdomen.Patients with isolated abdominal shotgun wounds were identified from the National Trauma Data Bank (2007-2017). Transfers, arrival without signs of life, death in the emergency department, severe (Abbreviated Injury Scale ≥3) extra-abdominal injuries, abdominal Abbreviated Injury Scale = 6, and missing data were exclusion criteria. Patients with abdominal handgun wounds (GSWs) were used for comparison. Study groups of shotgun-injured patients were defined by management strategy: operative management (OM) (exploratory laparotomy ≤4h) versus SNOM (no exploratory laparotomy ≤4h). Outcomes were compared by mechanism of injury (shotgun versus GSW) and management strategy (OM versus SNOM) using univariate and multivariate analyses.After exclusions, 1425 patients injured by abdominal shotgun wounds were included. Shotgun-injured patients underwent SNOM more frequently than GSW patients (42% versus 34%, P 0.001). On multivariate analysis, injury by shotgun was independently associated with SNOM (OR 1.443, P = 0.040). Shotgun injuries were significantly more likely to fail SNOM (OR 2.401, P = 0.018). Failure of SNOM occurred earlier among shotgun-than GSW-injured patients (15 versus 24h, P = 0.011). SNOM after shotgun injury was associated with lower mortality than OM, even when patients failed SNOM (P 0.001). Complications were uniformly higher after OM than SNOM, even when SNOM failed (P 0.05).SNOM was utilized more commonly after shotgun wounds than GSWs. However, SNOM was more likely to fail after shotgun injury and tended to occur earlier after admission. SNOM after shotgun injury was associated with improved mortality and decreased complication rates when compared with OM, even when patients failed SNOM. SNOM appears to be a safe and beneficial management strategy after shotgun wounds to the abdomen.

BACKGROUND The impact of obesity, on outcomes after a gunshot wound, remains unclear. We hypothesized that patients with obesity have a higher burden of intraabdominal injuries after gunshot injury when compared with the nonobese population. METHODS The Trauma Quality Improvement Program database (2013-2017) was queried for all patients age ≥16 with abdominal gunshot injuries. Patients who died in the emergency department (ED), arrived without signs of life, had Abbreviated Injury Scale score ≥ 3 in any other region, or transferred from an outside hospital were excluded. The patient with obesity was defined by a body mass index ≥ 30. Demographics, injury data, and outcomes were abstracted and analyzed. Patients with obesity were compared to those with a body mass index < 30. Multivariate logistical regression was used to compare mortality between groups. RESULTS Of 34,138 patients with gunshot injuries, there were 2,616 (7.7%) with isolated abdominal injuries. Median age is 29 years (22-39 years), 86.7% men. Eight hundred twenty-seven (31.6%) were obese. The obese group was significantly older (32 [25-42] vs. 27 [22-37]; p < 0.001) with a higher incidence of hypertension (16.8% vs. 6.3%, p < 0.001) and diabetes mellitus (7.1% vs. 2.3%, p < 0.001). There was no difference in presenting vital signs, abdominal Abbreviated Injury Scale or Injury Severity Score between groups. The rate of superficial injuries and intraabdominal organ injuries were comparable between groups. Patients with obesity had significantly higher mortality (6.5% vs. 4.2%, p = 0.010), hospital length of stay (9 [7-16] vs. 9[6-14], p < 0.001), ventilator days (3 [2-5] vs. 3 [2-4], p = 0.015), and hospital-acquired pneumonia (3.5% vs. 1.7%, p = 0.005). On multivariate analysis, in addition to older age (odds ratio [OR], 1.050; p < 0.001), ED hypotension (OR, 3.192; p < 0.001), and ED tachycardia (OR, 3.714; p < 0.001), obesity was significantly associated with mortality (OR, 1.636; p = 0.021). CONCLUSION Patients with obesity are at a high risk of mortality after abdominal gunshot injury. Further prospective evaluation is warranted. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic study, Level III.

Little is known of the possible injuries caused by a fall through an open manhole, with the last study published 40 years ago. The purpose of this study was to examine the injuries, surgical interventions, and outcomes in patients suffering from a fall through an open manhole or storm drain. All patients injured by falling through open manholes (ICD codes E883.2, W17.1) from 2007 to 2017 were queried from the National Trauma Data Bank® (NTDB). Transferred patients were excluded. Studied variables included patient demographics, comorbidities, emergency room physiology, toxicology, injury severity and pattern, surgical interventions, and outcomes. A total of 388 patients met study criteria. The number of patients injured from open manholes per year ranged from 20 (0.004%) to 49 (0.005%). Major trauma (ISS ≥16) occurred in 37 patients (10%). Severe injuries (AIS ≥ 3) most frequently occurred in the lower extremities (13%), chest (12%), and head (8%). Major surgery was performed in 18 patients (5%) and five (1%) died. Despite an increase in reporting in recent years, the number of patients who suffer severe injuries following a fall through an open manhole is low. Nonetheless, these injuries are easily preventable and mandate an increased focus on manhole safety.

