Lauri Handolin

The Utstein template for uniform reporting of data following major trauma: A joint revision by SCANTEM, TARN, DGU-TR and RITG

BackgroundIn 1999, an Utstein Template for Uniform Reporting of Data following Major Trauma was published. Few papers have since been published based on that template, reflecting a lack of international consensus on its feasibility and use. The aim of the present revision was to further develop the Utstein Template, particularly with a major reduction in the number of core data variables and the addition of more precise definitions of data variables. In addition, we wanted to define a set of inclusion and exclusion criteria that will facilitate uniform comparison of trauma cases.MethodsOver a ten-month period, selected experts from major European trauma registries and organisations carried out an Utstein consensus process based on a modified nominal group technique.ResultsThe expert panel concluded that a New Injury Severity Score > 15 should be used as a single inclusion criterion, and five exclusion criteria were also selected. Thirty-five precisely defined core data variables were agreed upon, with further division into core data for Predictive models, System Characteristic Descriptors and for Process Mapping.ConclusionThrough a structured consensus process, the Utstein Template for Uniform Reporting of Data following Major Trauma has been revised. This revision will enhance national and international comparisons of trauma systems, and will form the basis for improved prediction models in trauma care.

Scandinavian guidelines - "The massively bleeding patient"

c. gaarder, Trauma Unit, Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway p. a. naess, Trauma Unit, Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway e. Frischknecht christensen, Aarhus Trauma Centre, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark p. hakala, Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Helsinki University Hospital, Finland l. handolin, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Helsinki University Hospital, Finland h. e. heier, Department of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway K. ivancev, Endovascular Centre, Malmö University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden p. Johansson, Department of Clinical Immunology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark a. leppäniemi, Department of Surgery, Meilahti Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland F. lippert, Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark h. m. lossius, Norwegian Air Ambulance, Drøbak, Norway h. Opdahl, Intensive Care Unit/NBC centre, Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway J. pillgram-larsen, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway O. Røise, Orthopaedic Centre, Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway n. O. skaga, Department of Anaesthesia, Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway e. søreide, Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway J. stensballe, Department of Anaesthesia, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark e. Tønnessen, Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark a. Töttermann, Department of Orthopaedics, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden p. ́́ Ortenwall, Trauma Unit, Department of Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden a. ́́ Ostlund, Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive care, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

Retrograde intramedullary nailing in distal femoral fractures—results in a series of 46 consecutive operations

We present a series of 44 consecutive patients with 46 distal femoral fractures, who were treated with a retrograde intramedullary nail (Distal Femoral Nail (DFN)). Operational data, per- and post-operative complications and the outcome were studied retrospectively after a mean follow-up of 9 months. The final union rate was 95%, with a mean union time of 17.5 (8-68) weeks. Restoration of the limb axial alignment and length was inadequate in two cases, whereas three losses of reduction and one non-union were observed. Two cases of distal locking screw breakage were also observed. Moreover, one patient suffered from an iatrogenic lesion of the branch of the deep femoral artery. No deep, but three superficial infections were observed. In conclusion, our results suggest that DFN is a reliable alternative in distal femoral fracture treatment with a low complication rate.

Early intramedullary nailing of lower extremity fracture and respiratory function in polytraumatized patients with a chest injury: a retrospective study of 61 patients.

Background The optimal treatment of diaphyseal fractures of the lower extremities in patients who also have serious chest injuries is not known. Patients and methods We retrospectively evaluated the effect of an early intramedullary nailing (IMN) of femur or tibia fractures on respiratory function in 61 consecutive polytraumatized patients with unilateral or bilateral pulmonary contusion (thoracic AIS=3) admitted to our trauma intensive care unit between January 2000 and June 2001. 27 patients had a diaphyseal fracture of at least one long bone of the lower extremity, which was treated with IMN within 24 hours of admission. Results We found no difference between patients with or without a lower extremity fracture regarding the length of ventilator treatment, oxygenation ratio (PaO2/FiO2) or in the incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), pneumonia, multi-organ failure or mortality. Interpretation In this retrospective study, IMN of a long bone fracture in a patient with multiple injuries and with a coexisting pulmonary contusion did not impair pulmonary function or outcome.

