Venous thromboembolism after severe trauma: incidence, risk factors and outcome

BACKGROUND

Venous thromboembolic events (VTEs) are common life-threatening complications after trauma, but epidemiology and reported risk factors still vary. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the incidence of VTEs among hospitalised trauma patients, to identify potential risk factors and to assess whether their presence was associated with: (a) the magnitude and pattern of injury, (b) therapeutic interventions and (c) outcome, all by using a large population-based registry.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patient data from the Trauma Registry of the German Society for Trauma Surgery (TR-DGU) including datasets from more than 35,000 trauma patients were screened for all clinically relevant VTEs, i.e. deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). A total of 7937 patients were identified for further investigation and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess potential risk factors for VTEs and to evaluate the effect of VTEs on outcome.

RESULTS

One hundred forty-six of 7937 patients developed clinically relevant VTEs during post-traumatic hospitalisation corresponding to an overall incidence rate of 1.8%. Two-thirds (97/146) of all VTEs occurred during the first 3 weeks after admission. At the time point of the event 118/146 (80.8%) patients were under either mechanical or chemical prophylaxis. Multivariate analysis with VTE as dependent variable identified injury severity score, the number of operative procedures, pelvic injury (abbreviated injury scale > or = 2) and concomitant diseases (i.e. diabetes, renal failure, malignancies and congenital or acquired coagulation disorders) as independent risk factors. The presence of VTEs was associated with higher frequencies of sepsis (25% vs. 9.1%), single (63.6% vs. 41.3%) and multiple organ failure (49% vs. 25%) and prolonged in-hospital length of stay (52+/-34 days vs. 29+/-30 days; all p<0.001). The mortality in the VTE group totaled 13.7% vs. 7.4% in the non-VTE group (p=0.004). The presence of PE was associated with a mortality rate of 25.7%. The adjusted odds ratio of post-traumatic VTEs for hospital mortality was 2.08 (CI95 1.15-3.78; p=0.016).

CONCLUSION

The occurrence of clinically apparent VTEs during post-traumatic hospitalisation is low but associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Conclusions about the effectiveness of different thromboprophylactic measures could not be drawn, since detailed information was not recorded. However, 80.8% of VTE patients had received thromboprophylaxis at the time point of the event.

Renaissance of base deficit for the initial assessment of trauma patients: a base deficit-based classification for hypovolemic shock developed on data from 16,305 patients derived from the TraumaRegister DGU®

Introduction

The recognition and management of hypovolemic shock still remain an important task during initial trauma assessment. Recently, we have questioned the validity of the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) classification of hypovolemic shock by demonstrating that the suggested combination of heart rate, systolic blood pressure and Glasgow Coma Scale displays substantial deficits in reflecting clinical reality. The aim of this study was to introduce and validate a new classification of hypovolemic shock based upon base deficit (BD) at emergency department (ED) arrival.

Methods

Between 2002 and 2010, 16,305 patients were retrieved from the TraumaRegister DGU^® database, classified into four strata of worsening BD [class I (BD ≤ 2 mmol/l), class II (BD > 2.0 to 6.0 mmol/l), class III (BD > 6.0 to 10 mmol/l) and class IV (BD > 10 mmol/l)] and assessed for demographics, injury characteristics, transfusion requirements and fluid resuscitation. This new BD-based classification was validated to the current ATLS classification of hypovolemic shock.

Results

With worsening of BD, injury severity score (ISS) increased in a step-wise pattern from 19.1 (± 11.9) in class I to 36.7 (± 17.6) in class IV, while mortality increased in parallel from 7.4% to 51.5%. Decreasing hemoglobin and prothrombin ratios as well as the amount of transfusions and fluid resuscitation paralleled the increasing frequency of hypovolemic shock within the four classes. The number of blood units transfused increased from 1.5 (± 5.9) in class I patients to 20.3 (± 27.3) in class IV patients. Massive transfusion rates increased from 5% in class I to 52% in class IV. The new introduced BD-based classification of hypovolemic shock discriminated transfusion requirements, massive transfusion and mortality rates significantly better compared to the conventional ATLS classification of hypovolemic shock (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

BD may be superior to the current ATLS classification of hypovolemic shock in identifying the presence of hypovolemic shock and in risk stratifying patients in need of early blood product transfusion.

Predicting on-going hemorrhage and transfusion requirement after severe trauma: a validation of six scoring systems and algorithms on the TraumaRegister DGU

INTRODUCTION

The early aggressive management of the acute coagulopathy of trauma may improve survival in the trauma population. However, the timely identification of lethal exsanguination remains challenging. This study validated six scoring systems and algorithms to stratify patients for the risk of massive transfusion (MT) at a very early stage after trauma on one single dataset of severely injured patients derived from the TR-DGU (TraumaRegister DGU of the German Trauma Society (DGU)) database.

