Head injuries in childhood: a 2-year survey.

A retrospective study was conducted of the 880 children with head injuries consecutively admitted to the Children''s Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa from July 1976 to June 1978. It confirmed a boy:girl ratio of about 2:1, with a peak of 3.5:1 around 7 years of age. The largest number of head injuries was in children under 1 year of age. Injuries were most common in summer and spring, and most were caused by falls. The most common place for head injuries was in the home, but the single most common cause of injuries was bicycle accidents, which were responsible for 12% of all the head injuries. Skull fractures were found in 30% of all the patients. Of the 34 patients with severe head injuries 8 (24%) died, 9 (26%) had a moderate residual disability and 17 (50%) made a good recovery. There were no other deaths, so the mortality for the entire group of 880 patients was 0.9%.     

Injuries associated with mandible fractures sustained in motor vehicle collisions

Motor vehicle collisions are second only to altercations as the most common cause of mandible fractures. This article details in a retrospectively studied group the incidence of isolated mandible fractures and associated injuries in patients who were involved in motor vehicle collisions. This group consisted of 148 patients with mandible fractures listed in the University of Mississippi's trauma registry during the past 5 years. In almost all patients, associated injuries occurred with mandible fractures that were caused by motor vehicle collisions, with an incidence of 99.3 percent. Facial and head lacerations and facial fractures were the leading associated injuries, occurring in more than half of the patients who had a mandible fracture. Closed head injury is the major life-threatening associated injury and cause of mortality. The life-threatening injuries occurred in 64.8 percent of patients in this study. The mortality rate in this group of patients was 8.1 percent. These data suggest that mandible fractures from motor vehicle collisions should never be viewed as an isolated injury but rather as part of a spectrum of significant and sometimes life-threatening injuries that require thorough trauma evaluation at the time of presentation.     

Serious head injury in sport.

Of 1900 head injuries serious enough to be admitted to the neurosurgical unit in Glasgow over a five year period, 52 (2.7%) were due to "sport." Golf, horse-riding, and Association football were the sports most commonly linked with serious head injury. Golfing injuries were all compound depressed fractures, and all these patients made a good recovery; horse-riding produced more severe injuries, three of the eight patients being left with residual disability. Much attention has been directed to preventing repeated minor head injury in boxing, but this study emphasises the need for preventing both the primary head injury and secondary complications associated with other sports.     

Operative Treatment of Terrible Triad of the Elbow via Posterolateral and Anteromedial Approaches

The aim of the study was to explore the clinical outcome of posterolateral and anteromedial approaches in treatment of terrible triad of the elbow. The study involved 12 patients with closed terrible triad of the elbow treated by posterolateral and anteromedial approaches between January 2010 and June 2012. The mechanism of injury included fall from height in 9 patients and traffic accident in 3. According to O’Driscoll classification for fractures of the ulnar coronoid, there were 11 patients with type Ⅰ and 1 with type Ⅱ fractures. According to Mason classification for fractures of the radial head, there were 3 patients with type Ⅰ, 7 with type Ⅱ and 2 with type Ⅲ fractures. All patients were followed up for 12-27 months (average 15.5 months), which showed no pain or severe pain in all patients except for 2 patients with mild pain. At the last follow-up, the mean flexion was for 125°(range, 90°-140°), the mean extension loss for 20°(range, 0°-70°), the mean pronation for 66°(range, 20°-85°) and the mean supination for 60°(range, 30°-85°). The bony union time was 8-14 weeks (average 11 weeks) and the elbows were stable in flexion-extension and varus-valgus in all patients. The elbows maintained a concentric reduction of both the ulnotrochlear and the radiocapitellar articulation. Mild heterotopic ossification of the elbow occurred in 3 patients at 6 months after operation and mild degenerative change in 1 patient at 18 months after operation. The Broberg and Morrey elbow performance score was 82 points (range, 58-98 points). The results were excellent in 6 patients, good in 4, fair in 1 and poor in 1, with excellence rate of 83.3%. The results showed that the combined posterolateral and anteromedial approaches can facilitate the reduction and fixation of terrible triad of the elbow. Repair of radial head, coronoid, medial and lateral collateral ligaments can sufficiently restore the elbow stability, allow early postoperative motion and enhance the functional recovery.     

