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Aim: The aim of the study is to evaluate the impact of pulmonary contusion on the overall outcome in children with multiply injury., Patients and Methods: Retrospective review of 123 multiply injured children during a 10-year period (January 2000 to February 2010) who were admitted to the intensive care unit of a university affiliated, tertiary care pediatric trauma center. The diagnosis of pulmonary contusion (case group) was defined by the clinical context and the results of chest X-ray and blood gas analysis. Data were compared with a matched control group without the diagnosis of pulmonary contusion. Matching criteria were as follows: (1) age difference within 2 years; (2) sex; (3) similar injury pattern; (4) Pediatric Trauma Score (PTS) difference within 2 points; (5) Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) in two categories., Results: The risk of pulmonary contusion must not be underestimated in multiply injured children. In our study, 49 of 123 patients (40%) showed signs of pulmonary contusion. A matched and pair analysis was performed in 46 patients (94%). Pulmonary contusion had an impact on the Pao2/ FIo2 ratio. It was significantly reduced in patients and caused insignificant extension of the ventilation time. Overall length of stay (LOS), LOS at pediatric intensive care unit, complication rate, mortality rate, and short-term outcome did not differ significantly between cases and controls., Conclusions: Pulmonary contusion alters gas exchange but does not appear to increase morbidity and mortality of pediatric patients with multiply injury. Interpretation may be limited by sample size., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Introduction: There has been a shift from operative treatment (OT) to non-operative treatment (NOT) of splenic injury. We evaluated the outcomes of treatment of pediatric patients with blunt splenic trauma in our hospital, with special focus on the outcomes after NOT., Patients and Methods: The data of all patients <18 years with radiologically proven blunt splenic injury admitted between 1988 and 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. Mechanism of injury, type of treatment, ICU stay, total hospital stay, morbidity and mortality were assessed. Patients suffering isolated splenic injuries were assessed separately from patients with multiple injuries. Patients were subsequently divided into those admitted before and after 2000., Results: There were 64 patients: 49 males and 15 females with a mean age of 13 years (range 0-18). 3 patients died shortly after admission due to severe neurological injury and were excluded. In the remaining 61 patients concomitant injuries, present in 62%, included long bone fractures (36%), chest injuries (16%), abdominal injuries (33%) and head injuries (30%). Mechanisms of injury were: car accidents (26%), motorcycle (20%), bicycle (19%), fall from height (17%) and pedestrians struck by a moving vehicle (8%). A change in treatment strategy was evident for the pre- and post-2000 periods. Significantly more patients had NOT after 2000 in both the isolated splenic injury group and the multi-trauma group [4/11 (36%) before vs. 10/11 (91%) after (p=0.009); 15/19 (79%) before vs. 8/20 (40%) after 2000 (p=0.03)]. There was also a significant shift to spleen-preserving operations. All life-threatening complications occurred within <24 h after injury. Mortality for the entire cohort was 7%; all of these patients were treated operatively. When comparing the median ICU and hospital stay before and after 2000 it was found to be significantly higher in the isolated injury group and remained statistically the same in the multi-trauma group., Conclusion: Splenic injury in children is associated with substantial mortality. This is due to concomitant injuries and not to the splenic injury. Non-operative treatment is increasingly preferred to operative procedures when treating splenic injuries in hemodynamically, stable children. ICU and hospital stay have, despite the change from OT to NOT, remained the same. Complications after NOT are rare. We are still observing children in hospital for a longer period than is necessary., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Introduction: The authors have attempted to elucidate the differences between Chance, seat-belt, and flexion distraction fractures. Chance and seat-belt fractures have more common features, while flexion distraction fractures differ, in particular, due to the mechanism of injury. A difficult diagnosis is sometimes a common characteristic, while therapy is always the same., Patients and Methods: During the period from 1997 to 2005, the authors treated 23 seat-belt fractures, and only three "genuine" Chance fractures. All patients had normal neurological findings. The mechanisms of injury were a car crash in 20 cases, and a fall associated with flexion in 6 cases, such as a rolling fall while skiing. According to the localisation, Chance fractures were found at the L 1 level twice and at the L 2 level once. Seat-belt injury was found once each in the areas of T 7, L 4, L 5, -twice at L 2 and L 3, and 16 times at the T / L spine transition, respectively. All patients were operated on using instrumented posterolateral spondylodesis., Results: All fractures healed by spondylodesis as confirmed by X-ray images. All patients returned to their original job or school. 14 patients were evaluated 6 months after removal of the metallic implants. The mean subsequent kyphotisation was 1.4 degrees with the largest deviation of 4 degrees in a patient with a pure ligamentous variant of a seat-belt fracture., Conclusion: The objective of this work is to illustrate the various types of spinal distraction injuries of a seat-belt character and Chance fracture, when the vertebral body is not compressed. X-rays and often also CT scans show a "benign" character. Interpretation of the findings is very important for the development of further chronic instability of the spine and all consequences. If the diagnosis of a distraction injury is made the operative stabilisation is essential. That is why all our patients were tretaed by operation.

