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Study objective The latest wave of terrorism worldwide has seen significant use by terrorists of mundane, "low-technology" weapons, such as utility knives and civilian vehicles. How do the injuries they produce compare with that of more conventional terrorism mechanisms, such as use of firearms and explosives? We compare injury patterns of the most frequent terrorism-related injury mechanisms in an Israeli data set. Methods This was a retrospective study of 1,858 patients hospitalized because of terrorism events, which were recorded in the Israeli National Trauma Registry between January 1997 and December 2016. The events were divided into 4 groups based on weapon used: explosions, shootings, stabbings, and vehicular attacks. The groups were compared in terms of injuries sustained, use of hospital resources, and clinical outcomes. Results Explosion-related and vehicular terrorism resulted in a higher proportion of multiple injuries, whereas stabbings and shootings mostly led to isolated injuries. Victims of vehicular attacks had a high proportion of severe head injuries, whereas stabbing victims had a high volume of vascular injuries. All mechanisms involved significant damage to extremities; however, among stabbing victims injury was mainly to the upper extremities, whereas among vehicular attack victims it was mostly to the lower extremities. The overall injury severity of the compared groups was similar, leading to comparable levels of intensive care use and inhospital mortality. Certain similarities in victims' characteristics were observed between the shootings and stabbings and between explosions and vehicular attacks. Conclusion Despite differences between various terrorist attack mechanisms, the resulting injury severity and inhospital mortality are very similar, with stabbings and vehicular attacks causing injuries as serious as those caused by conventional weapons.

Extremities are commonly injured following bomb explosions. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of hemorrhagic shock (HS) in victims of explosion suffering from extremity injuries. Retrospective study based on a cohort of patient records maintained in one hospital’s mass casualty registry. Sixty-six victims of explosion who were hospitalized with extremity injuries were identified and evaluated. Sixteen (24.2%) of these were hemodynamically unstable during the first 24 h of treatment. HS could be attributed to associated injuries in seven of the patients. In the other nine patients, extremity injury was the only injury that could explain HS in seven patients and the extremity injury was a major contributor to HS together with another associated injury in two patients. In those 9 patients, in whom the extremity injury was the sole or major contributor to HS, a median of 10 (range 2–22) pRBC was transfused during the first 24 h of treatment. Six of the nine patients were in need of massive transfusion. Fractures in both upper and lower extremities, Gustilo IIIb-c open fractures and AIS 3–4 were found to be risk factors for HS. Ample consideration should be given to patients with extremity injuries due to explosions, as these may be immediately life threatening. Tourniquet use should be encouraged in the pre-hospital setting. Before undertaking surgery, emergent HS should be considered in these patients and prevented by appropriate resuscitation.

Pelvic fractures are a marker of severe injury, mandating a thorough investigation for the presence of associated injuries. Anatomical and physiological differences between adults and children may lead to a different impact of pelvic fractures on these populations. The purpose of this study is to compare pelvic fractures between pediatric and adult blunt trauma victims, mainly regarding their severity and associated intraabdominal injuries.A retrospective study involving blunt trauma patients suffering pelvic fractures, according to the records of the Israeli National Trauma Registry. Patients included children, aged 0-14years, and adults between 15 and 64years. The presence and severity of associated injuries were assessed.Overall, 7621 patients aged 0-64years were identified with pelvic fractures following blunt trauma. The incidence of pelvic fractures in children was (0.8%), as compared to 4.3% in adults, p0.0001. The most common mechanism of injury was motor vehicle accident (MVA) in adults, and pedestrian hit by car (PHBC) in children. About a quarter of the patients in both groups had an ISS25. Adults sustained significantly more moderate to severe pelvic fractures (AIS≥3) than children (26.7% vs. 17.4%, p0.0001). The overall mortality rate was similar among the two groups (5.4% in adults, 5.2% in children, p=0.7554). The only associated injury with statistically significant difference in incidence among the two groups was rectal injury (1.2% among children, 0.2% among adults, p0.0001). Among adult patients, there was a clear correlation between the severity of pelvic fractures and the severity of concomitant splenic and hepatic injuries (p=0.026, p=0.0004, respectively). Among children, a similar correlation was not demonstrated.Adults involved in blunt trauma are more likely to sustain pelvic fractures, and these are generally more severe fractures, as compared to children suffering from blunt trauma. Nonetheless, mortality rates were found similar in both groups. The only associated injury with statistically significant difference in incidence among the two groups was rectal injury. In adults, but not in children, higher grade pelvic fractures correlated with more severe concomitant splenic or hepatic injuries.The level of evidence for this study is III (3).