Background: Temporary bilateral internal iliac artery ligation (TBIIAL) is an option for surgical control of pelvic hemorrhage after trauma. Concerns persist that complications, particularly gluteal necrosis, following TBIIAL should preclude its use, despite a lack of formal research on TBIIAL complications. This study aimed to define complications following TBIIAL for emergent control of traumatic pelvic bleeding. Study Design: Patients undergoing TBIIAL after blunt trauma (2008-2020) at our level 1 trauma center were included without exclusions. Demographics, clinical/injury data, and outcomes were collected. Descriptive statistics summarized study variables. Multivariable analysis of factors independently associated with mortality after TBIIAL was performed. Results: In total, 77 patients undergoing emergent TBIIAL after blunt trauma were identified. Median age was 46 [IQR 29-63] years. Most patients ( n = 70, 91%) were severely injured (ISS ≥16), with 43% undergoing resuscitative thoracotomy prior to TBIIAL. No local complications (gluteal necrosis, iatrogenic injury, fascial dehiscence, surgical site infection) after TBIIAL occurred over the 13-year study period. In the first 28 days after injury, median hospital-, ICU-, and ventilator-free days were 0. Mortality was 70% ( n = 54). On multivariable analysis, older age was the only variable independently associated with in-hospital mortality (OR 1.081, P = .028). Conclusion: Zero cases of gluteal necrosis, iatrogenic injury to surrounding structures, or surgical site infection/fascial dehiscence of the exploratory laparotomy occurred over the study period. High concern for gluteal necrosis after TBIIAL in severely injured trauma patients is unfounded and should not prevent a surgeon from obtaining prompt pelvic hemorrhage control with this technique among patients in extremis.

Prehospital trauma team activation (TTA) criteria allow for early identification of severely injured trauma patients. Although most TTA criteria are objective, one TTA criterion is subjective: emergency provider discretion. The study objective was to define the ability of emergency department physician and nurse discretion to accurately perform prehospital triage of high risk trauma patients.All highest level TTAs arriving to our American College of Surgeons (ACS)-verified Level 1 trauma center (06/2015-08/2020) were included. Exclusions were undocumented prehospital vitals or discharge disposition. At our institution, TTAs are triggered for standard ACS TTA criteria and age 70 with traumatic mechanism other than ground level fall. Patients meeting ≥ 1 criterion apart from "Emergency Provider Discretion" were defined as Standard TTAs and patients meeting only "Emergency Provider Discretion" were defined as Discretion TTAs. Univariable/multivariable analyses compared injury data and outcomes.4540 patients met inclusion/exclusion criteria: 3330 (73%) Standard TTAs and 1210 (27%) Discretion TTAs. Discretion TTAs were younger (34 vs. 37 years, p 0.001) and more frequently injured by penetrating trauma (38% vs. 33%, p = 0.008), particularly stab wounds (64% vs. 29%). Overtriage rates were comparable after Discretion vs. Standard TTAs (33% vs. 31%, p = 0.141). Blood transfusion 4 h (31% vs. 32%, p = 0.503) and ICU admission ≥ 3 days (25% vs. 27%, p = 0.058) were comparable between groups. Discretion TTA was independently associated with increased need for emergent surgery (OR 1.316, p = 0.005).Emergency provider discretion accurately identifies major trauma, with comparable rates of overtriage as standard TTA criteria. Discretion TTAs were as likely as Standard TTAs to require early blood transfusion and prolonged ICU stay. After controlling for confounders, Discretion TTAs were significantly more likely to require emergent surgical intervention. Emergency provider discretion should be recognized as a valid method of identifying major trauma patients at high risk of need for intervention.

Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) achieves temporary hemorrhage control via aortic occlusion. Existing REBOA literature focuses on blunt trauma without a clearly defined role in penetrating trauma. This study compared clinical/injury data and outcomes after REBOA in penetrating vs blunt trauma.All patients in the Aortic Occlusion for Resuscitation in Trauma and Acute Care Surgery (AORTA) database, an observational American Association for the Surgery of Trauma dataset of trauma patients requiring aortic occlusion, who underwent REBOA were included (January 2014 through February 2021). Study groups were defined by mechanism: penetrating vs blunt. Subgroup analysis was performed of patients arriving with vital signs. Univariable/multivariable analyses compared injuries and outcomes.Seven hundred fifty-nine patients underwent REBOA: 152 (20%) penetrating and 607 (80%) blunt. Patients undergoing penetrating REBOA were less severely injured (injury severity score 25 vs 34; p0.001). The most common hemorrhage source was abdominal in penetrating REBOA (79%) and pelvic in blunt REBOA (31%; p = 0.002). Penetrating REBOA was more likely to occur in the operating room (36% vs 17%) and less likely in the emergency department (63% vs 81%; p0.001). Penetrating REBOA used more zone I balloon deployment (76% vs 64%) and less zone III (19% vs 34%; p = 0.001). Improved or stabilized hemodynamics were less frequent after penetrating REBOA (41% vs 62%, p0.001; 23% vs 41%, p0.001). On subgroup analysis of patients arriving alive, improvement or stabilization in hemodynamics was similar between groups (87% vs 86%, p = 0.388; 77% vs 72%, p = 0.273). Penetrating REBOA was not independently associated with mortality (odds ratio 1.253; p = 0.776).Despite lower injury severity, REBOA was significantly less likely to improve or stabilize hemodynamics after penetrating trauma. Among patients arriving alive, however, outcomes were comparable, suggesting that penetrating REBOA may be most beneficial among patients with vital signs. Because hemorrhage source, catheter insertion setting, and deployment zone varied significantly between groups, existing blunt REBOA data may not be appropriately extrapolated to penetrating trauma. Further study of REBOA as a means of aortic occlusion in penetrating trauma is needed.

Purpose Penetrating injuries to the vertebral artery are rare and incompletely studied. Operative, angioembolic, and nonoperative strategies are management options, although the association between management strategy and outcomes is unknown. This study endeavored to define the epidemiology, management strategy, and outcomes after penetrating injuries to the vertebral artery presenting to trauma centers nationwide. Methods Patients with veterbral artery injuries were identified from the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) (2016–2017) using ICD-10-CM codes. Only those with penetrating mechanisms of injury were included in the study. Transferred patients were excluded. Study groups were defined by management strategy (Operative management, OM; angioembolization, AE; and nonoperative management, NOM). Patient demographics, injury characteristics, and outcomes were compared between groups using univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis with logistic regression was used to examine independent risk factors for mortality and stroke. Results Penetrating injuries to the vertebral artery were rare (n = 476

Purpose Trauma team activation (TTA) criteria trigger early mobilization of resources for the sickest trauma patients. Patients with moderately depressed GCS who do not trigger the highest level activation are at risk for adverse outcomes, potentially from delayed time to intervention. The study objective was to define the impact of time to first CT Head (CTH) on outcomes among blunt trauma patients with moderately depressed GCS. Methods Patients from the Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) databank (2013–2016) with first ED GCS 9–12 were included. Transfers, penetrating mechanisms, death 65 (OR 2.813, p

Background Shotguns represent a distinct form of ballistic injury because of projectile scatter and variable penetration. Due in part to their rarity, existing literature on shotgun injuries is scarce. Objective This study defined the epidemiology, injury patterns, and outcomes after shotgun wounds at a national level. Methods Patients with shotgun injury were identified from the National Trauma Data Bank (2007–2014). Transferred patients and those with missing procedure data were excluded. Demographics, injury data, and outcomes were collected and analyzed. Categorical variables are presented as number (percentage) and continuous variables as median (interquartile range). Results Shotgun wounds comprised 9% of all firearm injuries. After exclusions, 11,292 patients with shotgun injury were included. The median age was 29 years (21–43) and most were male (n = 9887, 88%). Most injuries occurred in the South (n = 4092, 36%) and among white patients (n = 4945, 44%). The median Injury Severity Score was 9 (3–16). Overall in-hospital mortality was 14% (n = 1341), with 669 patients (7%) dying in the emergency department. Assault was the most common injury intent (n = 6762, 60%), followed by accidental (n = 2081, 19%) and self-inflicted (n = 1954, 17%). The lower and upper extremities were the most commonly affected body regions (n = 4071, 36% and n = 3422, 30%, respectively), while the head was the most severely injured (median Abbreviated Injury Scale score 4 [2–5]). Conclusions In the United States, shotgun wounds are an infrequent mechanism of injury. Shotgun wounds as a result of interpersonal violence far outweigh self-inflicted and accidental injuries. White men in their 20s in the southern parts of the country are most commonly affected and thereby delineate the high-risk patient population for injury by this mechanism at a national level.

Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in increased penetrating trauma and decreased length of stay (LOS) amongst the adult trauma population, findings important for resource allocation. Studies regarding the pediatric trauma population are sparse and mostly single-center. This multicenter study examined pediatric trauma patients, hypothesizing increased penetrating trauma and decreased LOS after the 3/19/2020 stay-at-home (SAH) orders. Methods A multicenter retrospective analysis of trauma patients ≤ 17 years old presenting to 11 centers in California was performed. Demographic data, injury characteristics, and outcomes were collected. Patients were divided into three groups based on injury date: 3/19/2019–6/30/2019 (CONTROL), 1/1/2020–3/18/2020 (PRE), 3/19/2020–6/30/2020 (POST). POST was compared to PRE and CONTROL in separate analyses. Results 1677 patients were identified across all time periods (CONTROL: 631, PRE: 479, POST: 567). POST penetrating trauma rates were not significantly different compared to both PRE (11.3 vs. 9.0%, p = 0.219) and CONTROL (11.3 vs. 8.2%, p = 0.075), respectively. POST had a shorter mean LOS compared to PRE (2.4 vs. 3.3 days, p = 0.002) and CONTROL (2.4 vs. 3.4 days, p = 0.002). POST was also not significantly different than either group regarding intensive care unit (ICU) LOS, ventilator days, and mortality (all p > 0.05). Conclusions This multicenter retrospective study demonstrated no difference in penetrating trauma rates among pediatric patients after SAH orders but did identify a shorter LOS.

Prior institutional data have demonstrated trauma mortality to be highest between 06:00-07:59 at our center, which is also when providers change shifts (07:00-07:30). The objective was definition of patient, provider, and systems variables associated with trauma mortality at shift change among patients arriving as trauma team activations (TTA).All TTA patients at our ACS-verified Level I trauma center were included (01/2008-07/2019), excluding those with undocumented arrival time. Study groups were defined by arrival time: shift change (SC) (06:00-07:59) vs. non-shift change (NSC) (all other times). Univariable/multivariable analyses compared key variables. Propensity score analysis compared outcomes after matching.After exclusions, 6020 patients remained: 229 (4%) SC and 5791 (96%) NSC. SC mortality was 25% vs. 16% during NSC (p 0.001). More SC patients arrived with SBP90 (19% vs. 11%, p 0.001) or GCS9 (35% vs. 24%, p 0.001). ISS was higher during SC (43[32-50] vs. 34[27-50], p 0.001). Time to CT scan (36[23-66] vs. 38[23-61] minutes, p = 0.638) and emergent surgery (94[35-141] vs. 63[34-107] minutes, p = 0.071) were comparable. Older age (p 0.001), SBP90 (p 0.001), GCS9 (p 0.001), need for emergent operative intervention (p = 0.044), and higher ISS (p 0.001) were independently associated with mortality. After propensity score matching, mortality was no different between SC and NSC (p = 0.764).Early morning is a low-volume, high-mortality time for TTAs. Increased mortality at shift change was independently associated with patient/injury factors but not provider/systems factors. Ensuring ample clinical resource allocation during this high acuity time may be prudent to streamline patient care at shift change.

In patients undergoing resuscitative thoracotomy (RT) for traumatic cardiac arrest, focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) is often used to look for intraperitoneal fluid. These findings can help determine whether abdominal exploration is warranted once return of spontaneous circulation is achieved; however, the diagnostic accuracy of FAST in this clinical scenario has yet to be evaluated. The purpose of this study was to assess the performance of FAST in identifying intra-abdominal hemorrhage following RT. We performed a 3-year retrospective study at a high-volume level 1 trauma center from 2014 to 2016. We included patients who underwent RT in the Emergency Department. All FAST examinations were performed by non-radiologists. Operative findings, computed tomography reports, diagnostic peritoneal aspirate (DPA) results, and autopsy findings were used as reference standards to calculate the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy of the FAST. A total of 158 patients met our inclusion criteria. The median age was 35 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 23–53), 86.1% were male, and 60.1% sustained blunt trauma. Most patients suffered severe injuries with a median injury severity score of 27 (IQR: 18–38). The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of FAST for identifying intra-abdominal hemorrhage were 66.0%, 84.8%, 68.6%, 83.2%, and 78.5%, respectively. Among the 107 patients with a negative FAST, 22 (20.6%) underwent DPA, which was positive in 5 patients. FAST can be utilized in the diagnostic workup of trauma patients after RT. In patients with a positive FAST, exploratory laparotomy is warranted, whereas other diagnostic adjuncts such as DPA or mandatory abdominal exploration may be considered in patients with a negative FAST.