External validation of the international mission for prognosis and analysis of clinical trials model and the role of markers of coagulation.

BACKGROUND Markers of coagulation have shown to have important value in predicting traumatic brain injury outcome. OBJECTIVE To externally validate and investigate the role of markers of coagulation for outcome prediction by using the International Mission for Prognosis and Analysis of Clinical Trials (IMPACT) model while adjusting for overall injury severity. METHODS A retrospective chart analysis of traumatic brain injury patients admitted to Helsinki University Central Hospital between 2009 and 2010 was performed. Outcome was estimated by using the criteria of the IMPACT model. Admission international normalized ratio (INR) and platelet count were used as markers of coagulation. Overall injury severity was categorized with the injury severity score (ISS). Variables were added to the calculated IMPACT risk, generating new models. Model performance was assessed by analyzing and comparing the area under the curve (AUC) of the models. RESULTS For 342 included patients, 6-month mortality was 32% and unfavorable neurological outcome was 36%. Patients with a poor outcome had lower platelets and higher INR and ISS than those with good outcome (P < .001). The IMPACT model had an AUC of 0.85 for predicting mortality and 0.81 for neurological outcome. Addition of INR but not ISS or platelets to the IMPACT predicted risk improved the predictive validity for mortality ([INCREMENT]AUC 0.02, P = .034) but not neurological outcome ([INCREMENT]AUC 0.00, P = .401). In multivariate analysis, INR remained significant for mortality but not for neurological outcome when adjusting for IMPACT risk and ISS (P = .012). CONCLUSION The IMPACT model showed excellent performance, and INR was an independent predictor for mortality, independent of overall injury severity.

NO LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF ULTRASOUND THERAPY ON BIOABSORBABLE SCREW-FIXED LATERAL MALLEOLAR FRACTURE

Background and Aims: The present study was initiated to evaluate the long-term effects of low-intensity ultrasound therapy on bioabsorbable screw-fixed lateral malleolar fractures, which has not been studied earlier. Patients and Methods: The study design was prospective, randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled. Sixteen dislocated lateral malleolar fractures were fixed with one bioabsorbable self-reinforced poly-L-lactide screw. The patients used an ultrasound device 20 minutes daily for six weeks without knowing it was active (eight patients) or inactive (eight patients). The follow-up time was 18 months. The radiological bone morphology was assessed by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) scans, the bone mineral density by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans, and the clinical outcome by Olerud-Molander scoring and clinical examination of the ankle. Results: The MDCT scans revealed that all fractures were fully healed, and no differences were observed in radiological bone morphology at the fracture site. The bone mineral density of the fractured lateral malleolus tended to increase slightly during the 18-month follow-up, the increase being symmetrical in both groups. No differences were observed in the clinical outcome or Olerud-Molander scores. Conclusions: The six-week low-intensity ultrasound therapy had no effect on radiological bone morphology, bone mineral density or clinical outcome in bioabsorbable screw-fixed lateral malleolar fractures 18 months after the injury.

Injury to the deep femoral artery during proximal locking of a distal femoral nail--a report of 2 cases.

No Abstract available.

Pre-notification of arriving trauma patient at trauma centre: A retrospective analysis of the information in 700 consecutive cases