Review of Literature of Radial Nerve Injuries Associated with Humeral Fractures—An Integrated Management Strategy

Background

Radial nerve palsy associated with fractures of the shaft of the humerus is the most common nerve lesion complicating fractures of long bones. However, the management of radial nerve injuries associated with humeral fractures is debatable. There was no consensus between observation and early exploration.

Methods and Findings

The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Google Scholar, CINAHL, International Bibliography of the Social Sciences, and Social Sciences Citation Index were searched. Two authors independently searched for relevant studies in any language from 1966 to Jan 2013. Thirty studies with 2952 humeral fractures participants were identified. Thirteen studies favored conservative strategy. No significant difference between early exploration and no exploration groups (OR, 1.03, 95% CI 0.61, 1.72; I² = 0.0%, p = 0.918 n.s.). Three studies recommend early radial nerve exploration in patients with open fractures of humerus with radial nerve injury. Five studies proposed early exploration was performed in high-energy humeral shaft fractures with radial nerve injury.

Conclusions

The conservative strategy was a good choice for patients with low-energy closed fractures of humerus with radial nerve injury. We recommend early radial nerve exploration (within the first 2 weeks) in patients with open fractures or high-energy closed fractures of humerus with radial nerve injury.     

Comprehensive care of patients with head injuries.

The comprehensive head injury service run by the neurosurgeons at the Hull Royal Infirmary for the surrounding population of one million was analysed. The analysis showed that all patients with either a fractured skull or a lowered level of consciousness should be admitted to a district general hospital because the associated risk of their having a major head injury is over 20%. Those patients with both a fractured skull and a lowered level of consciousness have a 60% likelihood of a major head injury and should be transferred immediately to the neurosurgical unit. Patients with compound or complicated fractures of the skull and those without fractured skulls but with neurological impairment persisting for four hours or more, should also be transferred to the neurosurgical unit. If these guidelines are followed about 200 patients/million population will be referred to the neurosurgical centre. Patients with a minor head injury and none of the clinical risk factors may safely be sent home. This should reduce the rate of admissions to hospital for head injuries by 60%.     

Intraoperative radial nerve injury during coronary artery surgery – report of two cases

Background

Peripheral nerve injury and brachial plexopathy are known, though rare complications of coronary artery surgery. The ulnar nerve is most frequently affected, whereas radial nerve lesions are much less common accounting for only 3% of such intraoperative injuries.

Case presentations

Two 52- and 50-year-old men underwent coronary artery surgery. On the first postoperative day they both complained of wrist drop on the left. Neurological examination revealed a paresis of the wrist and finger extensor muscles (0/5), and the brachioradialis (4/5) with hypoaesthesia on the radial aspect of the dorsum of the left hand. Both biceps and triceps reflexes were normoactive, whereas the brachioradialis reflex was diminished on the left. Muscles innervated from the median and ulnar nerve, as well as all muscles above the elbow were unaffected. Electrophysiological studies were performed 3 weeks later, when muscle power of the affected muscles had already begun to improve. Nerve conduction studies and needle electromyography revealed a partial conduction block of the radial nerve along the spiral groove, motor axonal loss distal to the site of the lesion and moderate impairment in recruitment with fibrillation potentials in radial innervated muscles below the elbow and normal findings in triceps and deltoid. Electrophysiology data pointed towards a radial nerve injury in the spiral groove. We assume external compression as the causative factor. The only apparatus attached to the patients' left upper arm was the sternal retractor, used for dissection of the internal mammary artery. Both patients were overweight and lying on the operating table for a considerable time might have caused the compression of their left upper arm on the self retractor's supporting column which was fixed to the table rail 5 cm above the left elbow joint, in the site where the radial nerve is directly apposed to the humerus.

Conclusion

Although very uncommon, external compression due to the use of a self retractor during coronary artery surgery can affect – especially in obese subjects – the radial nerve within the spiral groove leading to paresis and should therefore be included in the list of possible mechanisms of radial nerve injury.     

Welfare and Medicine

In an analysis of 6,024 injuries in 1,865 persons hurt or killed in traffic accidents, it was noted that the incidence of injuries to the head and lower extremities was 32 per cent in each instance. Twenty-five per cent of all fractures involved the head.     