METHODS

Retrospective internal and external validation of six scoring systems and algorithms (four civilian and two military systems) to predict the risk of massive transfusion at a very early stage after trauma on one single dataset of severely injured patients derived from the TraumaRegister DGU database (2002-2010). Scoring systems and algorithms assessed were: TASH (Trauma-Associated Severe Hemorrhage) score, PWH (Prince of Wales Hospital/Rainer) score, Vandromme score, ABC (Assessment of Blood Consumption/Nunez) score, Schreiber score and Larsen score. Data from 56,573 patients were screened to extract one complete dataset matching all variables needed to calculate all systems assessed in this study. Scores were applied and area-under-the-receiver-operating-characteristic curves (AUCs) were calculated. From the AUC curves the cut-off with the best relation of sensitivity-to-specificity was used to recalculate sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values (PPV), and negative predictive values (NPV).

RESULTS

A total of 5,147 patients with blunt trauma (95%) was extracted from the TR-DGU. The mean age of patients was 45.7 ± 19.3 years with a mean ISS of 24.3 ± 13.2. The overall MT rate was 5.6% (n = 289). 95% (n = 4,889) patients had sustained a blunt trauma. The TASH score had the highest overall accuracy as reflected by an AUC of 0.889 followed by the PWH-Score (0.860). At the defined cut-off values for each score the highest sensitivity was observed for the Schreiber score (85.8%) but also the lowest specificity (61.7%). The TASH score at a cut-off ≥ 8.5 showed a sensitivity of 84.4% and also a high specificity (78.4%). The PWH score had a lower sensitivity (80.6%) with comparable specificity. The Larson score showed the lowest sensitivity (70.9%) at a specificity of 80.4%.

CONCLUSIONS

Weighted and more sophisticated systems such as TASH and PWH scores including higher numbers of variables perform superior over simple non-weighted models. Prospective validations are needed to improve the development process and use of scoring systems in the future.

A critical reappraisal of the ATLS classification of hypovolaemic shock: does it really reflect clinical reality?

AIM

The aim of this study was to validate the classification of hypovolaemic shock given by the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS).

METHODS

Patients derived from the TraumaRegister DGU(®) database between 2002 and 2010 were analyzed. First, patients were allocated into the four classes of hypovolaemic shock by matching the combination of heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) according to ATLS. Second, patients were classified by only one parameter (HR, SBP or GCS) according to the ATLS classification and the corresponding changes of the remaining two parameters were assessed within these four groups. Analyses of demographic, injury and therapy characteristics were performed as well.

RESULTS

36,504 patients were identified for further analysis. Only 3411 patients (9.3%) could be adequately classified according to ATLS, whereas 33,093 did not match the combination of all three criteria given by ATLS. When patients were grouped by HR, there was only a slight reduction of SBP associated with tachycardia. The median GCS declined from 12 to 3. When grouped by SBP, GCS dropped from 13 to 3 while there was no relevant tachycardia observed in any group. Patients with a GCS=15 presented normotensive and with a HR of 88/min, whereas patients with a GCS<12 showed a slight reduced SBP of 117mmHg and HR was unaltered.

CONCLUSION

This study indicates that the ATLS classification of hypovolaemic shock does not seem to reflect clinical reality accurately.

Epidemiology of extremity injuries in multiple trauma patients

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have suggested that distinct extremity injuries are associated with worse outcome following major trauma. The aim of the present study was to determine epidemiological data of extremity injuries in multiple trauma patients with respect to prevalence, injury pattern, specific mechanisms of injury and their impact on mortality.

METHODS

The Trauma Register of the German Society for Trauma Surgery anonymously documents data on critically injured patients since 1993. Trauma cases documented between 2002 and 2009, older than 16 years of age and with an ISS ≥ 16 were divided into those with AIS ≥ 2 and those without a significant extremity injury. The groups were compared with respect to injury pattern, treatment characteristics and mortality.

RESULTS

More than half of the 24,885 patients (58.6%) had a significant extremity injury. On average patients with relevant extremity injuries sustained on average 2.1 fractures per case and 4.9% even sustained five or more extremity injuries. Fractures of the femur (16.5%), the tibia (12.6%) and the clavicle (10.4%) were the most common fractures. Patients without significant extremity injury had a significantly lower Glasgow Coma Scale at scene, a more severe brain injury and a higher 30-day- and in-hospital-mortality. In contrast, patients with significant extremity injuries had a higher rate of severe chest trauma, a higher rate of red cell blood transfusion as well a massive blood transfusion, more operative procedures and a longer ICU and in-hospital length of stay.

CONCLUSIONS

Multiple injured patients with and without significant extremity injuries can be regarded as two different populations with respect to early posttraumatic course and survival. Those without extremity injury had more severe head injuries and a higher mortality. However, significant extremity injury was associated with worse outcomes including a higher number of operative procedures, a higher rate of blood transfusion and a longer hospital length of stay.

Prehospital administration of tranexamic acid in trauma patients

Background

Evidence on prehospital administration of the antifibrinolytic tranexamic acid (TXA) in civilian trauma populations is scarce. The aim was to study whether prehospital TXA use in trauma patients was associated with improved outcomes.