IntroductionTrauma patients in the extremes of age may require a specialized approach during a multiple-casualty incident (MCI).ProblemThe aim of this study was to examine the type of injuries encountered in children and elderly patients and the implications of these injuries for treatment and organization.MethodsA review of medical record files of patients admitted in MCIs in one Level II trauma center was conducted. Patients were classified according to age: children (≤12 years), adults (between 12-65 years), and elders (≥65 years).ResultsThe files of 534 were screened: 31 (5.8%) children and 54 (10.1%) elderly patients. One-third of the elderly patients were either moderately or severely injured, compared to only 6.5% of the children and 11.1% of the adults (PConclusionsInjury at an older age confers an increased risk of complications and death in victims of MCIs.AshkenaziI, EinavS, OlshaO, Turegano-FuentesF, KrauszMM, AlficiR. The impact of age upon contingency planning for multiple-casualty incidents based on a single center’s experience. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2016;31(5):492–497.

Background Management of traumatic brain injury is focused on preventing secondary damage. Early recognition of brain ischaemia may improve the final outcome of the trauma victim. The primary aim of this study was to examine the correlation between peripheral oxygen pulse oximetry and brain oxygen saturation measured by a near infrared oximetry device. A second aim was to evaluate the influence of different factors such as fluid and blood administration on brain tissue oxygenation. Methods This was a prospective pilot study. Mechanically ventilated trauma patients admitted to the trauma unit had cerebral-somatic oxygen saturation monitoring. Oximeter readings (rSO2) were prospectively collected and compared with concurrent values for peripheral pulse oximetry (SO2). Data were recorded every 15 min and during interventions such as administration of a fluid bolus and blood administration. All interventions were based on accepted clinical parameters. Results Thirty-three patients were enrolled. A total of 210 simultaneous measurements of rSO2 and pulse oximetry values were performed. There was correlation between these two parameters in only one third of patients. Twenty-seven events of possible brain ischemia, defined as rSO2 values less than 50 or a decrease of more than 20% from the baseline, were observed. In 68 (77.2%) of these measurements there was no decrease of peripheral SO2. Significant increases in rSO2 were observed only during administration of fluid boluses. Conclusions A cerebral oxygenation monitoring device may recognize the possible events of brain ischaemia which are not reflected by pulse oximetry. Fluid administration was the only factor found to improve brain saturation.

We report a 48-year-old woman with metastatic infiltrating lobular carcinoma of the breast. Though her metastatic disease remained stable, she was repeatedly admitted for symptomatic anaemia and treated by red blood cell and platelet transfusions with increasing frequency as time elapsed. Abdominal examination and ultrasound revealed splenomegaly (27 cm span). A bone marrow biopsy showed fibrosis and foci of metastatic carcinoma. Splenectomy ameliorated her transfusion-dependent anaemia and thrombocytopaenia. Histopathology revealed multiple foci of metastatic carcinoma and scattered foci of extramedullary haematopoiesis. Differential diagnosis of anaemia and thrombocytopaenia in patients with cancer include bone morrow involvement by cancer cells, iron-deficiency anaemia, microangiopathies and chemotherapy suppression of haematopoiesis. Splenic involvement with cancer is common in patients with multivisceral disease. Many may regard transfusion-dependent severe anaemia and thrombocytopaenia as an end-stage disease in these patients. Nevertheless, palliative splenectomy should be considered in patients with possible hypersplenism who will otherwise survive for a relatively prolonged period of time.

Introduction The optimal management strategy for patients with head injury admitted to a non-specialist hospital is uncertain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of victims of head injury requiring hospitalisation but initially admitted to a rural level II trauma centre without a neurosurgical facility but with a system for neurosurgical consultation via teleradiology. Methods Patients admitted for head injury during 2006–2011 were included. Late transfer of patients initially hospitalised in the level II trauma centre was evaluated for treatment failure, defined as clinical or radiological deterioration. Results Five hundred and sixty-two patients were initially hospitalised in the level II trauma centre. Evaluation of late transfers showed that only 23 (4.1%) represented real treatment failures due to clinical or radiological deterioration. The clinical course was altered by primary intent to hospitalise patients in the level II trauma centre in only one patient. Conclusions Selected patients with head trauma who have a pathological CT scan may be safely managed in level II trauma centres following neurosurgical consultation using teleradiology. Review of treatment failures is necessary to ensure proper ongoing management of a system in which neurosurgical patients are selectively transferred to trauma centres with neurosurgical capacity.

We evaluated the short-term and long-term outcomes of emergency operations for peptic ulcer (PUD) complications in a period of time in which the need for surgery is infrequent. Retrospective review of operated patients (2007–2015) in one medical center. 81 patients were included (8.9 patients/year): 70 (86.4%) male; 11 (13.6%) female. Indications for operation were hemorrhage in 18 (22.2%), perforation in 62 (76.5%) and gastric-outlet obstruction in one (1.2%). Only 16 (19.8%) operations included a procedure to reduce gastric acid secretion. Six (7.4%) patients had a second operation for recurrent or persistent complication. Of these, two had a procedure to reduce gastric acid secretion in their first operation. 16 (19.8%) patients died during the index hospitalization. Three (3.7%) patients were rehospitalized for a PUD complication following 3–24 months. One patient, who had surgery for a second perforation 3 months following the first operation, was treated empirically for Helicobacter Pylori (HP) between the two operations. In comparison to perforation, patients with hemorrhage were older (69.9 ± 20.3 vs. 52.1 ± 19.9 years; p = 0.0015), more commonly had a history of PUD or treatment by nonsteroidal anti-inflammotry drugs (55.6 vs. 19.4%; p = 0.0054), more commonly had a procedure to reduce gastric acid secretion during their index operation (61.1 vs. 6.5%; p