BACKGROUND: The rapid spread of coronavirus disease 2019 in the United States led to a variety of mandates intended to decrease population movement and "flatten the curve." However, there is evidence some are not able to stay-at-home due to certain disadvantages, thus remaining exposed to both coronavirus disease 2019 and trauma. We therefore sought to identify any unequal effects of the California stay-at-home orders between races and insurance statuses in a multicenter study utilizing trauma volume data. METHODS: A posthoc multicenter retrospective analysis of trauma patients presenting to 11 centers in Southern California between the dates of January 1, 2020, and June 30, 2020, and January 1, 2019, and June 30, 2019, was performed. The number of trauma patients of each race/insurance status was tabulated per day. We then calculated the changes in trauma volume related to stay-at-home orders for each race/insurance status and compared the magnitude of these changes using statistical resampling. RESULTS: Compared to baseline, there was a 40.1% drop in total trauma volume, which occurred 20 days after stay-at-home orders. During stay-at-home orders, the average daily trauma volume of patients with Medicaid increased by 13.7 ± 5.3%, whereas the volume of those with Medicare, private insurance, and no insurance decreased. The average daily trauma volume decreased for White, Black, Asian, and Latino patients with the volume of Black and Latino patients dropping to a similar degree compared to White patients. CONCLUSION: This retrospective multicenter study demonstrated that patients with Medicaid had a paradoxical increase in trauma volume during stay-at-home orders, suggesting that the most impoverished groups remain disproportionately exposed to trauma during a pandemic, further exacerbating existing health disparities.

Background Albeit low survival rates, resuscitative thoracotomy (RT) is considered standard for selected trauma patients. Because it has potential for rapid cardiopulmonary rescue, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) may augment RT. The aim of this study was to identify the impact of ECMO on trauma patients that recently underwent RT after injury. Study Design All patients who underwent RT were identified from the National Trauma Data Bank (2007-2017). Patients were excluded if they died within 60 minutes, underwent delayed ECMO, and/or had missing data. Delayed ECMO group was defined as those patients undergoing ECMO after 1 hour following RT. Results Out of 8 694 272 injured patients, 10 106 (.1%) underwent RT. Median age was 31 years [23-45], 86% male. Penetrating injury was the dominant mechanism (62%). Of these, .6% (23) underwent immediate ECMO. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patients were significantly younger (23[17-33] vs. 31[23-46], p .003) and had significantly higher chest abbreviated injury scale scores (5[4-5] vs. 3[3-4], P < .001). Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patients achieved significantly higher rate of return of spontaneous circulation (96% vs. 70%, p .007) and had nonsignificant trend of improved mortality (52% vs. 63%, p .260). Conclusion Immediate ECMO may be a useful therapeutic modality after RT. It achieves higher ROSC rates with opportunity for improved survival. Future prospective study is warranted.

Background Glycemic control is an important aspect of critical care because derangements are associated with morbidity and mortality. Patients at highest risk for hypoglycemia in the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) are incompletely described by existing literature. Our objective was to delineate this high-risk patient population in our SICU. Study Design In this single-center, retrospective, observational study, SICU patients admitted from June 1, 2019 to July 31, 2020 with ≥1 episode of hypoglycemia (blood glucose Results There were 41 hypoglycemic events in 27 patients, comprising an incidence of 1.5% among SICU patients. The most common admission diagnoses were cirrhosis (n = 13, 48%), polytrauma (n = 12, 44%), multisystem organ failure (n = 11, 41%), diabetes mellitus (n = 9, 33%), and soft tissue infection (n = 8, 30%). Four high-risk populations were identified: patients in multisystem organ failure (MSOF) (n = 11, 41%); those who were nil per os (NPO) (n = 10, 37%); patients receiving long acting subcutaneous insulin, for example, Lantus (n = 3, 11%); and those on continuous intravenous insulin infusions (n = 3, 11%). After multi-disciplinary peer review, most hypoglycemic events (n = 16, 59%) were deemed iatrogenic. Conclusions Hypoglycemia is rare in surgical critical care. When it does occur, patients are typically in MSOF, NPO, on long acting subcutaneous insulin or continuous insulin infusions, have soft tissue infections, or have acute or chronic liver failure. Increased vigilance with frequent blood glucose monitoring in these high-risk patients may reduce the risk of hypoglycemia in the SICU.