Methods

The prehospital database of the ADAC (General German Automobile Club) Air Rescue Service was linked with the TraumaRegister of the German Trauma Society to reidentify patients documented in both registries. Primarily admitted trauma patients (2012 until 2014) who were treated with TXA during the prehospital phase were matched with patients who had not received prehospital TXA, applying propensity score-based matching.

Results

The matching yielded two identical cohorts (n = 258 in each group), since there were no significant differences in demographics or injury characteristics (mean Injury Severity Score 24 ± 14 [TXA] vs. 24 ± 16 [control]; p = 0.46). The majority had sustained blunt injury (90.3 % vs. 93.0 %; p = 0.34). There were no differences with respect to prehospital therapy, including rates of intubation, chest tube insertion or both administration of i.v. fluids and catecholamines. During ER treatment, the TXA cohort received fewer numbers of red blood cells and plasma units, but without reaching statistical significance. Incidences of organ failure, sepsis or thromboembolism showed no significant differences as well, although data were incomplete for these parameters. Early mortality was significantly lower in the TXA group (e.g., 24-h mortality 5.8 % [TXA] vs. 12.4 % [control]; p = 0.01), and mean time to death was 8.8 ± 13.4 days vs. 3.6 ± 4.9 days, respectively (p = 0.001). Overall hospital mortality was similar in both groups (14.7 % vs. 16.3 %; p = 0.72). The most pronounced mortality difference was observed in patients with a high propensity score, reflecting severe injury load.

Conclusions

This is the first civilian study, to our knowledge, in which the effect of prehospital TXA use in trauma patients has been examined. TXA was associated with prolonged time to death and significantly improved early survival. Until further evidence emerges, the results of this study support the use of TXA during prehospital treatment of severely injured patients.

Balanced massive transfusion ratios in multiple injury patients with traumatic brain injury

Introduction

Retrospective studies have demonstrated a potential survival benefit from transfusion strategies using an early and more balanced ratio between fresh frozen plasma (FFP) concentration and packed red blood cell (pRBC) transfusions in patients with acute traumatic coagulopathy requiring massive transfusions. These results have mostly been derived from non-head-injured patients. The aim of the present study was to analyze whether a regime using a high FFP:pRBC transfusion ratio (FFP:pRBC ratio >1:2) would be associated with a similar survival benefit in severely injured patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) (Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score, head ≥3) as demonstrated for patients without TBI requiring massive transfusion (≥10 U of pRBCs).

Methods

A retrospective analysis of severely injured patients from the Trauma Registry of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Unfallchirurgie (TR-DGU) was conducted. Inclusion criteria were primary admission, age ≥16 years, severe injury (Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥16) and massive transfusion (≥10 U of pRBCs) from emergency room to intensive care unit (ICU). Patients were subdivided into patients with TBI (AIS score, head ≥3) and patients without TBI (AIS score, head <3), as well as according to the transfusion ratio they had received: high FFP:pRBC ratio (FFP:pRBC ratio >1:2) and low FFP:pRBC ratio (FFP:pRBC ratio ≤1:2). In addition, morbidity and mortality between the two groups were compared.

Results

A total of 1,250 data sets of severely injured patients from the TR-DGU between 2002 and 2008 were analyzed. The mean patient age was 42 years, the majority of patients were male (72.3%), the mean ISS was 41.7 points (±15.4 SD) and the principal mechanism of injury was blunt force trauma (90%). Mortality was statistically lower in the high FFP:pRBC ratio groups versus the low FFP:pRBC ratio groups, regardless of the presence or absence of TBI and across all time points studied (P < 0.001). The frequency of sepsis and multiple organ failure did not differ among groups, except for sepsis in patients with TBI who received a high FFP:pRBC ratio transfusion. Other secondary end points such as ventilator-free days, length of stay in the ICU and overall in-hospital length of stay differed significantly between the two study groups, but not when only data for survivors were analyzed.

Conclusions

These results add more detailed knowledge to the concept of a high FFP:pRBC ratio during early aggressive resuscitation, including massive transfusion, to decrease mortality in severely injured patients both with and without accompanying TBI. Future research should be conducted with a larger number of patients to prove these results in a prospective study.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation traumatic cardiac arrest--there are survivors. An analysis of two national emergency registries

INTRODUCTION

Cardiac arrest following trauma occurs infrequently compared with cardiac aetiology. Within the German Resuscitation Registry a traumatic cause is documented in about 3% of cardiac arrest patients. Regarding the national Trauma Registry, only a few of these trauma patients with cardiac arrest survive. The aim of the present study was to analyze the outcome of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) after traumatic cardiac arrest by combining data from two different large national registries in Germany.

METHODS

This study includes 368 trauma patients (2.8%) out of 13,329 cardiac arrest patients registered within the Resuscitation Registry, whereby 3,673 patients with a cardiac cause and successful CPR served as a cardiac control group. We further analyzed a second group of 1,535 trauma patients with cardiac arrest and early CPR registered within the Trauma Registry, whereby a total of 25,366 trauma patients without any CPR attempts served as a trauma control group. The relative frequencies from each database were used to calculate relative percentages for patients with traumatic cardiac arrest in whom resuscitation was attempted.