Patterns of fractures in accidental and non-accidental injury in children: a comparative study.

The incidence and pattern of fractures in children who had been abused were compared with those of fractures sustained by children of similar ages in whom abuse had been excluded. From 1976 to 1982 there were 35 children with fractures resulting from child abuse, and all were aged under 5. Of the 826 children in the control group, seen from January to June 1981, 85% were aged over 5. Abused children were much more likely to have multiple fractures (p less than 0.001) and bruising of the head and neck (p less than 0.001). Fractures of the ribs were common in children who had been abused, and their presence, in the absence of major chest trauma, strongly suggested that abuse was occurring. Injuries to the long bones were invariably spiral or oblique fractures or subperiosteal new bone formation--both "gripping or twisting" injuries. Spiral fracture of the humeral shaft was significantly more common (p less than 0.001) in the group of abused children. Classic metaphyseal chip fractures were uncommon. One child in eight aged under 18 months who sustains a fracture may be a victim of child abuse.     

The Operative Treatment of Scapula Fractures: An Analysis of 10,097 Patients

BackgroundThe indications for operative treatment of scapula fractures have been debated over the past decade. Our purpose was to determine 1) the incidence and trends in the operative treatment of scapula fractures, 2) the incidence of conversion from operative fixation to total or hemi-shoulder arthroplasty (THSA) and 3) rates of associated injuries in scapula fractures. We hypothesized that the operative treatment of scapula fractures is increasing over time and that scapula fractures treated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) would have increased risk for conversion to THSA.MethodsThe Humana Inc. administrative claims database was queried from 2008 to 2015. Patients with any scapular fracture, ORIF of scapula fracture, total or hemi-shoulder arthroplasty, and associated injuries were identified by ICD-9 and CPT codes. Analysis was performed for 1) all patients with a scapula fracture undergoing operative fixation (i.e. ORIF and THSA), 2) all scapular fractures treated with ORIF with subsequent conversion to ipsilateral THSA, and 3) all associated injuries.ResultsThere were 10,097 scapula fractures (28.4% glenoid, 48% female). 60% occurred in patients 65 years and older. There were 198 (1.96%) fractures (70% glenoid) treated with ORIF. There were 287 (2.84%) fractures (45% glenoid) treated with THSA (76% total shoulder). The rate of ORIF of scapular fractures did not significantly increase (RR=0.87, p=0.58). There was a significant increase in THSA as primary treatment of scapula fractures in 2015 compared to 2007 (RR=0.43, p=0.0016). Conversion from ORIF to THSA was 12.6% (25/198). Scapula fractures treated with ORIF were at significant risk for conversion to THSA (RR=4.77, p<0.0001). Associated injuries occurred in nearly 50% of scapula fractures—other fractures, lung contusion and pneumothorax/hemothorax ranking the highest, accounting for 37%, 14.5% and 8.3% of all associated injuries, respectively.ConclusionThe incidence of operative treatment of scapula fractures was 1.96% and 2.84% for ORIF and THSA, respectively. Scapular fractures previously treated with ORIF were at significant risk for conversion to THSA. Although ORIF in scapular fractures did not significantly increase over time, both THSA and overall (ORIF+THSA) operative treatment of scapula fractures increased significantly. Level of Evidence: IV     

Head injuries related to the use of baby walkers.

To determine what proportion of head injuries in children under 24 months of age who presented to an emergency department were related to the use of baby walkers, we reviewed the charts of 52 such children. Walkers were involved in 42% of the head injuries in the children under 12 months of age and in none of those in the children aged 12 to 24 months. All walker-related injuries, including skull fractures in three children, involved stairs (p less than 0.001). Questionnaires were also sent to all families with children aged 3 to 18 months attending a private pediatric practice to determine the prevalence of falls involving baby walkers among these children and the factors associated with such falls. Of the 152 responding families 82% reported using or having used a walker. Thirty-six percent of the families reported that their child had a fall while in a walker, with 8.8% of the falls resulting in contact with a doctor. Walker-related falls were directly associated with time spent in the walker (p less than 0.001) and with a previous fall from the walker by an older sibling (p less than 0.03). Since there is no demonstrated benefit of walkers, their use should not be encouraged, and parents should be advised of their potential danger.     