The indications and methods of parathyroid autotransplantation in children and adults are reviewed, with special emphasis on the methods of immediate transplantation and delayed autotransplantation after cryopreservation. Parathyroid autotransplantation is performed during surgery when all four parathyroid glands have been intentionally resected in parathyroid hyperplasia, or when all four glands were inadvertently damaged during total thyroidectomy, or recurrent neck surgery. When parathyroid damage is suspected during thyroid or extensive neck surgery, cryopreservation of a parathyroid gland is performed. If future signs and symptoms of hypoparathyroidism develop with low blood calcium and PTH levels, then the cryopreserved gland is transplanted into the arm muscles. The maximum effective time that the parathyroid can be cryopreserved is two years. The major postoperative causes of permanent hypoparathyroidism, where parathyroid autotransplantation is indicated are: primary and secondary parathyroid hyperplasia, extensive or repeated neck surgeries which include thyroid surgery and large goiter or retrosternal goiter, particularly in children. The success rate of autotransplantation in preventing postoperative hypoparathyroidism reported in the literature is highly variable, and is dependent on timing, disease, and duration of tissue storage. Although preservation of parathyroid glands in situ at surgery is desirable, parathyroid autotransplantation during thyroidectomy virtually eliminates postoperative hypoparathyroidism. Parathyroid autotransplantation must be performed in dedicated endocrine surgical centers that have had extensive experience in performing this procedure in both children and adults.

Minimally Invasive Parathyroidectomy (MIP) has become the treatment of choice of Primary Hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) caused by an adenoma. In the present investigation we describe our experience with MIP performed under local anesthesia.MIP was performed on 454 of 496 patients (91.5%) with PHPT. In 170 patients (37.4%), MIP was accomplished under local anesthesia. This procedure was elected when the medical condition prohibited general anesthesia, or in accordance with the patient's request.MIP under local anesthesia for PHPT was accomplished in 162 (95.3%) of the patients. In 8 patients the procedure was converted to general anesthesia, while the adenoma was located in 5 of these patients. In 3 patients (1.8%) the adenoma was not located even under general anesthesia and they awaited further investigations. Fifteen patients (8.2%) developed temporary hoarseness, and 20 patients (11.8%) developed temporary hypocalcemia postoperatively.MIP under local anesthesia for PHPT caused by an adenoma is feasible and safe, with a success rate of 95.3% similar to MIP performed under general anesthesia. MIP under local anesthesia has not yet become a prevalent procedure worldwide, as well as in our country. The results of the present study support our conclusions for utilizing this method under local anesthesia.

The unique patterns of injury following explosions together with the involvement of numerous physicians, most of whom are not experienced in trauma, may create problems in the medical management of mass casualty incidents.Four hundred patient files admitted in 19 mass casualty events following bombing incidents were reviewed and possible areas which could impact survival were defined.Forty-nine (9.3 %) patients had an Injury Severity Score ≥16. Of 205 patients in whom triage decisions were available, 5 of 25 severely injured patients were undertriaged by the triage officers at the door of the hospital. Following primary evaluation inside the emergency department critical injuries in two patients were missed due to distracting, less serious injuries. Of 68 (16.1 %) patients who were operated, 28 were in need of either immediate, urgent or high-priority operations. Except for neurosurgical cases which needed to be transferred to other hospitals, there was no delay in surgery. One patient underwent negative laparotomy. There were 15 in-hospital deaths, 6 of which were deemed as either anticipated or unanticipated mortality with possibility for improvement.Medical management should be evaluated following MCIs as this may illustrate possible problems which many need to be addressed in contingency planning.

Obesity is considered a risk factor for colon cancer. Worse outcome observed in colon cancer patients with obesity may have several mechanisms. However, the influence of obesity on colon cancer stage is yet to be clarified. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between obesity and stage on presentation. This is a retrospective analysis of patients’ files in one university affiliated medical center. Included in this study were non-metastatic patients who underwent colectomy for adenocarcinoma of the colon in whom both the preoperative abdominal computed tomography and the postoperative pathology report were available for evaluation. Abdominal computed tomography measurement of retroperitoneal fat thickness was used as an indicator of obesity. Data was analyzed according to quartiles of fat thickness. Of 83 patients, 38 were males and 45 were females. Median age was 71 years (range 43–90 years). Increased retroperitoneal fat thickness was not associated with advanced T and N stages on presentation. Rather, patients in the first quartile presented with the worst T and N stages. The proportion of patients with T3 and T4 tumors was 95, 76.2, 66.7, and 66.7% in quartiles 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively (p = 0.0327), while the proportion of patients with positive lymph node metastasis was 60, 23.8, 23.8, and 42.9% in quartiles 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively (p = 0.0319). The data presented here does not support the association of obesity with worse stage at presentation of colon cancer, and other possible mechanisms for worse outcome should be sought.