Background Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) has supplanted diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) as the preferred bedside evaluation for traumatic hemoperitoneum. Diagnostic peritoneal aspiration (DPA) is a simpler, faster modification of DPL with an unclear role in contemporary practice. This study delineated modern roles for DPA and defined its diagnostic yield. Methods All trauma patients presenting to our Level I center who underwent DPA were included (May 2015 to May 2020). Demographics, comorbidities, clinical/injury data, and outcomes were collected. The diagnostic yield and accuracy of DPA were calculated against the criterion standard of hemoperitoneum at exploratory laparotomy or computed tomography scan. Results In total, 41 patients underwent DPA, typically after blunt trauma (n = 37, 90%). Patients were almost exclusively hypotensive (n = 20, 49%) or in arrest (n = 18, 44%). Most patients had an equivocal or negative FAST and hypotension or return of spontaneous circulation after resuscitative thoracotomy (n = 32, 78%); or had a positive FAST and known cirrhosis (n = 4, 10%). In two (5%) patients, one obese, the catheter failed to access the peritoneal cavity. Diagnostic peritoneal aspiration sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 80%, 100%, 100%, and 90%, with an accuracy of 93%. One (2%) complication, a small bowel injury, occurred. Conclusion Despite near ubiquitous FAST availability, DPA remains important in diagnosing or excluding hemoperitoneum with exceedingly low rates of failure and complications. Diagnostic peritoneal aspiration is most conclusive when positive, without false positives in this study. Diagnostic peritoneal aspiration was most used among blunt hypotensive or postarrest patients who had an equivocal or negative FAST, in whom the preliminary diagnosis of hemoperitoneum is a critically important decision making branch point. Level of evidence Diagnostic, level III.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic overwhelmed hospitals, forcing adjustments including discharging patients earlier and limiting intensive care unit (ICU) utilization. This study aimed to evaluate ICU admissions and length of stay (LOS) for blunt trauma patients (BTPs).MethodsA retrospective review of COVID (3/19/20-6/30/20) versus pre-COVID (3/19/19-6/30/19) BTPs at eleven trauma centers was performed. Multivariable analysis was used to identify risk factors for ICU admission.Results12,744 BTPs were included (6942 pre-COVID vs. 5802 COVID). The COVID cohort had decreased mean LOS (3.9 vs. 4.4 days, p=0.029), ICU LOS (0.9 vs. 1.1 days, p0.05). On multivariable analysis, the COVID period was associated with decreased risk of ICU admission (OR=0.82, CI 0.75-0.90, p&nbsp

Background: COVID-19 related stay-at-home (SAH) orders created many economic and social stressors, possibly increasing the risk of drug/alcohol abuse in the community and trauma population.Objectives: Describe changes in alcohol/drug use in traumatically injured patients after SAH orders in California and evaluate demographic or injury pattern changes in alcohol or drug-positive patients.Methods: A retrospective analysis of 11 trauma centers in Southern California (1/1/2020-6/30/2020) was performed. Blood alcohol concentration, urine toxicology results, demographics, and injury characteristics were collected. Patients were grouped based on injury date - before SAH (PRE-SAH), immediately after SAH (POST-SAH), and a historical comparison (3/19/2019-6/30/2019) (CONTROL) - and compared in separate analyses. Groups were compared using chi-square tests for categorical variables and Mann-Whitney U tests for continuous variables.Results: 20,448 trauma patients (13,634 male, 6,814 female) were identified across three time-periods. The POST-SAH group had higher rates of any drug (26.2% vs. 21.6% and 24.7%, OR = 1.26 and 1.08, p .05).Conclusion: This Southern California multicenter study demonstrated increased amphetamine, MDMA, and THC positivity in trauma patients after SAH, but no difference in alcohol positivity or blood concentration. Drug prevention strategies should continue to be adapted within and outside of hospitals during a pandemic.