RESULTS

Within the Resuscitation Registry, cardiac arrest was present in 331 patients (89.9%) when the EMS personal arrived at the scene and in 37 patients (10.1%) when cardiac arrest occurred after arrival. Spontaneous circulation could be achieved in 107 patients (29.1%). A total of 101 (27.4%) were transferred to hospital, 95 of whom (25.8%) had return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) on admission. According to the Trauma Registry, the overall hospital mortality rate for cardiac arrest patients following trauma was 73% (n = 593 of 814). About half of the patients who were admitted alive to hospital died within 24 hours, resulting in 13% survivors within 24 hours. 7% of the patients survived until hospital discharge, and only 2% of the patients had good neurological outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Our present study encourages CPR attempts in cardiac arrest patients following severe trauma. When a manageable number of patients is present, the decision on whether to start CPR or not should be done liberally, using comparable criteria as in patients with cardiac etiology. In this respect, trauma management programs that restrict CPR attempts should not be encouraged.

Association of preexisting medical conditions with in-hospital mortality in multiple-trauma patients

BACKGROUND

Mortality after trauma has been shown to be influenced by host factors, such as age and preexisting medical conditions (PMCs). The independent predictive value of specific PMCs for in-hospital mortality after adjustment for injury severity, injury pattern, age, and presence of other PMCs has not been fully elucidated.

STUDY DESIGN

Records of 11,142 trauma patients (18 years of age or older, Injury Severity Score > or = 16, years 2002 to 2007) documented in the Trauma Registry of the German Society for Trauma Surgery were analyzed to assess the association of PMCs with in-hospital mortality. Multiple logistic regression models were used for this analysis.

RESULTS

PMCs were affirmed for 3,836 of the 11,142 patients studied (34.4%). An independent statistical association with increased in-hospital mortality was found for 6 of 14 analyzed PMCs after adjustment for age and the Revised Injury Severity Classification score, respectively, ie, heart disease, obesity, hepatitis/liver cirrhosis, malignancies, coagulation disorder, and peripheral arterial occlusive disease stage IV. The association with mortality varied with different injury patterns.

CONCLUSION

Specific PMCs were associated with increased mortality after trauma independent from injury severity and age. Knowledge of the identified relevant PMCs could help the medical team to be able to assess the mortality risk profile of trauma patients in a more detailed and quantifiable way.

Vancomycin-soaking of the graft reduces the incidence of septic arthritis following ACL reconstruction: results of a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

(1) To compare the incidence of post-operative septic arthritis following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) between patients receiving routine pre-operative intravenous (IV) prophylaxis only intravenous (IV) infection prophylaxis and patients receiving additional graft-soaking in a vancomycin solution (5 mg/ml) perioperatively. (2) To review the literature regarding effects of graft-soaking in vancomycin solutions on outcomes, complication rates and tendon properties in ACLR.

METHODS

To identify studies pertaining to routine pre-operative IV prophylaxis and additional usage of intra-operative vancomycin-soaked grafts in primary ACLR, the Cochrane Library, SCOPUS and MEDLINE were searched till June 2018 for English and German language studies of all levels of evidence following the PRISMA guidelines. Additionally, all accepted abstracts at the ESSKA 2018, ISAKOS 2017, AGA 2017 and AOSSM 2017 meetings were screened. Data regarding the incidence of septic arthritis were abstracted and combined in a meta-analysis. Data including outcome scores, complication rates and in vitro analyses of tendon properties were collected and summarized descriptively.

RESULTS

Upon screening 785 titles, 8 studies were included. These studies examined 5,075 patients following ACLR and followed from 6 to 52 weeks post-operatively. Of those 2099 patients in the routine pre-operative IV prophylaxis group, 44 (2.1%) cases of early septic arthritis were reported. In contrast, there were no reports of septic arthritis following ACLR in 2976 cases of vancomycin-soaked grafts. The meta-analysis yielded an odds ratio of 0.04 (0.01-0.16) favouring the addition of intra-operative vancomycin-soaking of grafts. Across all available studies, no differences in clinical outcome (i.e. incidence of ACL revision, IKDC score, Tegner score), biomechanical tendon properties, or cartilage integrity between patients with and without vancomycin-soaked grafts were identified.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of septic arthritis following ACLR can be reduced dramatically by vancomycin-soaking the grafts intra-operatively prior to graft passage and fixation. Within the limitation confines of this study, intra-operative graft-soaking in vancomycin appears to be a safe and effective method to reduce the incidence of septic arthritis following ACLR. Still, it remains debatable if the available data facilitate the recommendation for a universal application of vancomycin-soaking for all ACLR patients or if it should be reserved for patients at risk, including the use hamstring tendons, revision cases and in the presence of medical preconditions.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, systematic review of Level III and Level IV studies.