Head injury following explosions is common. Rapid identification of patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) in need of neurosurgical intervention is complicated in a situation where multiple casualties are admitted following an explosion.To evaluate whether Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score or the Simplified Motor Score at presentation would identify patients with severe TBI in need of neurosurgical intervention.Analysis of clinical data recorded in the Israel National Trauma Registry of 1081 patients treated following terrorist bombings in the civilian setting between 1998 and 2005. Primary analysis of the data was conducted in 2009, and analysis was completed in 2015.Proportion of patients with TBI in need of neurosurgical intervention per GCS score or Simplified Motor Score.Of 1081 patients (median age, 29 years [range, 0-90 years]; 38.9% women), 198 (18.3%) were diagnosed as having TBI (48 mild and 150 severe). Severe TBI was diagnosed in 48 of 877 patients (5%) with a GCS score of 15 and in 99 of 171 patients (58%) with GCS scores of 3 to 14 (P .001). In 65 patients with abnormal GCS (38%), no head injury was recorded. Nine of 877 patients (1%) with a GCS score of 15 were in need of a neurosurgical operation, and fewer than 51 of the 171 patients (30%) with GCS scores of 3 to 14 had a neurosurgical operation (P .001). No difference was found between the proportion of patients in need of neurosurgery with GCS scores of 3 to 8 and those with GCS scores of 9 to 14 (30% vs 27%; P = .83). When the Simplified Motor Score and GCS were compared with respect to their ability to identify patients in need of neurosurgical interventions, no difference was found between the 2 scores.Following an explosion in the civilian setting, 65 patients (38%) with GCS scores of 3 to 14 did not experience severe TBI. The proportion of patients with severe TBI and severe TBI in need of a neurosurgical intervention were similar in patients presenting with GCS scores of 3 to 8 and GCS scores of 9 to 14. In this study, GCS and Simplified Motor Score did not help identify patients with severe TBI in need of a neurosurgical intervention.

Blunt traumatic diaphragmatic injury (BTDI) is an uncommon injury and one which is difficult to diagnose. The objective of this study was to identify features associated with this injury.This was a retrospective study based on records of 354307 blunt trauma victims treated between 1998 and 2013 collected by the Israeli National Trauma Registry.BTDI was reported in 231 (0.065%) patients. Motor vehicle accidents were responsible for 84.4% of the injuries: 97 (42.0%) were reported as drivers; 54 (23.4%) were passengers; 34 (14.7%) were pedestrians hit by cars; and 10 (4.3%) were on motorcycles. There were more males than females (2.5:1) compared with blunt trauma patients without BTDI (p.001). Patients with BTDI were significantly younger than blunt trauma patients without BTDI (p.001). ISS was 9-14 in 5.2%, 16-24 in 16.9%, 25-75 in 77.9%. Urgent surgery was performed in 62% of the patients and 79.7% had surgery within 24h of admission. Mortality was 26.8%. Over 40% of patients with BTDI had associated rib, pelvic and/or extremity injuries. Over 30% had associated spleen, liver and/or lung injuries. Nevertheless, less than 1% of patients with skeletal injuries and less than 2.5% with solid organ injuries overall had associated BTDI. Despite hollow viscus injury being less prevalent, up to 6% of patients with this injury had associated BTDI.BTDI is infrequent following blunt trauma. Hollow viscus injuries were more predictive of BTDI than skeletal or solid organ injuries.

Objectives We hypothesized that preoperative (pre-op) ultrasound (US)-guided posterior transversus abdominis plane block (TAP) and US-guided ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerve block (ILI+IHG) will produce a comparable analgesia after Lichtenstein patch tension-free method of open inguinal hernia repair in adult men. The genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve will be blocked separately. Methods This is a prospective, randomized, controlled, and observer-blinded clinical study. A total of 166 adult men were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a pre-op TAP group, a pre-op ILI+IHG group, and a control group. An intraoperative block of the genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve was performed in all patients in all three groups, followed by postoperative patient-controlled intravenous analgesia with morphine. The pain intensity and morphine consumption immediately after surgery and during the 24 hours after surgery were compared between the groups. Results A total of 149 patients completed the study protocol. The intensity of pain immediately after surgery and morphine consumption were similar in the two “block” groups; however, they were significantly decreased compared with the control group. During the 24 hours after surgery, morphine consumption in the ILI+IHG group decreased compared with the TAP group, as well as in each “block” group versus the control group. Twenty-four hours after surgery, all evaluated parameters were similar. Conclusion Ultrasound-guided ILI+IHG provided better pain control than US-guided posterior TAP following the Lichtenstein patch tension-free method of open inguinal hernia repair in men during 24 hours after surgery. (ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT01429480.)