BackgroundPre-notification of an arriving trauma patient, given by transporting emergency medical unit, is needed in terms of facilitating the admitting emergency department to get ready for the patient before the patient actually arrives. In the present study we retrospectively analyzed the pre-hospital information provided by 700 consecutive pre-notification mobile phone calls in terms to asses the response of trauma team activation regard to pre-notified information such as vital signs and level of consciousness, mechanism of injury (MOI), and estimated elapsed time (EET) from the time of pre-notification phone call to arrival.ResultsThe median EET was 15 minutes (range 0 – 80 min, interquartile range 10 – 20 min). In 11% of the cases EET was 5 minutes or shorter. 17% of the patients were intubated and ventilated on scene at the time pre-notification phone call took place. The most commonly notified pre-hospitally diagnosed injuries were thoracic in 75 cases (11%), followed by unstable long bone (tibia, femur, humerus) fracture in 66 cases (9%), and abdominal injuries in 32 cases (5%). Trauma team was activated for 61% of 700 pre-notified patients. MOI without clinical symptoms was the reason for team activation in 75% of the cases. In 25% of the cases there were pre-hospitally observed clinical injuries or abnormalities in vital parameters.ConclusionPre-notification phone call is of a crucial importance in organizing every day activities at a busy trauma centre, but it should not take place in too much advance. In any case, a pre-notification phone call, even on short notice, gives emergency department personnel some time to prepare for the incoming patient.

Validation of the revised injury severity classification score in patients with moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury

INTRODUCTION By analysing risk-adjusted mortality ratios, weaknesses in the process of care might be identified. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the main cause of death in trauma, and thus it is crucial that trauma prediction models are valid for TBI patients. Accordingly, we assessed the validity of the RISC score in TBI patients by internal and external validation analyses. METHODS Patients with moderate-to-severe TBI admitted to the TraumaRegister DGU® (TR-DGU) and the trauma registry of Helsinki University Hospital (TR-THEL) in 2006-2011 were included in this retrospective open cohort study. Definition of moderate-to-severe TBI was head abbreviated injury scale of 3 or higher. Subgroup analysis for patients with isolated and polytrauma TBI was performed. The performance of the RISC score was evaluated by assessing its discrimination (area under the curve, AUC) and calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow [H-L] test). RESULTS Among the 9106 and 809 patients with moderate-to-severe TBI admitted to TR-DGU and TR-THEL, unadjusted mortality was 26% and 23%, respectively. Internal and external validation of the RISC score showed good discrimination (TR-DGU AUC 0.89, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.88-0.90 and TR-THEL AUC 0.84, 95% CI 0.81-0.87), but poor calibration (p<0.001) in patients with moderate-to-severe TBI. Subgroup analysis found the discrimination only to be modest in isolated TBI (AUC 0.76) and calibration to be particularly poor in polytrauma TBI (TR-DGU H-L=4356, p<0.001; TR-THEL H-L 112, p<0.001). CONCLUSION The RISC score was found to be of limited predictive value in patients with moderate-to-severe TBI. A new general trauma scoring system that includes TBI specific prognostic factors is warranted.

Factors associated with in-hospital outcomes in 594 consecutive patients suffering from severe blunt chest trauma

Background and Aims: Blunt thoracic injury is a common cause for hospital admission after trauma. The effect of the number of rib fractures on the outcome is controversial. In this study, our hypothesis was that an increasing number of rib fractures correlates with mortality and hospital resource utilization. In addition to mortality, our focus was on the length of stay at hospital and in the intensive care unit, ventilator days, and the days in continuous positive airway pressure. Material and Methods: The present investigation is a retrospective study from a single trauma center. The study includes patients with severe thoracic injury (thoracic Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) > 2) admitted to hospital after blunt trauma. Patients with isolated thoracic spine injuries and patients who were dead on arrival were excluded. Vital signs, laboratory results on admission, given care, intensive care unit and hospital length of stay, injuries, and in-hospital mortality were collected for the study. Results: A total of 594 patients from a 5-year period (2003–2007) were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 45 years, and 76.9% of the patients were males. The average Injury Severity Score was 22, and the patients had on average 5.5 injuries. Overall mortality was 6.4%. In the multivariate analysis, the mortality was associated with base excess and tromboplastin time in admission. The number of rib fractures did not correlate with the outcome measures, but the presence of bilateral rib fractures correlated with the outcome measures other than mortality. Conclusions: The number of rib fractures does not correlate with mortality or the length of stay in the intensive care unit in blunt trauma patients with severe thoracic injury. Mortality in these patients correlated with the degree of hypoperfusion (base excess) and coagulation abnormalities (tromboplastin time) on admission.