Prehospital intubation of the moderately injured patient: a cause of morbidity? A matched-pairs analysis of 1,200 patients from the DGU Trauma Registry

INTRODUCTION

Hypoxia and hypoxemia can lead to an unfavorable outcome after severe trauma, by both direct and delayed mechanisms. Prehospital intubation is meant to ensure pulmonary gas exchange. Limited evidence exists regarding indications for intubation after trauma. The aim of this study was to analyze prehospital intubation as an independent risk factor for the posttraumatic course of moderately injured patients. Therefore, only patients who, in retrospect, would not have required intubation were included in the matched-pairs analysis to evaluate the risks related to intubation.

METHODS

The data of 42,248 patients taken from the trauma registry of the German Association for Trauma Surgery (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Unfallchirurgie (DGU)) were analyzed. Patients who met the following criteria were included: primary admission to a hospital; Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of 13 to 15; age 16 years or older; maximum injury severity per body region (AIS) ≤ 3; no administration of packed red blood cell units in the emergency trauma room; admission between 2005 and 2008; and documented data regarding intubation. The intubated patients were then matched with not-intubated patients.

RESULTS

The study population included 600 matched pairs that met the inclusion criteria. The results indicated that prehospital intubation was associated with a prolonged rescue time (not intubated, 64.8 minutes; intubated, 82.3 minutes; P ≤ 0.001) and a higher volume replacement (not intubated, 911.3 ml; intubated, 1,573.8 ml; P ≤ 0.001). In the intubated patients, coagulation parameters, such as the prothrombin time ratio (PT) and platelet count, declined, as did the hemoglobin value (PT not intubated: 92.3%; intubated, 85.7%; P ≤ 0.001; hemoglobin not intubated, 13.4 mg/dl; intubated, 12.2 mg/dl; P ≤ 0.001). Intubation at the scene resulted in an elevated sepsis rate (not intubated, 1.5%; intubated, 3.7%; P ≤ 0.02) and an elevated prevalence of multiorgan failure (MOF) and organ failure (OF) (OF not intubated, 9.1%; intubated, 23.4%; P ≤ 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Prehospital intubation in trauma patients is associated with a number of risks and should be critically weighed, except in cases with clear indicators, such as posttraumatic apnea.

The golden hour of shock - how time is running out: prehospital time intervals in Germany--a multivariate analysis of 15, 103 patients from the TraumaRegister DGU(R)

OBJECTIVES

Although prehospital treatment algorithms have changed over the past years, the prehospital time of multiple trauma patients of some 70 min and the on-scene-treatment time (OST) of some 30 min have not changed since 1993. The aim of this study was to critically assess specific interventions and conditions at the scene in relation to their impact on prehospital rescue intervals.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective data analysis of all multiple injured patients from the TraumaRegister DGU (English: German Trauma Society) from January 1993 to December 2010. Exclusion criteria were missing or implausible data regarding prehospital timelines. With OST as an independent variable, different models of multivariate regression were performed to identify parameters with relevant impact on the OST.

RESULTS

15 103 datasets were included in this study. Based on the mean OST of 32.7 (± 18.6) min and a constant absolute term of 16.2 (± 1.5) min, we identified seven procedures and nine environmental parameters with significant impact on OST. Intubation (9.3 ± 0.8 min) and being a car occupant (8.0 ± 0.8 min) were associated with the most prolonged OSTs. A Glasgow Coma Scale ≤ 8 (-4.5 ± 0.7 min) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (-2.8 ± 1.7 min) resulted in its most relevant reduction. Admission to a Level III facility led to a reduced overall prehospital time (60.0 ± 24.6 min) compared with Level I (70.0 ± 28.5 min) and II (66.8 ± 27.4 min) trauma centres.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified characteristic interventions and conditions with significant impact on prehospital treatment times. Current treatment concepts should be re-evaluated with respect to these results.

Böttiger B, Bouillon B, Fischer M, Gaier G, Gliwitzky B, Helm M, Hilbert-Carius P, Hossfeld B, Meisner C, Schempf B, Wafaisade A, Bernhard M. Analgesia in Patients with Trauma in Emergency Medicine

BACKGROUND

Suitable analgesic drugs and techniques are needed for the acute care of the approximately 18 200-18 400 seriously injured patients in Germany each year.

METHODS

This systematic review and meta-analysis of analgesia in trauma patients was carried out on the basis of randomized, controlled trials and observational studies. A systematic search of the literature over the 10-year period ending in February 2016 was carried out in the PubMed, Google Scholar, and Springer Link Library databases. Some of the considered trials and studies were included in a meta-analysis. Mean differences (MD) of pain reduction or pain outcome as measured on the Numeric Rating Scale were taken as a summarizing measure of treatment efficacy.

RESULTS

Out of 685 studies, 41 studies were considered and 10 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Among the drugs and drug combinations studied, none was clearly superior to another with respect to pain relief. Neither fentanyl versus morphine (MD -0.10 with a 95% confidence interval of [-0.58; 0.39], p = 0.70) nor ketamine versus morphine (MD -1.27 [-3.71; 1.16], p = 0.31), or the combination of ketamine and morphine versus morphine alone (MD -1.23 [-2.29; -0.18], p = 0.02) showed clear superiority regarding analgesia.