Intrauterine subdural hematoma (SDH) is a rare event; maternal trauma, especially during the last trimester of pregnancy, is the best documented cause of fetal SDH. We report an extremely rare case of fetal SDH due to maternal trauma diagnosed by multidetector computed tomography. We also discuss the clinical and imaging features of fetal SDH which can be used to assist in diagnosis with emphasis on CT criteria.

Most gastrointestinal fistulae commonly occur following surgery. A minority is caused by a myriad of other etiologies and is termed by some as "uncommon fistulae". The aim of this study was to review these fistulae and their treatment.A literature review was carried out. Searches were conducted in Pubmed and related references reviewed.Except for Crohn's disease and diverticulitis, "uncommon fistulae" are described in case reports or very small case series. Most of the patients were treated by surgery.The anatomic features of the fistula and the etiology usually dictate the approach. Most patients will eventually need surgery to resolve this pathology.

Healthcare professionals require a unique knowledge base to function effectively during a hospital's response to a mass-casualty incident (MCI). A survey of 128 physicians, nurses, and emergency medical technicians involved in trauma care was conducted to assess their knowledge base and how it affected their decision-making in response to a MCI following a terrorist bombing. Three-quarters of the study group responded that ≥20% of the surviving victims were critically injured. Only half of the responders indicated that the main objective of medical management is identifying and treating patients with critical injuries. Forty percent of responders indicated that they would not triage a critically injured victim to immediate care. This survey indicates that further education in the principles of MCI management should be based on critical evaluation of the literature.

Introduction According to the Advanced Trauma Life Support, portable pelvis radiography (PXR) is mandatory in multiple trauma patients, and is performed following initial clinical evaluation. The purpose of an early PXR is to identify pelvic fractures that may have haemodynamic consequences. Today, ultrafast multi-detector CT scanners (MDCT) are readily available and widely used in the evaluation of stable trauma patients. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of PXR in stable blunt multiple trauma patients, who required CT scan for full evaluation of the abdomen and pelvis. Methods A retrospective review of all stable blunt trauma patients, suffering from pelvic fractures was performed from January 2001 until December 2004 at two high volume Trauma Centres. Patients’ demographics and Injury Severity Scores (ISS) were abstracted from our trauma registry. Two certified radiologists and two certified orthopaedic surgeons retrospectively evaluated and compared PXR films and CT angiographies (CTA) of the abdomen and pelvis. We recorded each case when the management policy was altered due to the results of imaging and compared the clinical impact of both modalities. Results One hundred and twenty-nine stable blunt multiple trauma patients with pelvic fractures underwent CTA of the abdomen and pelvis during their initial evaluation. Mean ISS was 16.5. Average Glasgow Coma Scale on arrival was 13.2 (range 3–15). Compared to CTA, sensitivity and specificity of the PXR was 64.4 and 90.0%, respectively. CTA diagnosed 35.6% more pelvic fractures than PXR (p

Emergency pneumonectomy for trauma is associated with very high mortality. Despite significant improvement of the intensive care resources, results of this procedure have not been improved during the last 20 years. When performed because of hemorrhagic shock, pneumonectomy is almost always fatal. We present a series of four patients who underwent total pneumonectomy in our trauma center. The main purpose of this study was to describe pathophysiologic changes and to discuss possible therapeutic alternatives based on the literature review after this operation.

Though tympanic membrane perforation (TMP) is a marker of barotrauma, relation to severity of injury has been contested based on previous observations that following an explosion many victims with significant injuries do not suffer from TMP while many victims with TMP do not suffer from significant injuries. The objective of this study was to reassess the relationship of TMP to severity of injury and resource demand in patients treated in multiple casualty incidents following terrorist bombings treated in one medical center. Retrospective review. Most of the patients with TMP were mildly injured. Nevertheless, TMP was more prevalent in patients with moderate and severe injuries, 53.3 % compared to 13.6 % in mildly injured patients (p = 0.0009). Patients with TMP suffered from more body areas injured (p

To describe the usage of aortic balloon occlusion (ABO), based on a multidisciplinary approach in severe trauma patients, emphasizing the role of the interventional radiologist in primary trauma care.We briefly discuss the relevant literature, the technical aspects of ABO in trauma, and a multidisciplinary approach to the bleeding trauma patient. We describe three severely injured trauma patients for whom ABO was part of initial trauma management.Three severely injured multi-trauma patients were treated by ABO as a bridge to surgery and embolization. The procedures were performed by an interventional radiologist in the early stages of trauma management.The interventional radiologist and the multidisciplinary team approach can be activated already on severe trauma patient arrival. ABO usage and other endovascular methods are becoming more widely spread, and can be used early in trauma management, without delay, thus justifying the early activation of this multidisciplinary approach.

