Nigel Tai

A major trauma centre is a specialty hospital not a hospital of specialties

High estimates of preventable death rates have renewed the impetus for national regionalization of trauma care. Institution of a specialist multidisciplinary trauma service and performance improvement programme was hypothesized to have resulted in improved outcomes for severely injured patients.

Imaging vascular trauma

Over the past 50 years the management of vascular trauma has changed from mandatory surgical exploration to selective non‐operative treatment, where possible. Accurate, non‐invasive, diagnostic imaging techniques are the key to this strategy. The purpose of this review was to define optimal first‐line imaging in patients with suspected vascular injury in different anatomical regions.

Injury pattern and mortality of noncompressible torso hemorrhage in UK combat casualties.

BACKGROUND Hemorrhage following traumatic injury is a leading cause of military and civilian mortality. Noncompressible torso hemorrhage (NCTH) has been identified as particularly lethal, especially in the prehospital setting. METHODS All patients sustaining NCTH between August 2002 and July 2012 were identified from the UK Joint Theatre Trauma Registry. NCTH was defined as injury to a named torso axial vessel, pulmonary injury, solid-organ injury (Grade 4 or greater injury to the liver, kidney, or spleen) or pelvic fracture with ring disruption. Patients with ongoing hemorrhage were identified using either a systolic blood pressure of less than 90 mm Hg or the need for immediate surgical hemorrhage control. Data on injury pattern and location as well as cause of death were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS During 10 years, 296 patients were identified with NCTH, with a mortality of 85.5%. The majority of deaths occurred before hospital admission (n = 222, 75.0%). Of patients admitted to hospital, survivors (n = 43, 14.5%) had a higher median systolic blood pressure (108 [43] vs. 89 [46], p = 0.123) and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) (14 [12] vs. 3 [0], p < 0.001) compared with in-hospital deaths (n = 31, 10.5%). Hemorrhage was the more common cause of death (60.1%), followed by central nervous system disruption (30.8%), total body disruption (5.1%), and multiple-organ failure (4.0%). On multivariate analysis, major arterial and pulmonary hilar injury are most lethal with odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 16.44 (5.50–49.11) and 9.61 (1.06–87.00), respectively. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that the majority of patients sustaining NCTH die before hospital admission, with exsanguination and central nervous system disruption contributing to the bulk cause of death. Major arterial and pulmonary hilar injuries are independent predictors of mortality. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Epidemiologic study, level III.

Improvised explosive device related pelvi-perineal trauma: anatomic injuries and surgical management

BACKGROUND Pelviperineal injuries, primarily due to blast mechanisms, are becoming the signature injury pattern on operations in Afghanistan. This study set out to define these injuries and to refine our team-based surgical resuscitation strategies to provide a resuscitation-debridement-diversion didactic on our Military Operational Surgical Training predeployment course to optimize our field care of these injuries. METHODS A retrospective study of the UK Joint Theatre Trauma Registry was performed looking at consecutive data from January 2003 to December 2010, identifying patients with perineal injuries. Data abstracted included patient demographics, mechanism of injury, Injury Severity Score (ISS), management, and outcomes. RESULTS Of 2204 UK military trauma patients, 118 (5.4%) had a recorded perineal injury and 56 (47%) died . Pelvic fractures were identified in 63 (53%) of 118 patients of which only 17 (27%) of 63 survived. Mortality rates were significantly different between the combined perineal and pelvic fracture group compared with the pelvic fractures or perineal injuries alone (107 [41%] of 261 and 11 [18%] of 56, respectively, p < 0.001). The median (interquartile range) ISS for all patients was 38 (29–57). The ISS for those with pelvic fractures were significantly higher than those with perineal injuries alone, 50 (38–71) versus 30 (15–35) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Improvised explosive device–related perineal injuries with pelvic fractures had the highest rate of mortality compared with perineal injuries alone. Early aggressive resuscitation (activation of the massive hemorrhage protocol) is essential to survival in this cohort. Our recommendations are uncompromising initial debridement, immediate fecal diversion, and early enteral feeding. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Epidemiologic study, level III.

