The purpose of the study is to analyze the results of surgical treatment of patients with brain and torso injury for 5 years in a single regional trauma center.

We analyzed multiple trauma patients who underwent brain surgery and torso surgery for chest or abdominal injury simultaneously or sequentially among all 14,175 trauma patients who visited Dankook University Hospital Regional Trauma Center from January 2015 to December 2019.

A total of 25 patients underwent brain surgery and chest or abdominal surgery, with an average age of 55.4 years, 17 men and eight women. As a result of surgical treatment, there were 14 patients who underwent the surgery on the same day (resuscitative surgery), of which five patients underwent surgery simultaneously, four patients underwent brain surgery first, and one patient underwent chest surgery first, four patients underwent abdominal surgery first. Among the 25 treated patients, the 10 patients died, which the cause of death was five severe brain injuries and four hemorrhagic shocks.

In multiple damaged patients require both torso surgery and head surgery, poor prognosis was associated with low initial Glasgow Coma Scale and high Injury Severity Score. On the other hand, patients had good prognosis when blood pressure was maintained and operation for traumatic brain injury was performed first. At the same time, patients who had operation on head and torso simultaneously had extremely low survival rates. This may be associated with secondary brain injury due to low perfusion pressure or continuous hypotension and the traumatic coagulopathy caused by massive bleeding.

For severe lung injuries or acute respiratory distress syndrome that occurs during critical care due to trauma, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) may be used as a salvage treatment. This study aimed to describe the experiences at a single center with the use of ECMO in trauma patients.

We enrolled a total of 25 trauma patients who were treated with ECMO between January 2015 and December 2019 at a regional trauma center. We analyzed and compared patients’ characteristics between survivors and non-survivors through a medical chart review. We also compared the characteristics of patients between direct and indirect lung injury groups.

The mean age of the 25 patients was 45.9±19.5 years, and 19 patients (76.0%) were male. The mean Injury Severity Score was 26.1±10.1. Ten patients (40.0%) had an Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) 3 score of 4, and six patients (24.0%) had an AIS 3 score of 5. There were 19 cases (76.6%) of direct lung injury. The mortality rate was 60.0% (n=15). Sixteen patients (64.0%) received a loading dose of heparin for the initiation of ECMO. There was no significant difference in heparin use between the survivors and non-survivors (70% in survivors vs. 60% in non-survivors, p=0.691). When comparing the direct and indirect lung injury groups, there were no significant differences in variables other than age and ECMO onset time.

If more evidence is gathered, risk factors and indications will be identified and we expect that more trauma patients will receive appropriate treatment with ECMO.

This study investigated the clinical outcomes of trauma patients with blunt thoracic aortic injuries at a single institution.

During the study period, 9,501 patients with traumatic aortic injuries presented to Trauma Center of Gil Medical Center. Among them, 1,594 patients had severe trauma, with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) of >15. Demographics, physiological data, injury mechanism, hemodynamic parameters associated with the thoracic injury according to chest computed tomography (CT) findings, the timing of the intervention, and clinical outcomes were reviewed.

Twenty-eight patients had blunt aortic injuries (75% male, mean age, 45.9±16.3 years). The majority (82.1%, n=23/28) of these patients were involved in traffic accidents. The median ISS was 35.0 (interquartile range 21.0–41.0). The injuries were found in the ascending aorta (n=1, 3.6%) aortic arch (n=8, 28.6%) aortic isthmus (n=18, 64.3%), and descending aorta (n=1, 3.6%). The severity of aortic injuries on chest CT was categorized as intramural hematoma (n=1, 3.6%), dissection (n=3, 10.7%), transection (n=9, 32.2%), pseudoaneurysm (n=12, 42.8%), and rupture (n=3, 10.7%). Endovascular repair was performed in 71.4% of patients (45% within 24 hours), and two patients received surgical management. The mortality rate was 25% (n=7).

Traumatic thoracic aortic injuries are life-threatening. In our experience, however, if there is no rupture and extravasation from an aortic injury, resuscitation and stabilization of vital signs are more important than an intervention for an aortic injury in patients with multiple traumas. Further study is required to optimize the timing of the intervention and explore management strategies for blunt thoracic aortic injuries in severe trauma patients needing resuscitation.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has necessitated a redistribution of resources to meet hospitals’ service needs. This study investigated the impact of COVID-19 on a regional trauma center in South Korea.

We retrospectively reviewed cases of polytrauma at a single regional trauma center in South Korea between January 20 and September 30, 2020 (the COVID-19 period) and compared them to cases reported during the same time frame (January 20 to September 30) between 2016 and 2019 (the pre-COVID-19 period). The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality, and secondary outcomes included the number of daily admissions, hospital length of stay (LOS), and intensive care unit (ICU) LOS.