Background Pelvic fractures are considered a marker of injury severity, especially in the pediatric population. However, the correlation between the severity of pelvic fractures and incidence of associated abdominal injuries is not clear. Methods A retrospective cohort study involving blunt trauma patients up to the age of 14 years, who suffered from pelvic fractures, with or without associated intra-abdominal injuries. Results A total of 812 trauma patients were included in this study. Overall, 671 of them suffered from pelvic fractures with abbreviated injury scale (AIS) of 2, 103 with AIS of 3, and 38 with AIS of 4 to 5. Overall mortality was found to be 5.2%, strongly correlating with the severity of the pelvic fractures (p value 0.0001). There was no correlation between the incidence of most extrapelvic abdominal organ injuries (liver, spleen, small bowel, and pancreas) and the severity of pelvic fractures. A significant correlation was found with intrapelvic organ injuries (p value 0.0001) and kidney injuries (p = 0.03). Conclusions Mortality of pediatric trauma patients with pelvic fractures is correlated with the severity of the fractures. An increase in the severity of pelvic fractures in this population is associated with an increased incidence of pelvic organ injury, but is not associated with the presence of extrapelvic abdominal injuries, except for kidney injuries.

Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is a common surgical problem. The aim of this study was to evaluate how insertion of the nasogastric tube may enable differentiation between upper and lower GI bleeding in patients with melena. A retrospective study involving patients admitted to our surgery division with a melena was carried out between the years 2010 and 2012. A total of 386 patients were included in the study. Of these, 279 (72.2%) patients had negative nasogastric aspirate. The sensitivity of examination of nasogastric aspirate to establish the upper GI as the source of bleeding was only 28% and the negative predictive value of a negative nasogastric aspirate was less than 1%. Most patients who initially presented with melena and were found to have upper GI bleeding had a negative nasogastric aspirate. Insertion of a nasogastric tube does not affect the clinical decision to perform upper endoscopy and should not be routinely carried out.

Bombs aimed at civilian populations are the most common weapon used by terrorists throughout the world. Over the last decade, we have been involved in the management of more than 20 mass casualty incidents, most of which were caused by terrorist bombings. Commonly, in these events, there may be many victims and many deaths. However, only a few of the survivors will suffer from life-threatening injuries. Appropriate and timely treatment may impact their survival. Due to the complex mechanism of injury seen in these scenarios, treatment of victims injured by explosions is somewhat different from that exercised in blunt and penetrating trauma from other causes. The intention of this article was to outline the initial medical treatment of the injured victim arriving at the emergency department during a mass casualty incident caused by a terrorist bombing. Treatment protocols for stable, unstable, and in extremis patients are presented.

Technical information for handling fine-needle aspiration samples from thyroid lesions for WETSEM™ electron microscopy is presented. The use of wet SEM technology maintains cytological features of the thyroid cells, in the atmospheric electronic microscope chamber without the need for solidification. Images are presented from normal and pathological thyroid specimens showing subcellular elements unavailable to the cytopathologist by light microscopy. Of 24 samples, 18 were adequate for clinical evaluation. In 16 of these 18 specimens, we could find features compatible with the final histological or cytological diagnosis (post-hoc). In two cases, the cell features were too unique to be interpretable. Because this procedure is relatively simple, there is potential for the use of this technology as an adjunct to light microscopy in clinical and research settings.

Objective To determine the efficacy of 14-Fr PVC round drain in the direct measurement of intra-abdominal pressure. Methods Fifty consecutive patients undergoing elective laparoscopic surgery in a tertiary teaching hospital were included in this pilot study. Patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy, appendectomy, splenectomy, colectomy and Nissen fundoplication. After creation of pneumoperitoneum and insertion of the trocars as indicated by the operation, a 14-Fr PVC round drain was inserted into the abdominal cavity via one of the laparoscopic ports. It was then connected under sterile conditions to the invasive blood pressure measurement system. Intra-abdominal pressure was gradually increased. Intra-abdominal pressures as measured through the round PVC drain were compared to those measured by the laparoscopic insufflator at 5, 8, 12 and 24 mmHg. Results Two hundred measurements using each of the two methods were performed and correlated. The correlation coefficient was 0.996. No complications were observed with this new technique. Conclusion Direct measurement of intra-abdominal pressure using 14-Fr PVC round drain is a newly described technique that is simple, fast and credible. Future investigation will be needed to confirm the reliability of this method during postoperative follow-up of intra-abdominal pressures in selected patients.

Biliary obstruction secondary to malignancy is a common clinical problem. Rarely, biliary obstruction is due to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Obstructive jaundice in these patients usually presents late in the course of the disease. Burkitt's lymphoma is a subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Unlike other forms of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Burkitt's lymphoma presents as an extranodal disease. We present the case of a patient suffering from non-endemic Burkitt's lymphoma whose initial presenting symptom was obstructive jaundice.

Earthquakes continue to exact a heavy toll on life, injury, and loss of property. Survival of casualties extricated from under the rubble depends upon early medical interventions by emergency teams on site. The objective of this paper is to review the pertinent literature and to analyze the information as a practical guideline for the medical management of casualties accidentally buried alive.