CONCLUSION

Ketamine, fentanyl, and morphine are suitable for analgesia in spontaneously breathing trauma patients. Fentanyl and ketamine have a rapid onset of action and a strong analgesic effect. Our quantitative meta-analysis revealed no evidence for the superiority of any of the three substances over the others. Suitable monitoring equipment, and expertise in emergency procedures are prerequisites for safe and effective analgesia by healthcare professionals..

High complication rate following distal biceps refixation with cortical button

PURPOSE

There are several methods for the refixation of the distal biceps tendon which show a variable complication rate. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical outcome and complication rate after distal biceps repair in cortical button technique.

METHODS

Clinical results, complications, strength of elbow flexion and supination and radiological evidence of heterotopic ossification in patients reporting persistent pain were evaluated in 27 male patients after an average of 36.1 month following distal biceps tendon repair in cortical button technique.

RESULTS

The mean Mayo elbow performance score was 95.9 (SD 11.9), the mean disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand score was 1.9 (SD 4.9) and the mean American shoulder and elbow surgeons (ASES) score was 94.6 (SD 11.6). The mean flexion and supination strength of the involved side relative to the uninvolved side was 91.7 % (SD 12.6) and 87.8 % (SD 15.9). Nine patients had 14 different complications including four transient lesions of the posterior interosseous nerve, two persistent lesions of the superficial branch of the radial nerve, one symptomatic massive heterotopic ossification and one disengaged cortical button. Three patients had six revisions. Patients with complications had a significantly lower relative supination strength, Mayo elbow performance score, ASES score, pain on VAS (p < 0.05 each) and satisfaction (p = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

As described for other techniques there is a high complication rate of distal biceps tendon repair in cortical button technique which resulted in inferior functional results and satisfaction. Surgeons treating patients with distal biceps tendon rupture should know the specific complications and know how to avoid them.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Case series with no comparison group, Level IV.

Which score should be used for posttraumatic multiple organ failure? - Comparison of the MODS, Denver- and SOFA- Scores

BACKGROUND

Multiple organ dysfunction and multiple organ failure (MOF) is still a major complication and challenge in the treatment of severely injured patients. The incidence varies decisively in current studies, which complicates the comparability regarding risk factors, treatment recommendations and patients' outcome. Therefore, we analysed how the currently used scoring systems, the MODS, Denver- and SOFA Score, influence the definition and compared the scores' predictive ability.

METHODS

Out of datasets of severely injured patients (ISS ≥ 16, Age ≥ 16) staying more tha 48 h on the ICU, the scores were calculated, respectively. The scores' predictive ability on day three after trauma for resource requiring measurements and patient specific outcomes were compared using receiver-operating characteristics.

RESULTS

One hundred seventy-six patients with a mean ISS 28 ± 13 could be included. MODS and SOFA score defined the incidence of MOF consistently (46.5 % vs. 52.3 %), while the Denver score defined MOF in 22.2 %. The MODS outperformed Denver- and SOFA score in predicting mortality (area under the curve/AUC: 0.83 vs. 0.67 vs. 0.72), but was inferior predicting the length of stay (AUC 0.71 vs.0.80 vs.0.82) and a prolonged time on mechanical ventilation (AUC 0.75 vs. 0.81 vs. 0.84). MODS and SOFA score were comparably sensitive and the Denver score more specific in all analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

All three scores have a comparable ability to predict the outcome in trauma patients including patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Either score could be favored depending weather a higher sensitivity or specificity is targeted. The SOFA score showed the most balanced relation of sensitivity and specificity. The incidence of posttraumatic MOF relies decisively on the score applied. Therefore harmonizing the competing scores and definitions is desirable.

Inter- and intraobserver reliability of the Rockwood classification in acute acromioclavicular joint dislocations

PURPOSE

The reliability of the Rockwood classification, the gold standard for acute acromioclavicular (AC) joint separations, has not yet been tested. The purpose of this study was to investigate the reliability of visual and measured AC joint lesion grades according to the Rockwood classification.

METHODS

Four investigators (two shoulder specialists and two second-year residents) examined radiographs (bilateral panoramic stress and axial views) in 58 patients and graded the injury according to the Rockwood classification using the following sequence: (1) visual classification of the AC joint lesion, (2) digital measurement of the coracoclavicular distance (CCD) and the horizontal dislocation (HD) with Osirix Dicom Viewer (Pixmeo, Switzerland), (3) classification of the AC joint lesion according to the measurements and (4) repetition of (1) and (2) after repeated anonymization by an independent physician. Visual and measured Rockwood grades as well as the CCD and HD of every patient were documented, and a CC index was calculated (CCD injured/CCD healthy). All records were then used to evaluate intra- and interobserver reliability.