Complications of extremity vascular injuries in conflict

INTRODUCTION The extremities remain the most common sites of wounding in conflict, are associated with a significant incidence of vascular trauma, and have a high complication rate (infection, secondary amputation, and graft thrombosis). AIM The purpose of this study was to study the complication rate after extremity vascular injury. In particular, the aim was to analyze whether this was influenced by the presence or absence of a bony injury. METHODS A prospectively maintained trauma registry was retrospectively reviewed for all UK military casualties with extremity injuries (Abbreviated Injury Score >1) December 8, 2003 to May 12, 2008. Demographics and the details of their vascular injuries, management, and outcome were documented using the trauma audit and medical notes. RESULTS Thirty-four patients (34%)--37 limbs (30%)--had sustained a total of 38 vascular injuries. Twenty-eight limbs (22.6%) had an associated fracture, 9 (7.3%) did not. Twenty-nine limbs (23.4%) required immediate revascularization to preserve their limb: 16 limbs (13%) underwent an initial Damage Control procedure, and 13 limbs (10.5%) underwent Definitive Surgery. Overall, there were 25 limbs (20.2%) with complications. Twenty-two were in the 28 limbs with open fractures, 3 were in the 9 limbs without a fracture (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the complication rate with respect to upper versus lower limb and damage control versus definitive surgery. CONCLUSION We have demonstrated that prognosis is worse after military vascular trauma if there is an associated fracture, probably due to higher energy transfer and greater tissue damage.

Impact on outcome of a targeted performance improvement programme in haemodynamically unstable patients with a pelvic fracture

We describe the impact of a targeted performance improvement programme and the associated performance improvement interventions, on mortality rates, error rates and process of care for haemodynamically unstable patients with pelvic fractures. Clinical care and performance improvement data for 185 adult patients with exsanguinating pelvic trauma presenting to a United Kingdom Major Trauma Centre between January 2007 and January 2011 were analysed with univariate and multivariate regression and compared with National data. In total 62 patients (34%) died from their injuries and opportunities for improved care were identified in one third of deaths. Three major interventions were introduced during the study period in response to the findings. These were a massive haemorrhage protocol, a decision-making algorithm and employment of specialist pelvic orthopaedic surgeons. Interventions which improved performance were associated with an annual reduction in mortality (odds ratio 0.64 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.44 to 0.93), p = 0.02), a reduction in error rates (p = 0.024) and significant improvements in the targeted processes of care. Exsanguinating patients with pelvic trauma are complex to manage and are associated with high mortality rates; implementation of a targeted performance improvement programme achieved sustained improvements in mortality, error rates and trauma care in this group of severely injured patients.

Management and closure of the open abdomen after damage control laparotomy for trauma. A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION Damage control laparotomy for trauma (DCL) entails immediate control of haemorrhage and contamination, temporary abdominal closure (TAC), a period of physiological stabilisation, then definitive repair of injuries. Although immediate primary fascial closure is desired, fascial retraction and visceral oedema may dictate an alternate approach. Our objectives were to systematically identify and compare methods for restoration of fascial continuity when primary closure is not possible following DCL for trauma, to simplify these into a standardised map, and describe the ideal measures of process and outcome for future studies. METHODS Cochrane, OVID (Medline, AMED, Embase, HMIC) and PubMed databases were accessed using terms: (traum*, damage control, abbreviated laparotomy, component separation, fascial traction, mesh closure, planned ventral hernia (PVH), and topical negative pressure (TNP)). Randomised Controlled Trials, Case Series and Cohort Studies reporting TAC and early definitive closure methods in trauma patients undergoing DCL were included. Outcomes were mortality, days to fascial closure, hospital length of stay, abdominal complications and delayed ventral herniation. RESULTS 26 studies described and compared early definitive closure methods; delayed primary closure (DPC), component separation (CS) and mesh repair (MR), among patients with an open abdomen after DCL for trauma. A three phase map was developed to describe the temporal and sequential attributes of each technique. Significant heterogeneity in nomenclature, terminology, and reporting of outcomes was identified. Estimates for abdominal complications in DPC, MR and CS groups were 17%, 41% and 17% respectively, while estimates for mortality in DPC and MR groups were 6% and 0.5% (data heterogeneity and requirement of fixed and random effects models prevented significance assessment). Estimates for abdominal closure in the MR and DPC groups differed; 6.30 (95% CI=5.10-7.51), and 15.90 (95% CI=9.22-22.58) days respectively. Reporting poverty prevented subgroup estimate generation for ventral hernia and hospital length of stay. CONCLUSION Component separation or mesh repair may be valid alternatives to delayed primary closure following a trauma DCL. Comparisons were hampered by the lack of uniform reporting and bias. We propose a new system of standardised nomenclature and reporting for further investigation and management of the post-DCL open abdomen.