Sternal fracture has traditionally been considered an indicator of a severe mechanism of trauma, which warrants careful evaluation of the patient for accompanying injuries. The purpose of this study is to determine the incidence, distribution and mechanisms of spinal fractures associated with fractures of the sternum. Trauma registry data, medical records and X-rays of all patients admitted to the Trauma Unit at Hillel-Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera, Israel, with a diagnosis of sternal fracture during a 6-year period, between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2002, were reviewed retrospectively. 147 patients with sternal fracture were eligible for analysis. The combination of spinal fracture in association with sternal fracture was found in 19 patients (13%), ten males (52.7%) and nine females (47.3%). Mean age was 49 years and mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) 18.6. Motor vehicle accidents were the most common cause of these fractures. An unusually high proportion of cervical spine fractures (36.8%) was noted. Three of the 19 patients (15.5%) with sternal and spinal fractures also suffered from cardiac contusion, confirmed by an elevation of the MB fraction of creatine phosphokinase, ECG changes, and regional hypokinetic areas on echocardiography. Recent studies indicate that the incidence of sternal fracture has risen while its association with accompanying serious injuries has lessened. This is most likely due to the increased use of seat belts in motor vehicle accidents. In both theory and practice spinal fracture is an associated injury in cases of sternal fracture, and usually involves the thoracic level. The authors describe an almost equal distribution of the level of spinal injury, with an unusually high proportion of cervical involvement. They also found a high incidence of myocardial contusion among patients with combined sternal and spinal fractures. Therefore, X-ray evaluation of the entire spine in patients suffering from a fractured sternum, and closer cardiac monitoring of patients with both sternal and spinal fractures are recommended.

The purpose of this paper was to describe an unusual manifestation of a sarcoma of the spleen and to raise awareness for spontaneous rupture of the splenic vessels in patients with splenic tumors. A 70-year-old man was admitted to our institution, suffering from left upper quadrant abdominal pain. Upon physical examination, a large and tender abdominal mass was palpated. Abdominal computed tomography showed a heterogenous enlarged spleen with active contrast extravasation from the splenic artery, free intraperitoneal fluid, and a retroperitoneal hematoma. The patient was treated with angioembolization of the splenic artery. Because of rebleeding, splenectomy was performed. Pathology revealed the spleen to be involved with an unclassified malignant spindle cell neoplasm. We concluded that in the case of spontaneous rupture of the splenic artery, accompanied with a radiologic appearance of an enlarged spleen, the diagnosis of sarcoma should be included in the differential diagnosis.

Rib fractures are a marker of severe injury, predicting a higher incidence of associated injuries. The purpose of this study was to assess whether an increasing number of rib fractures predicts the severity of liver injury in blunt trauma patients. We performed a retrospective cohort study involving blunt trauma patients with concomitant liver injuries and rib fractures who were registered in a national trauma registry. Of 57,130 patients with blunt torso injuries, 14,651 patients sustained rib fractures, and 2,899 patients suffered liver injuries. Concomitant liver injury occurred in 1,087 of the patients with rib fractures (7.4 %), while 1,812 patients sustained liver injury without rib fractures (4.3 %). The presence of six or more rib fractures predicted a higher incidence of liver injury. Among the patients with liver injury, those with concomitant rib fractures had a higher Injury Severity Score (ISS), but similar mortality rates. Among the patients with concomitant rib fractures and liver injury, there was no relationship between the number of fractured ribs and the severity of the liver injury. Although the presence of rib fractures was associated with an increased probability of liver injury in patients with blunt torso trauma, there is no relationship between the number of fractured ribs and the severity of liver injury.

Introduction Non-operative management has become the standard approach for treating stable patients sustaining blunt hepatic or splenic injuries in the absence of other indications for laparotomy. The liberal use of computed tomography (CT) has reduced the rate of unnecessary immediate laparotomies; however, due to its limited sensitivity in the diagnosis of hollow viscus injuries (HVI), this may be at the expense of a rise in the incidence of missed HVI. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of concomitant HVI in blunt trauma patients diagnosed with hepatic and/or splenic injuries, and to evaluate whether a correlation exists between this incidence and the severity of hepatic or splenic injuries. Methods A retrospective cohort study involving blunt trauma patients with splenic and/or liver injuries, between the years 1998 and 2012 registered in the Israel National Trauma Registry. The association between the presence and severity of splenic and/or liver injuries and the incidence of HVI was examined. Results Of the 57,130 trauma victims identified as suffering from blunt torso injuries, 2335 (4%) sustained hepatic injuries without splenic injuries (H group), 3127 (5.4%) had splenic injuries without hepatic injuries (S group), and 564 (1%) suffered from both hepatic and splenic injuries (H + S group). Overall, 957 patients sustained 1063 HVI. The incidence of HVI among blunt torso trauma victims who sustained neither splenic nor hepatic injuries was 1.5% which is significantly lower than in the S (3.1%), H (3.1%), and H + S (6.7%) groups. In the S group, there was a clear correlation between the severity of the splenic injury and the incidence of HVI. This correlation was not found in the H group. Conclusions The presence of blunt splenic and/or hepatic injuries predicts a higher incidence of HVI, especially if combined. While in blunt splenic injury patients there is a clear correlation between the incidence of HVI and the severity of splenic injury, such a correlation does not exist in patients with blunt hepatic injury.