RESULTS

The disagreement between visual and measured diagnosis ranged from 6.9 to 27.6 %. Interobserver reliability for visual diagnosis was good (0.72-0.74) and excellent (0.85-0.93) for measured Rockwood grades. Intraobserver reliability was good to excellent (0.67-0.93) for visual diagnosis and excellent for measured diagnosis (0.90-0.97). The correlations between measurements of the axial view varied from 0.68 to 0.98 (good to excellent) for interobserver reliability and from 0.90 to 0.97 (excellent) for intraobserver reliability.

CONCLUSION

Bilateral panoramic stress and axial radiographs are reliable examinations for grading AC joint injuries according to Rockwood's classification. Clinicians of all experience levels can precisely classify AC joint lesions according to the Rockwood classification. We recommend to grade acute ACG lesions by performing a digital measurement instead of a sole visual diagnosis because of the higher intra- and interobserver reliability.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Case series, Level IV.

Lung Organ Failure Score (LOFS): probability of severe pulmonary organ failure after multiple injuries including chest trauma

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary complications are common in multiple trauma patients with chest injury. Factors predisposing these critically ill patients to respiratory organ failure are not fully understood.

METHODS

Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess the prognostic value of clinical and laboratory variables (2002-2008; n = 30,616) from the Trauma Registry of the German Trauma Society (DGU). Data from patients admitted to the ICU with lung contusion/lacerations, an Injury Severity Score ≥ 16 and age ≥ 18 were included in the study. Severe pulmonary organ failure was defined as PaO(2)/FiO(2)<200 for ≥ 3 days and based on the odds ratios (ORs) a simplified Lung Organ Failure Score (LOFS) was developed using integer values.

RESULTS

21.3% (1254) of the 5892 patients analysed developed severe pulmonary organ failure. We identified seven independent predictors with significant correlation: age, gender, head injury, fluid therapy, injury severity, degree of chest trauma and surgical interventions. The highest ORs were observed in cases of Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS)(Thorax) = 5 (1.58), surgical intervention (1.71) and multiple surgeries (2.41). We found that patients with simplified score values ≥ 21 points were at a maximum risk (>30%) for developing severe pulmonary complications.

CONCLUSION

This scoring method could help trauma surgeons determine which multiple trauma patients are at risk for pulmonary complications after trauma. Efficacy analyses of prophylactic PEEP ventilation or rotational bed therapy in subgroups with comparable risks for respiratory complication could be based on the LOFS.

[Emergency room management of multiple trauma : ATLS® and S3 guidelines]

Trauma management in the emergency room is an important part of the treatment chain of the severely injured. Important decisions with respect to diagnostics and treatment must be made under time pressure. Successful trauma management in the emergency room requires a hospital tailored treatment protocol. This written protocol needs consent from all participating disciplines and must be known by all members of the resuscitation team. The ATLS® and the recently published clinical practice guidelines on multiple trauma can be of help in order to establish or update such protocols. In order to continuously evaluate and improve performance in the emergency room local quality circles are needed that truly follow that aim. Important factors are reliability of agreement between the different disciplines and continuous communication of results to the team members. In order to be successful such quality circles need people that care.

Intraoperative fluoroscopy during MPFL reconstruction improves the accuracy of the femoral tunnel position

PURPOSE

Reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) has been established as standard of care for patellofemoral instability. An anatomic femoral tunnel position has been shown to be a prerequisite for restoration of patellofemoral stability and biomechanics. However, the incidence of malpositioning of the femoral tunnel during MPFL reconstruction continues to be notable. Palpation of anatomic landmarks and intraoperative fluoroscopy are the two primary techniques for tunnel placement. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of these two methods for femoral tunnel placement.

METHODS

From 2016 to 2017, 64 consecutive patients undergoing MPFL reconstruction for patelllofemoral instability were prospectively enrolled. During surgery, the presumed femoral MPFL insertion was identified by both palpation of anatomic landmarks and using fluoroscopy, both of these points were separately documented on true lateral radiographs. They were then analysed and deviations from the Schoettle's Point were measured as anterior-posterior and proximal-distal deviations. A tunnel position within a radius of 7 mm around the Schoettle's Point was designated as an "accurate tunnel position".

RESULTS

Compared to the method of palpation, fluoroscopy led to significantly more anatomic femoral tunnel positoning (p < 0.0001). The mean proximal-distal and anterior-posterior distances between the femoral insertion site identified by palpation and the Schoettle's Point were 5.7 ± 4.5 mm (0.3-20.3 mm) and 4.1 ± 3.7 mm (0.1-20.3 mm), respectively, versus 1.7 ± 0.9 mm (0.1-3.6 mm) and 1.8 ± 1.3 mm (0.1-4.8 mm) for fluoroscopy, respectively. Using fluoroscopy, all femoral insertion sites were identified within a 7 mm radius around the centre of the Schoettle's Point. In contrast, only 52% (33) of femoral insertion sites identified by palpation were within this radius. These data were independent of patients' age, gender and BMI. No improvement in accuracy of femoral tunnel positions was detected over time.