卡车与卡车前部碰撞驾驶员与前排乘车人损伤特征的研究

目的：研究道路交通事故卡车与卡车前部碰撞驾乘人员损伤特征,分析比较驾乘人员的损伤及损伤分布特点。方法：应用统计学方法对2001年-2010年昆明地区卡车与卡车200例前部碰撞人员损伤的法医学鉴定资料进行系统分析性研究。结果：1.驾驶员易发生损伤的部位是下肢、头颈部,其次为胸、腹部损伤。驾驶员易发生右下肢的损伤及骨折。驾驶员易发生颅骨骨折和肋骨骨折。2.前排乘车人员易发生损伤的部位是上肢、头颈部,其次为下肢,而胸腹部损伤较少见。前排乘车人员易发生上肢的损伤及双侧尺桡骨的骨折。前排乘车人员左侧头颈部受伤的几率大于驾驶员的相对部位。前排乘车人员易发生右肱骨骨折。结论：1.与前排乘车人相比,驾驶员易造成胸部、腹部及盆部、右侧下肢的损伤及右股骨胫腓骨的骨折,发生双侧上肢的体表损伤及尺桡骨骨折均明显少。在身体体表出现胸部、腹部及盆部多部位连续的损伤,有助于提高认定卡车驾驶员的准确性。2.与驾驶员相比,前排乘车人易形成左侧头颈部的损伤,上肢双侧尺桡骨骨折,右侧肱骨的骨折。当损伤位于身体左侧头颈部且有右侧肱骨的骨折,有助于提高认定卡车前排乘车人的准确性。     

Skiing Injuries

This report, based on a study of 471 consecutive skiing accidents, is concerned with the contributory causes, mechanisms, treatment and prevention of the more common skiing injuries.Over 80% of injuries occur in skiers under the age of 30 years. Most injuries involve the lower extremities, and are ligamentous. One-third of all injuries are fractures. This distribution is the common experience in most ski centres which have organized facilities for treatment of such injuries.This study shows that rapid handling and early treatment of casualties ensures minimal suffering, accurate diagnosis, prevention of complications and earlier rehabilitation of injured skiers. Many of the causes of skiing accidents can be prevented by control of skiing conditions, and proper instruction of younger skiers.     

Falls from trees and tree associated injuries in rural Melanesians.

Falls from trees and other tree related injuries are the most common cause of trauma in some parts of rural Melanesia. A four year review of all admissions for trauma to the Provincial Hospital at Alotau, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea, showed that 27% were due to falls from trees, and a further 10% were due to related injuries, such as being struck by a falling branch or a coconut. A questionnaire distributed to rural health centres showed that during the study period at least 28 villagers died from falls from trees before reaching hospital. Head and chest trauma were common causes of death. Many injured patients were boys. Forearm fractures were the most common injuries, but more serious injuries were also frequently encountered. Trees responsible for most deaths and injuries included the coconut palm, betel palm, mango, and breadfruit. There are many strategies for preventing such injuries; perhaps the most important is to stop small boys climbing tall trees. Such falls are a serious occupational hazard for many subsistence farmers.     

Cross-sectional geometrical properties of distal radius and ulna in large, medium and toy breed dogs

Fractures of the distal radius and the ulna are the third most common fractures in dogs. Toy and miniature breeds have a propensity to develop antebrachial fractures after falling or jumping. Most affect the distal third of both bones involving between 15% and 37% of the radial length. Larger dogs, instead, typically sustain hyperextension injuries to the carpus. The causative mechanisms for this fracture prevalence in toy dogs are unknown. Breed-related changes in bone geometry and/or mineral density have been suggested as possible etiologic factors. In a multifactorial study, the main etiological factors potentially responsible for determining susceptibility to fractures in toy breeds are considered. The aim of this first study is to evaluate the geometric bone features in different dog sizes. The cortical bone cross-sectional properties along the length of the right radius and the ulna of 28 dogs from three different size categories have been quantified by computerized tomographic scanning. Geometrical cross-sectional parameters were measured and normalized to radial length to allow intergroup comparisons. Discriminant analysis was used to classify the observations into different groups. Through statistical analysis of the normalized values, significant differences in cross-sectional properties of different bone sizes were found. The results suggest that, when proportionally loaded, the antibrachii of toy breed dogs are more susceptible to fracture than those of large breed dogs due to morphological differences.     