Military Junctional Trauma

Junctional zone trauma, by definition, is an injury occurring at the junction of anatomically distinct zones. These regions are traversed by major vascular structures, and are therefore frequently accessed surgically in the trauma patient for haemorrhage control. Whilst the principles of vascular control still apply in the context of this wounding pattern, these injuries are challenging because proximal and distal control are achieved in anatomically distinct regions. In a paper documenting injuries amongst US Army Rangers during the “Black Hawk Down” incident in Mogadishu, Somalia, Mabry et al noted “...the management of choice for severe extremity hemorrhage is an effective tourniquet followed by surgical repair or ligation of the injured vessels” [1]. Since then, tourniquet use has been promulgated extensively such that it is now the cornerstone of the pre-hospital response to haemorrhagic extremity injury [2]. Mabry also raised the question: “...But what about those injuries not amenable to a tourniquet, such as those to the lower abdomen, groin, axilla and proximal extremities?” Application of direct tamponading manual pressure to these wounds is ineffective (due to skeletal protection, adverse vessel anatomy or depth) and, even if possible, is impractical to maintain consistently in a non-benign tactical situation. In response to this, intense efforts have been made to develop and deploy a raft of novel haemostatic products designed to bridge this gap and increase the likelihood of survival to surgical intervention. Moreover, if such pre-hospital interventions succeed in delivering a live casualty to the surgical team, these wounds are often of the most taxing nature to be faced by deployed military surgeons, being time-critical, anatomically challenging, and starkly intolerant of sub-optimal technique. The purpose of this paper is to outline the management of such “junctional” injuries from a Role 2/2E/3 perspective – in order to provide a guide to surgical specialists deploying to operational areas.

Factors affecting outcome after traumatic limb amputation

Traumatic leg amputation commonly affects young, active people and leads to poor long‐term outcomes. The aim of this review was to describe common causes of disability and highlight therapeutic interventions that may optimize outcome after traumatic leg amputation.

Forward trauma surgery in Afghanistan: lessons learnt on the modern asymmetric battlefield.

The deployment of 16 Air Assault Brigade to Helmand Province, Afghanistan in April-October 2006 was supported by a two -surgeon Field Surgical Team (FST) embedded within a 25 bed medical facility. We report the summative operative experience of the FST in order to analyse workload, case-mix and outline future training requirements. Within this period, 138 patients underwent 255 theatre episodes and 322 surgical procedures. 106 of the 138 patients requiring surgery were battle-injured. Surgical procedures undertaken involved wound excision (95), major amputation (9), laparotomy (9), application of externalfixation/ skeletal traction (6), thoracotomy (4), plaster application (6), dural repair (2), and one tracheostomy with 13 other procedures. Procedures undertaken at subsequent surgery included delayed primary closure (65), split skin graft (7), wound excision (5), tendon repair (3) and 32 others. Complications included two patients with delayed reactionary haemorrhage / post-surgical bleeding requiring re-operation. There was one in-hospital death. Thirty-two patients underwent surgery to treat disease or non-battle injury (DNBI), including 9 patients with major burns who required 26 procedures for burn excision and primary skin grafting. Many of the operations required the deployed team to operate outside of their normal NHS comfort zone. The experiences and lessons learnt and re-learnt by this surgical team should be part of our institutional memory.