A 54-year-old man was admitted to our surgery department complaining of right upper quadrant abdominal pain. The working diagnosis of acute cholecystitis was based on the clinical picture, laboratory tests, and ultrasound findings. Because of the uncommon course of the disease, computed abdominal tomography was performed, showing multiple stones in the anterior abdominal wall. On surgery, the fistula, containing stones and pus connecting the gallbladder and the abdominal wall muscles, was found.

Objective: To assess the effect of teleradiology upon the need for transfer of head injured victims requiring hospitalisation but referred initially to a rural level 2 trauma centre without neurosurgical capacity. Methods: Head injured patients requiring hospitalisation, admitted to a rural level 2 trauma centre between August 2003 and August 2005, were identified. A digitalised copy of the computed tomographic (CT) scan was transferred to the neurosurgical referral centre via teleradiology and was available for review by the neurosurgeon on-call, who then, together with the trauma surgeon in the rural level 2 trauma centre, decided whether to transfer the patient to the neurosurgical referral centre. Results: Of 209 trauma victims with neurosurgical pathology in need of hospitalisation, 126 (60.2%) were immediately transferred while 83 (39.7%) of the patients were hospitalised in the rural level 2 trauma centre for observation. Two (2.4%) failed the intent to treat locally. One patient, suffering from multi-trauma, was stabilised after damage control laparotomy only to succumb to an enlarging epidural haematoma. Another patient was transferred 2 days after admission because of difficulty in clinical evaluation due to a previously existing neurological disorder, but no active treatment was necessary. All other 81 patients recovered uneventfully. Conclusions: Selective head injured patients with pathological CT scan may be safely managed in level 2 trauma centres. A committed trauma team in the rural trauma centre, neurosurgical consultation and availability of a teleradiology system are requisites. Currently existing transfer criteria should be carefully re-evaluated.

Rib fractures are considered a marker of exposure to significant traumatic energy. In children, because of high elasticity of the chest wall, higher energy levels are necessary for ribs to fracture. The purpose of this study was to analyze patterns of associated injuries in children as compared with adults, all of whom presented with rib fractures.A retrospective cohort study involving blunt trauma patients with rib fractures registered in the National Trauma Registry was conducted.Of 6,995 trauma victims who were found to suffer from rib fractures, 328 were children and 6,627 were adults. Isolated rib fractures without associated injuries occurred in 19 children (5.8%) and 731 adults (11%). More adults had 4 or more fractured ribs compared with children (P.001). Children suffered from higher rates of associated brain injuries (P = .003), hemothorax/pneumothorax (P = .006), spleen, and liver injury (P.001). Mortality rate was 5% in both groups.The incidence of associated head, thoracic, and abdominal solid organ injuries in children was significantly higher than in adults suffering from rib fractures. In spite of a higher Injury Severity Score and incidence of associated injuries, mortality rate was similar. Mortality of rib fracture patients was mostly affected by the presence of extrathoracic injuries.

Hypothesis : Routine repeat head Computed Tomography (CT) for patients with traumatic head injury, initially presenting with GCS of 14-15, does not change therapeutic policy in these trauma patients. Methods : This was a retrospective cohort study of trauma patients with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of 14-15 on admission, suffering from different types of intracranial bleeding who were admitted for observation in a level II trauma center. The size of hematoma on initial head CT was measured and compared to findings of repeat CT performed following 12 hours. Patients were evaluated as to changes in neurologic status and treatment. Results: 68 patients treated over a period of 5 years were evaluated. Forty two (61.8%) were male and 24 (38.2%) were female. Mean age was 56.2 years and mean ISS score was 12 ± 5.1. Initial GCS was 15 in 51 patients and 14 in 15 other patients. CT scan revealed 7 epidural hematomas, 20 subdural hematomas, twenty eight intraparenchymal bleeding, and 13 subarchnoid hemorrhages. Repeat CT revealed an increase in size of the hematoma in 8 eight patients. None of these patients suffered from clinical deterioration. Repeat CT in 12 patients who’s GCS deteriorated, did not show any significant changes on the repeat CT scan. None of the patients underwent intervention after a routine repeat CT. Conclusions: Routine repeat CT scan of head, performed 12 hours after the initial scan did not change the therapeutic policy in GCS 14-15 head trauma patients. The need for mandatory CT of head in mild traumatic brain injury should be questioned

An acute occlusion of the tibio-peroneal trunk, due to gunshot wound injury in a young woman is presented. Delineation of the injury was determined during wound exploration. The wounded vessel was resected and arterial reconstruction was achieved by contralateral non-reversed greater saphenous vein graft interposition pretreated with blind valvulotomy. A large venous tributary allowed a bifurcated graft to be constructed. This case describes the technique of bifurcated non-reversed venous grafting, which has not been reported in an acute trauma scenario. The advantages of the method are discussed.