Complications of Treating Terrible Triad Injury of the Elbow: A Systematic Review

Objective

Terrible triad injury of the elbow (TTIE), comprising elbow dislocation with radial head and coronoid process fracture, is notoriously challenging to treat and has typically been associated with complications and poor outcomes. The objective of this systematic review was to summarize the most recent available evidence regarding functional outcomes and complications following surgical management of TTIE.

Methods

Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were searched to identify relevant studies, which were included if they were retrospective or prospective in design, involved participants who had TTIE, and were published in English. Outcomes of interest were functional outcomes and complications.

Results

Sixteen studies, involving 312 patients, were included in the systematic review. Mean follow up after surgery was typically 25 to 30 months. Mean Mayo elbow performance scores ranged from 78 to 95. Mean Broberg-Morrey scores ranged from 76 to 90. Mean DASH scores ranged from 9 to 31. The proportion of patients who required reoperation due to complications ranged from 0 to 54.5% (overall  = 70/312 [22.4%]). Most of these complications were related to hardware fixation problems, joint stiffness, joint instability, and ulnar neuropathy. The most common complications that did not require reoperation were heterotopic ossification (39/312 [12.5%] patients) and arthrosis (35/312 [11.2%] patients).

Conclusions

The results of this systematic review indicate that functional outcomes after surgery for TTIE are generally satisfactory and that complications are common. Further research is warranted to determine which surgical techniques optimize functional outcomes and reduce the risk of complications.     

BOLD钉治疗桡骨小头骨折的临床疗效分析

目的:报告BOLD钉治疗Mason II型、未累及桡骨颈的Mason III型桡骨小头骨折的临床疗效。方法:自2009年3月至2012年2月对25例Mason II型,12例Mason III型桡骨小头骨折均采用切开复位BOLD钉内固定。结果:所有患者术后均获得随访12-24个月,平均随访14个月,肘关节功能评分:Mason II型平均分94分(88-98分),其中,优20例,良3例,可2例,差0例,优良率92%;Mason III型平均分91分(80-95分)其中,优9例,良1例,可2例,差0例,优良率83.3%。结论:BOLD钉治疗Mason II型及未累及桡骨颈的Mason III型桡骨小头有手术操作简单,固定稳定,允许早期活动等优点,可以作为这类骨折治疗的新选择。     

Maxillofacial fractures in the elderly: a comparative study

Previous maxillofacial trauma research has dealt primarily with facial bone fractures in the general population. Very few studies have specifically addressed maxillofacial fractures in the elderly. We compared 45 elderly (65 years of age or older) and 201 younger adult (16 to 64 years of age) patients admitted to our hospital with maxillofacial fractures. The percentage of patients admitted with nasal bone fractures was much greater in the elderly population, while mandibular fractures were more common in the adult group. Motor vehicle accidents accounted for over half the injuries in both groups, while falls were more prevalent in the elderly. Management of the elderly patient may be complicated by their associated injuries or underlying medical problems, perhaps partially accounting for their longer median length of hospital stay. The elderly are a unique subpopulation of maxillofacial fracture patients and deserve further study regarding their injuries and optimal methods for treatment.     

Etiology of shock in blunt trauma.

Patients who have suffered blunt trauma and present in shock of uncertain cause represent a problem frequently encountered by emergency physicians. A retrospective review of the charts of 879 patients who had suffered blunt trauma and presented to a regional trauma unit over a 44-month period revealed that 154 of the patients had presented to either a hospital or the trauma unit in shock. The most common causes of shock when a single source of hemorrhage was identified were, in order of decreasing frequency, intraperitoneal hemorrhage, pelvic or other musculoskeletal fractures, thoracic hemorrhage, severe head injury and spinal cord injury. Severe head injuries accounted for only 8% of the single-source cases and contributed to shock in only seven of the remaining cases.