Background Damage control strategies play an important role in trauma patient management. One such strategy, hypotensive resuscitation, is being increasingly employed. Although several randomized controlled trials have reported its benefits, the mortality benefit of hypotensive resuscitation has not yet been systematically reviewed. Objectives To conduct a meta-analysis of the efficacy of hypotensive resuscitation in traumatic hemorrhagic shock patients relative to mortality as the primary outcome, with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), acute kidney injury (AKI), and multiple organ dysfunction as the secondary outcomes. Methods PubMed, Medline-Ovid, Scopus, Science Direct, EMBASE, and CNKI database searches were conducted. An additional search of relevant primary literature and review articles was also performed. Randomized controlled trials and cohort studies reporting the mortality rate associated with hypotensive resuscitation or limited fluid resuscitation were selected. The random-effects model was used to estimate mortality and onset of other complications. Results Of 2114 studies, 30 were selected for this meta-analysis. A statistically significant decrease in mortality was observed in the hypotensive resuscitation group (risk ratio [RR]: 0.50; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.40–0.61). Heterogeneity was observed in the included literature (I2: 27%; degrees of freedom: 23; p = 0.11). Less usage of packed red cell transfusions and fluid resuscitations was also demonstrated. No significant difference between groups was observed for AKI; however, a protective effect was observed relative to both multiple organ dysfunction and ARDS. Conclusions This meta-analysis revealed significant benefits of hypotensive resuscitation relative to mortality in traumatic hemorrhagic shock patients. It not only reduced the need for blood transfusions and the incidences of ARDS and multiple organ dysfunction, but it caused a non-significant AKI incidence.

The pulse pressure (PP) is the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Narrow PP in the Emergency Department (ED) has recently been shown to predict hemorrhagic shock after trauma. This study examined the impact of prehospital narrow PP on outcomes after trauma.Patients presenting to our ACS-verified Level I trauma center (2008-2020) were retrospectively screened. Exclusions were unrecorded prehospital/ED vitals, age16 or60, transfers, on-scene cardiac arrest, and missing discharge disposition. Prehospital blood pressure defined study groups: Narrow PP (30 mmHg) vs. Hypotensive (SBP90 mmHg) vs. Others (herein referred to as Normotensive). Univariable/multivariable analyses compared outcomes and determined independent predictors of mortality; resuscitative thoracotomy; emergent intervention; and need for trauma intervention (NFTI), a contemporary measure of major trauma.In total, 39,144 patients met inclusion/exclusion criteria: 5% (n=1,834) Narrow PP, 3% (n=1,062) Hypotensive, and 92% (n=36,248) Normotensive. Penetrating trauma was more frequent among Narrow PP and Hypotensive patients (23% vs. 32% vs. 14%, p0.001). ISS was higher among Narrow PP and Hypotensive patients (5[1-14] vs. 10[2-21] vs. 4[1-9], p0.001). Mortality was highest among the Hypotensive (n=130, 12%) followed by Narrow PP (n=92, 5%) and Normotensive patients (n=502, 1%) (p0.001). On multivariable analysis, prehospital narrow PP was independently associated with resuscitative thoracotomy (OR 1.609, p=0.009), emergent intervention (OR 1.356, p=0.001), and NFTI (OR 1.237, p=0.009).Prehospital narrow PP independently predicts severe trauma, resuscitative thoracotomy, and emergent intervention. Although prehospital narrow PP is not currently a TTA criterion, these patients have a mortality rate and ISS intermediate to those of hypotensive and normotensive patients. Prehospital narrow PP should be recognized as a proxy for major trauma in patients with heightened surgical and interventional needs so that appropriate in-hospital preparations may be made prior to patient arrival.

Background Traumatic craniocervical dissociation (CCD) is the forcible dislocation of the skull from the vertebral column. Because most CCD patients die on scene, prognostication for those who arrive alive to hospital is challenging. The study objective was to determine if greater dissociation, based on radiologic measurements of CCD, is predictive of in-hospital mortality among patients surviving to the emergency department. Methods All trauma patients arriving to our Level 1 trauma center (January 2008 to April 2019) with CCD were retrospectively identified and included. Transfers and patients without computed tomography head/cervical spine were excluded. Study patients were dichotomized into groups based on in-hospital mortality. Radiologic measurements of degree of CCD were performed based on the index computed tomography scan by an attending radiologist with Emergency Radiology fellowship training. Measurements were compared between patients who died in-hospital versus those who survived. Results After exclusions, 36 patients remained: 12 (33%) died and 24 (67%) survived. Median age was 55 years (30-67 years) versus 44 (20-61 years) (p = 0.199). Patients who died had higher Injury Severity Score (39 [31-71] vs. 27 [14-34], p = 0.019) and Abbreviated Injury Scale head/neck score (5 [5-5] vs. 4 [3-4], p = 0.001) than survivors. The only radiologic measurement that differed between groups was greater soft tissue edema at mid C1 among patients who died (12.37 [7.60-14.95] vs. 7.86 [5.25-11.61], p = 0.013). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of soft tissue edema at mid C1 and mortality revealed 10.86 mm or greater of soft tissue width predicted mortality with sensitivity and specificity of 0.75. All other radiologic parameters, including the basion-dens interval, were comparable between groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion Among patients who arrive alive to hospital after traumatic CCD, greater radiologic dissociation is not associated with increased mortality. However, increased soft tissue edema at the level of mid C1, particularly 10.86 mm or greater, is associated with in-hospital death. These findings improve our understanding of this highly lethal injury and impart the ability to better prognosticate for patients arriving alive to hospital with CCD. Level of evidence Prognostic and Epidemiological, Level III.