The mean number of daily admissions decreased by 15% during the COVID-19 period (4.0±2.0 vs. 4.7±2.2, p=0.010). There was no difference in mechanisms of injury between the two periods. For patients admitted during the COVID-19 period, the hospital LOS was significantly shorter (10 days [interquartile range (IQR) 4–19 days] vs. 16 days [IQR 8–28 days], p<0.001); however, no significant differences in ICU LOS and mortality were found.

The observations at Regional Trauma Center, Pusan National University Hospital corroborate anecdotal reports that there has been a decline in the number of patients admitted to hospitals during the COVID-19 period. In addition, patients admitted during the COVID-19 pandemic had a significantly shorter hospital LOS than those admitted before the COVID-19 pandemic. These preliminary data warrant validation in larger, multi-center studies.

Severe pelvic fractures are associated with genitourinary injuries, but the relationship between pelvic trauma and concomitant urethral injuries has yet to be elucidated. This study evaluated the incidence, mechanism, site, and extent of urethral injuries in male patients with pelvic fractures.

A retrospective cohort study was performed involving patients with urethral injuries accompanying pelvic fractures who visited Pusan National University Hospital from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2019. Demographics, mechanisms of injury, clinical features of the urethral injuries, concomitant bladder injuries, methods of management, and the configuration of the pelvic fractures were analyzed.

The final study population included 24 patients. The overall incidence of urethral injury with pelvic fracture was 2.6%, with the most common mechanism of urethral injury being traffic accidents (62.5%). Complete urethral disruption (16/24, 66.7%) was more common than partial urethral injuries (8/24, 33.3%), and unstable pelvic fractures were the most common type of pelvic fracture observed (70.8%). There was no definitive relationship between the extent of urethral injury and pelvic ring stability.

The present study provides a 6-year retrospective review characterizing the incidence, mechanism, and clinical features of urethral injury-associated pelvic fractures. This study suggests that the possibility of urethral injury must be considered, especially in unstable pelvic fracture patients, and that treatment should be chosen based on the clinical findings.

Open extremity fractures require prompt antibiotic medication and initial debridement surgery to reduce the infection rate and restore functional stabilization. We aimed to report the effects and positive outcomes of a trauma team approach on the management of open extremity fractures in polytrauma patients.

This retrospective review included all polytrauma patients with open extremity fractures admitted between March 2009 and December 2019. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether they were treated before or after the implementation of the trauma team approach (March 2014). We analyzed the outcomes in each group with respect to the time interval until the doctor’s arrival, total length of stay in the emergency department, the time interval until initial antibiotic treatment and operation, whether the initial operation was performed within 24 hours, and the rate of deep infections.

A total of 123 patients met the inclusion criteria. There were no statistically significant differences in demographic characteristics. The time interval until the doctor’s arrival (64.12±49.2 minutes vs. 19.82±15.23 minutes; p=0.035) and initial antibiotic treatment (115.47±72.12 minutes vs. 48.78±30.12 minutes; p=0.023) significantly improved after implementing the trauma team approach. The union rate was not significantly different. However, the time interval until initial debridement, opportunity for initial debridement within 24 hours, and the rate of deep infections demonstrated better results.

The reduced time interval until initial antibiotic treatment and debridement could be attributed to the positive effect of the trauma team approach on the management of open extremity fractures in polytrauma patients.

The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and characteristics of associated injuries in patients with spine trauma.

Data of 3,920 consecutive patients admitted to a regional trauma center during a 3-year period were analyzed retrospectively.

Of the 3,920 patients who were admitted to the trauma center during the 3-year study period, 389 (9.9%) had major spinal injuries. Among these 389 patients, 303 (77.9%) had associated injuries outside the spine. The most common body region of associated injuries was the extremities or pelvis (194 cases, 49.4%), followed by the chest (154 cases, 39.6%) and face (127 cases, 32.6%). Of these 303 patients, 149 (64%) had associated injuries that required surgical treatment such as laparotomy or internal fixation. Associated injuries were more common in patients with lumbar injuries (93.3%) or multiple spinal injuries (100%) than in those with lower cervical injuries (67.4%). There was a significant correlation between the location of the spinal injury and the body region of the associated injury. However, distant associated injuries were also common.

Associated injuries were very common in spinal injury patients. Based on demographic groups, the trauma mechanism, and the location of spinal injury, an associated injury should be suspected until proven otherwise. Using a multidisciplinary and integrated approach to treat trauma victims is of the paramount importance.