CONCLUSIONS

The main finding of this study was that, compared to the method of palpation of anatomic landmarks, the use of intraoperative fluoroscopy in MPFL reconstruction leads to more accurate femoral tunnel positioning. Based on these results, the use of intraoperative fluoroscopy has to be recommended for femoral tunnel placement in daily surgical practice to minimize the incidence of malpositioning and to restore native patellofemoral biomechanics.

STUDY DESIGN

Level III Case-control study.

The impact of prehospital tranexamic acid on mortality and transfusion requirements: match-pair analysis from the nationwide German TraumaRegister DGU®

Background

Outcome data about the use of tranexamic acid (TXA) in civilian patients in mature trauma systems are scarce. The aim of this study was to determine how severely injured patients are affected by the widespread prehospital use of TXA in Germany.

Methods

The international TraumaRegister DGU® was retrospectively analyzed for severely injured patients with risk of bleeding (2015 until 2019) treated with at least one dose of TXA in the prehospital phase (TXA group). These were matched with patients who had not received prehospital TXA (control group), applying propensity score-based matching. Adult patients (≥ 16) admitted to a trauma center in Germany with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥ 9 points were included.

Results

The matching yielded two comparable cohorts (n = 2275 in each group), and the mean ISS was 32.4 ± 14.7 in TXA group vs. 32.0 ± 14.5 in control group (p = 0.378). Around a third in both groups received one dose of TXA after hospital admission. TXA patients were significantly more transfused (p = 0.022), but needed significantly less packed red blood cells (p ≤ 0.001) and fresh frozen plasma (p = 0.023), when transfused. Massive transfusion rate was significantly lower in the TXA group (5.5% versus 7.2%, p = 0.015). Mortality was similar except for early mortality after 6 h (p = 0.004) and 12 h (p = 0.045). Among non-survivors hemorrhage as leading cause of death was less in the TXA group (3.0% vs. 4.3%, p = 0.021). Thromboembolic events were not significantly different between both groups (TXA 6.1%, control 4.9%, p = 0.080).

Conclusion

This is the largest civilian study in which the effect of prehospital TXA use in a mature trauma system has been examined. TXA use in severely injured patients was associated with a significantly lower risk of massive transfusion and lower mortality in the early in-hospital treatment period. Due to repetitive administration, a dose-dependent effect of TXA must be discussed.

Aggressive operative treatment of isolated blunt traumatic brain injury in the elderly is associated with favourable outcome

Outcome after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the elderly has not been fully elucidated. The present retrospective observational study investigates the age-dependent outcome of patients suffering from severe isolated TBI with regard to operative and non-operative treatment. Data were prospectively collected in the TraumaRegister DGU. Anonymous datasets of 8629 patients with isolated severe blunt TBI (AISHead≥3, AISBody≤1) documented from 2002 to 2011 were analysed. Patients were grouped according to age: 1-17, 18-59, 60-69, 70-79 and ≥80 years. Cranial fractures (44.8%) and subdural haematomas (42.6%) were the most common TBIs. Independent from the type of TBI the group of patients with operative treatment declined with rising age. Subgroup analysis of patients with critical TBI (AISHead=5) revealed standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) of 0.81 (95% CI 0.75-0.87) in case of operative treatment (n=1201) and 1.13 (95% CI 1.09-1.18) in case of non-operative treatment (n=1096). All age groups ≥60 years showed significantly reduced SMRs in case of operative treatment. Across all age groups the group of patients with low/moderate disability according to the GOS (4 or 5 points) was higher in case of operative treatment. Results of this retrospective observational study have to be interpreted cautiously. However, good outcome after TBI with severe space-occupying haemorrhage is more frequent in patients with operative treatment across all age groups. Age alone should not be the reason for limited care or denial of operative intervention.

Risk stratification in trauma and haemorrhagic shock: scoring systems derived from the TraumaRegister DGU(®)

Scoring systems commonly attempt to reduce complex clinical situations into one-dimensional values by objectively valuing and combining a variety of clinical aspects. The aim is to allow for a comparison of selected patients or cohorts. To appreciate the true value of scoring systems in patients with multiple injuries it is necessary to understand the different purposes of quantifying the severity of specific injuries and overall trauma load, being: (1) clinical decision making; (2) triage; (3) planning of trauma systems and resources; (4) epidemiological and clinical research; (5) evaluation of outcome and trauma systems, including quality assessment; and (6) estimation of costs and allocation of resources. For the first two, easy-to estimate scores with immediate availability are necessary, mainly based on initial physiology. More sophisticated scores considering age, gender, injury pattern/severity and more are usually used for research and outcome evaluation, once the diagnostic and therapeutic process has been completed. For score development large numbers of data are necessary and thus, it appears as a logical consequence that large registries as the TraumaRegister DGU(®) of the German Trauma Society (TR-DGU) are used to derive and validate clinical scoring systems. A variety of scoring systems have been derived from this registry, the majority of them with focus on hospital mortality. The most important among these systems is probably the RISC score, which is currently used for quality assessment and outcome adjustment in the annual audit reports. This report summarizes the various scoring systems derived from the TraumaRegister DGU(®) over the recent years.