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Study Objective: The NEXUS chest decision instrument identifies a very-low-risk population of patients with blunt trauma for whom chest imaging can be avoided. However, it requires that all 7 National Emergency X-Ray Utilization Study (NEXUS) chest criteria be absent. To inform patient and physician shared decisionmaking about imaging, we describe the test characteristics of individual criteria of the NEXUS chest decision instrument and provide the prevalence of injuries when 1, 2, or 3 of the 7 criteria are present., Methods: We conducted this secondary analysis of 2 prospectively collected cohorts of patients with blunt trauma who were older than 14 years and enrolled in NEXUS chest studies between December 2009 and January 2012. Physicians at 9 US Level I trauma centers recorded the presence or absence of the 7 NEXUS chest criteria. We calculated test characteristics of each criterion and combinations of criteria for the outcome measures of major clinical injuries and thoracic injury observed on chest imaging., Results: We enrolled 21,382 patients, of whom 992 (4.6%) had major clinical injuries and 3,135 (14.7%) had thoracic injuries observed on chest imaging. Sensitivities of individual test characteristics ranged from 15% to 56% for major clinical injury and 14% to 53% for thoracic injury observed on chest imaging, with specificities varying from 71% to 84% for major clinical injury and 67% to 84% for thoracic injury observed on chest imaging. Individual criteria were associated with a prevalence of major clinical injury between 1.9% and 3.8% and of thoracic injury observed on chest imaging between 5.3% and 11.5%., Conclusion: Patients with isolated NEXUS chest criteria have low rates of major clinical injury. The risk of major clinical injury for patients with 2 or 3 factors range from 1.7% to 16.6%, depending on the combination of criteria. Criteria-specific risks could be used to inform shared decisionmaking about the need for imaging by patients and their physicians., (Copyright © 2015 American College of Emergency Physicians. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Delineation of blunt aortic injury by computed tomographic angiography guides management of this potentially fatal injury. Two existing grading systems are problematic to apply and not linked to outcomes. A simplified computed tomographic angiography-based grading system, linked to clinical outcomes, was developed, and feasibility and reliability were evaluated., Methods: Retrospective review was performed of all blunt aortic injury cases presenting to a single provincial quaternary referral center designated for blunt aortic injury management between 2001 and 2009. Management, associated injuries, hospital survival, and cause of death were determined. Initial computed tomographic angiography was reviewed, and injuries were graded according to the new Vancouver simplified grading system by 2 study authors. Three additional trauma radiologists then graded the aortic injuries with the 2 existing systems and the simplified system. Interrater reliability was determined., Results: Forty-eight patients were identified. Two had minimal aortic injury (grade I), 7 had an intimal flap larger than 1 cm (grade II), 32 had traumatic pseudoaneurysm (grade III), 6 had active contrast extravasation (grade IV), and 1 could not be rated. Survivals were 100%, 90%, and 33% for grades I and II, III, and IV, respectively. Of grade III injuries, 14% were medically managed, 68% repaired endovascularly, and 18% repaired with open surgery. Interrater correlation was best with the simplified score, with only 0.5% of cases unable to be classified., Conclusions: The Vancouver simplified blunt aortic injury grading system is easy to use and correlates with clinical outcomes. Prospective external validation is required., (Copyright © 2012 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Study Objective: Many emergency departments and trauma centers utilize extensive radiologic studies during the assessment of trauma patients. A point of concern arises about the possible biological effects of these cumulative radiation doses. The objective of this study is to determine the amount of ionizing radiation received by adult blunt trauma patients at a Level I trauma center during the first 24 hours of their care., Methods: This nonconcurrent case series reviewed the first 100 consecutive adult blunt trauma patients who presented to a Level I trauma center in 2006. All patients met hospital standards for the less acute major triage criteria. Individual radiation dose reports calculated by the computed tomography (CT) scanner were used to determine the radiation doses from each CT procedure. Standardized tables were used to determine radiation dose for plain radiographs. The median effective dose of radiation (millisieverts) was calculated for the first 24 hours of hospitalization., Results: A total of 100 eligible patients presented between January 1, 2006, and March 20, 2006. Eighty-six patients had complete radiologic records available. The median age was 32 years, with an intraquartile range of 23 to 46 years; the median Injury Severity Score was 14, with an intraquartile range of 9 to 29; and the median number of CT scans was 3, with an intraquartile range of 3 to 4. The median effective total dose of ionized radiation was 40.2 mSv, with an intraquartile range of 30.5 to 47.2 mSv. A dose of 40.2 mSv is the equivalent of approximately 1,005 chest radiographs., Conclusion: Trauma patients meeting the less acute major triage criteria are exposed to clinically important radiation doses from diagnostic radiographic imaging during the first 24 hours of their care.