The current systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize the results of all available studies to compare the efficacies of rituximab and conventional treatment for acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Three investigators independently searched studies in the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases published before December 11, 2018. To be included in the meta-analysis, studies needed to be randomized-controlled or cohort studies comparing the efficacies of rituximab and conventional therapy for TTP treatment. The effect estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from each study were collected, and Mantel-Haenszel methods were used to pool the data. A total of 570 patients from 9 eligible studies were included in the meta-analysis (280 patients in the rituximab arm and 290 in the conventional treatment arm). Patients receiving rituximab in an acute phase to induce disease remission had a significantly lower relapse rate than those given conventional treatment (odds ratio [OR]: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.19-0.85, P = .02, I2 = 43%). Similarly, the relapse rate in the rituximab group for preemptive therapy to prevent clinical relapse was also significantly lower than in the control group (OR: 0.09, 95% CI: 0.04-0.24, P < .00001, I2 = 11%). Furthermore, the conventional treatment group had a significantly higher mortality rate than the rituximab group during the follow-up (OR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.18-0.91, P = .03, I2 = 0%). Rituximab offered high efficacy for the prevention of relapses and lower mortality rate in cases of acquired TTP.

Supplementary_Data_1_and_2 for Comparison of the Long-Term Remission of Rituximab and Conventional Treatment for Acquired Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis by Weerapat Owattanapanich, Chompunut Wongprasert, Wannaphorn Rotchanapanya, Natthida Owattanapanich, and Theera Ruchutrakool in Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis

BACKGROUND Motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) are a leading cause of death in pregnant women. Even after minor trauma, there is risk of fetal complications. The purpose of this study was to compare injuries and outcomes in pregnant with matched nonpregnant women after MVC and evaluate the incidence and type of pregnancy-related complications. METHODS Retrospective study at a Level I trauma center included pregnant MVC patients, admitted 2009 to 2019. Pregnant patients were matched for age, seatbelt use, and airbag deployment with nonpregnant women (1:3). Gestation-related complications included uterine contractions, vaginal bleeding, emergency delivery, and fetal loss. RESULTS During the study period, there were 6,930 MVC female admissions. One hundred forty-five (2%) were pregnant, matched with 387 nonpregnant. The seat belt use (71% in nonpregnant vs. 73% in pregnant, p = 0.495) and airbag deployment (10% vs. 6%, p = 0.098) were similar in both groups. Nonpregnant women had higher Injury Severity Score (4 vs. 1, p < 0.0001) and abdominal Abbreviated Injury Scale (2 vs. 1, p < 0.001), but a smaller proportion sustained abdominal injury (18% vs. 53%, p < 0.0001). Mortality (1% vs. 0.7%, p = 0.722), need for emergency operation (6% vs. 3%, p = 0.295) or angiointervention (0.3% vs. 0%, p = 0.540), ventilator days (3 vs. 8, p = 0.907), and intensive care unit (4 vs. 4, p = 0.502) and hospital length of stay (2 vs. 2, p = 0.122) were all similar. Overall, 13 (11.1%) patients developed gestation-related complications, most commonly uterine contractions (6.3%), need for emergency delivery (3.5%), and vaginal bleeding (1.4%). CONCLUSION Most pregnant patients hospitalized for MVC suffered minor injuries. Pregnant women had lower Injury Severity Score and abdominal Abbreviated Injury Scale than matched nonpregnant women. However, there was still a considerable incidence of gestation-related complications. It is imperative that pregnant patients be closely monitored even after minor trauma. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic and epidemiological, level III.