Background: A mass casualty incident (MCI) demands rapid and efficient triage of victims. The Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment (START) protocol has been proposed to identify salvageable victims from those with imminent mortality. This study evaluates the efficacy of START triage to predict likelihood of mortality of an MCI trauma victim., Methods: Trauma patients were randomly selected using the trauma database at a local Level II trauma center. Survival was defined as a discharge from the hospital with the primary endpoint being death. For respiratory rate <30, pulse <100, and Glasgow Coma Scale score >14, one point was given to the victim for each category. Persons who did not meet these criteria were given a score of zero. The scores were then tabulated and analyzed with respect to the primary endpoint., Results: Of the 355 persons analyzed, 341 (96%) survived and 14 (3.9%) were categorized as deceased. For patients with a tabulated score /=2, the PPV and NPV were 0.08 and 0.99, respectively., Discussion: Of the total victims, 75.77% with a respiratory rate <30, palpable radial pulse, and intact mental status survived. The deceased victims with tabulated scores of 1, 2, and 3 had mortalities of 50%, 28%, and 21%, respectively. The trend toward lower tabulated scores in the deceased victims suggests efficacy with START triage.

Study Objective: Standard radiographic screening may fail to reveal any evidence of injury in some patients with spinal injury. The purposes of this investigation were to document the efficacy of standard radiographic views and to categorize the frequencies and types of injuries missed on plain radiographic screening of the cervical spine., Methods: All patients with blunt trauma selected for radiographic cervical spine imaging at 21 participating institutions underwent a standard 3-view series (cross-table lateral, anteroposterior, and odontoid views), as well as any other imaging deemed necessary by their physicians. Injuries detected with screening radiography were then compared with final injury status for each patient, as determined by review of all radiographic studies., Results: The study enrolled 34,069 patients with blunt trauma, including 818 patients (2.40% of all patients; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.40% to 2.40%) having a total of 1,496 distinct cervical spine injuries. Plain radiographs revealed 932 injuries in 498 patients (1.46% of all patients; 95% CI 1.46% to 1.46%) but missed 564 injuries in 320 patients (0.94% of all patients; 95% CI 0.94% to 0.94%). The majority of missed injuries (436 injuries in 237 patients [representing 0.80% of all patients]; 95% CI 0.80% to 0.80%) occurred in cases in which plain radiographs were interpreted as abnormal (but not diagnostic of injury) or inadequate. However, 23 patients (0.07% of all patients; 95% CI 0.05% to 0.09%) had 35 injuries (including 3 potentially unstable injuries) that were not visualized on adequate plain film imaging. These patients represent 2.81% (95% CI 1.89% to 3.63%) of all injured patients with blunt trauma undergoing radiographic evaluation., Conclusion: Standard 3-view imaging provides reliable screening for most patients with blunt trauma. However, on rare occasions, such imaging may fail to detect significant unstable injuries. In addition, it is difficult to obtain adequate plain radiographic imaging in a substantial minority of patients.

Objective: An institutional review of sharps injuries was conducted to assist in establishing priorities for resource allocation in a sharps prevention program., Design: A retrospective review of 221 sharps injuries occurring during a 1-year period was conducted by a 4-member multidisciplinary team. Each injury was categorized as either moderate/high, low, or unknown risk for acquisition of bloodborne diseases by using modified provincial definitions of occupational risk for exposure to bloodborne pathogens., Results: A total of 119 injuries were considered to be moderate/high risk, and 93 were at low risk for acquisition of bloodborne disease. Nine injuries could not be categorized. In 59% of high-risk injuries, education or changes in technique were identified as the primary preventive intervention. Passive devices such as needleless intravenous administration sets could theoretically address prevention of the majority of low-risk injuries. Known available safety devices could have prevented 33 (28%) high-risk injuries., Conclusion: Disposition of resources must take into consideration the risk of bloodborne disease acquisition and the efficiency and expense of the preventable methods employed. Institutional review of injuries combined with a cost analysis revealed that resources were best allocated to protective devices at source (eg, safety syringes) and on a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, and sustained educational program. Needleless intravenous infusion sets would mainly prevent low-risk injuries at significant cost.

Study Objective: To determine the interrater reliability of previously defined risk criteria for cervical spine injury., Methods: Two emergency physicians independently evaluated patients with blunt trauma to determine whether they exhibited any of four risk criteria: (1) altered neurologic function; (2) evidence of intoxication; (3) spinous process or posterior midline cervical tenderness; or (4) distracting painful injury. Each criterion was explicitly described on study data forms. Physician concordance was measured, and the kappa statistic was calculated, for the combined risk criteria (based on the presence of any individual criterion), and for each individual criterion., Results: There were 122 patients evaluated. Physicians agreed on overall classifications for 107 patients (87.7%; kappa, .73; confidence interval [CI], .61 to .86). Agreement for individual criteria were as follows: (1) altered neurologic function--102 patients (83.6%; kappa, .58; CI, .41 to .74); (2) intoxication--118 patients (96.7%; kappa, .86; CI, .72 to .99); (3) posterior midline tenderness--109 patients (89.3%; kappa, .77; CI .65 to .89); (4) distracting injury--112 patients (91.8%; kappa.77; CI, .64 to .91)., Conclusion: The combined cervical spine injury criteria have substantial interrater reliability. Individual criteria are slightly less reliable.

Background: Although highly successful in children, nonoperative management of blunt splenic injury in adults is less defined. The purpose of this study was to determine whether mechanism of injury, grade of splenic injury, associated injuries, and pattern of injury differ between adults and children (younger than 15 years of age)., Methods: Four hundred eleven patients (293 adults and 118 pediatric patients) with blunt splenic injury were admitted to an affiliated adult/pediatric trauma program from 1989 to 1994. Computed tomography (CT) scans were interpreted in a blinded fashion. Mechanism of injury was significantly different for adults versus children (p < 0.05): motor vehicle crash (66.9% versus 23.7%), motorcycle (8.8% versus 0.8%), sports (2.4% versus 16.9%), falls (8.8% versus 25.4%), pedestrian/automobile (4.4% versus 11.0%), bicycle (1.4% versus 9.3%), and other (7.3% versus 12.7%)., Results: Higher injury severity scores, lower Glasgow Coma Scales, and higher mortality indicated that the adults were more severely injured than the children. Fifty-nine percent of the adults and 7% of the children required immediate laparotomy for splenic injury. Both CT grade and quantity of blood on CT predicted the need for exploration in adults but not in children. An injury severity score above 15 and high-energy mechanisms correlated with the need for operative intervention., Conclusions: Rather than children simply being physically different, they are injured differently than adults, hence the high rate of nonoperative management.

Study Objective: To determine the significance of scapular fractures in blunt-trauma patients compared with blunt-trauma patients without scapular fractures., Design: Retrospective chart review of 11,500 blunt-trauma patients with a control group matched for age, sex, and mechanism of injury., Setting: Two Level I trauma centers., Participants: Ninety-two blunt-trauma patients with scapular fractures and 81 control patients., Results: Mortality, neurovascular injury, and injury severity scores were compared for blunt-trauma patients with scapular fractures with those of the control group. Analysis revealed a 1% incidence of scapular fractures in blunt trauma with no neurovascular injury and no mortality. Scapular fractures were associated with thoracic injury in 49% of the patients, compared with 6% in the control group (difference, 43%; 95% confidence interval, 31.6 to 51.4; P < .001, Fisher's exact test)., Conclusion: Scapular fractures are not a significant marker of greater mortality or of neurovascular morbidity in blunt-trauma patients.

Study Objective: To identify patients presenting with hypotension due to blunt trauma who should undergo computed tomography (CT) of the head before urgent chest or abdominal operation., Design: Retrospective registry-based record review., Setting: Urban Level I trauma center., Participants: Consecutive trauma patients with suspected head injury, blunt mechanism of injury, and hypotension who were discharged between January 1, 1989, and December 31, 1991. Patients who were dead on arrival or died within 15 minutes of arrival were judged unsalvageable and excluded. Review of 3,224 trauma patients identified 212 as the study population., Interventions: Frequency of neurosurgical intervention or general surgical intervention within 6 hours of admission and the time required for completion of CT of the head were noted., Results: Overall, 40 general surgical operations (19%) and 16 craniotomies (8%) were performed, with a mortality rate of 18%. Patients with Glasgow Coma Scale scores of less than 8 had a 19% rate of craniotomy, and those with scores between 8 and 13 had a 9% rate. Sixteen patients had CT before surgery, with an average delay of 68 minutes. No patient who responded to initial resuscitation experienced hemodynamic instability in the CT suite, including 15 patients with positive diagnostic peritoneal lavage., Conclusion: CT scan of the head before general surgical operation appears to be safe in patients who respond to initial resuscitation. The likelihood of craniotomy in patients with Glasgow Coma Scale scores of 13 or less is comparable to the likelihood of general surgical operation. Physicians should be encouraged to make CT of the head a high priority in this group.

Study Objective: To evaluate the relationship among injury severity, prehospital procedures, and time spent at the scene by paramedics for victims of major trauma., Design: Retrospective study of 98 consecutive patients with an Injury Severity Score of more than 15 who were brought to a trauma center by fire department paramedics., Setting: A medium-sized metropolitan emergency medical services (EMS) system and a Level I trauma center., Results: There were 66 male and 32 female patients with a mean age of 34 years. Thirty-two patients (32.6%) died. Blunt and penetrating trauma accounted for 68.4% and 31.6% of cases, respectively. Thirty-three patients (33.7%) had successful advanced airway procedures, and 81 (82.7%) had at least one IV line started in the field. Analysis of scene time, prehospital procedures, and injury severity parameters revealed that more procedures were performed in the field on the more severely injured cases; that despite this, there was a trend toward shorter scene time for more severely injured patients; and that there was a mean scene time of 8.1 minutes. This is the shortest scene time reported to date for prehospital trauma care in an EMS system., Conclusion: Extremely short scene times can be attained without foregoing potentially life-saving advanced life support interventions in an urban EMS system with strong medical control. In such a system, the most severely injured victims may spend less time at the scene although more procedures are performed on them.