Introduction: Paediatric blunt hepatic trauma treatment is changing from operative treatment (OT) to non-operative treatment (NOT). In 2000 the American Pediatric Surgical Association has published guidelines for NOT of these injuries. Little is known about the treatment of paediatric liver trauma in the Netherlands., Patients and Methods: Data of all patients aged 18 years and younger admitted to our hospital for blunt hepatic trauma in the past 18 years were retrospectively analysed using a prospective trauma registry. The mechanism of injury, treatment, ICU admission time, total admission time, morbidity and mortality were assessed. Subsequently the group was divided into patients treated before and after 2000., Results: Eighty patients were identified: 52M, 28F with a mean age of 12 years (range 2-18). Thirty patients sustained isolated liver injury. Concomitant injuries were fractures of long bones (28), abdominal (25), chest (24) and head injuries (18). Mean ISS score was 18 (range 4-57). Mortality was 8%. Mechanisms of injury consisted of bicycle (25%), car (20%), and motorcycle accidents (15%), pedestrian hit by vehicle (15%), fall from height (14%) and accidents associated with animals (11%). Haemodynamically stable patients underwent NOT (55). 25 patients (31%) underwent a laparotomy, which in 20 cases (80%) was related to hepatic injury. Although the groups treated before and after 2000 did not differ haemodynamically on admission to hospital, a shift to NOT is evident: 24/37 (63%) patients underwent NOT before 2000 versus 38/45 (84%) after 2000 (p=0.04). Complications following NOT were rare. Late onset bleeding did not occur. Two patients developed an infected biloma, requiring a laparotomy. Mean ICU stay before 2000 was 4.2 days (range 0-25 days) and 2.6 days (range 0-17 days) after 2000. Total hospital time did not decrease: 14 days (range 1-39 days) before 2000 and 14 days (range 1-60 days) after 2000. The overall mortality was 8%. All deaths occurred in the operative group and were spread evenly over both periods., Conclusion: In blunt paediatric liver trauma, the incidence and trauma mechanism seem age-related. A shift to NOT is found in the treatment of paediatric blunt hepatic trauma. NOT is the preferred treatment for the haemodynamically stable patient. Complications are rare and the success rate is 96%. The mean ICU stay has decreased but the total admission time could possibly be shortened., ((c) Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart-New York.)

Background: The difficulties in diagnosing traumatic diaphragmatic rupture (TDR) at the first admission are the most common causes of morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to review our experience with the management of TDR in order to identify the factors contributing to diagnostic delay and associated morbidity and mortality., Methods: Fourteen patients with TDR were treated in our hospital between January 2000 and June 2005. They have been investigated retrospectively., Results: The study identified 9 men (64 %) and 5 women (36 %), with ages ranging from 19 to 65 years (mean 35.3 years). Rupture of the diaphragm was left-sided in 10 (71 %) and right-sided in 4 (29 %) of the patients. Blunt trauma accounted for the injuries of 11 patients (79 %). Early diagnosis was obtained in 9 patients (64 %). The diagnosis was established preoperatively in 8 patients (57 %), and intraoperatively in 4 (29 %). The diagnosis was missed in 2 (14 %) patients in the first operation. Multiple associated injuries were observed in 12 patients (85 %). Postoperative complications were encountered in five patients (35 %), and the overall mortality was 7 %., Conclusions: Diaphragmatic rupture should be suspected in all blunt or penetrating traumas of the thorax and abdomen, and the presence of such an injury should be excluded before terminating the exploratory procedure.

Purpose: The goal of this retrospective study was to evaluate the spectrum of abdominal injuries and the reliability of computed tomography-based diagnosis in patients after polytrauma., Material and Methods: CT findings and clinical reports for 177 patients after polytrauma were evaluated with regard to abdominal injuries. Clinical patient reports at the time of discharge from the hospital were utilized as the standard of reference. Abdominal injuries resulting from an accident, frequent additional traumas and following therapeutic procedures were recorded. In the case of discrepancies in the reports, the CT scans were viewed retrospectively., Results: In 30 out of 177 patients, 42 abdominal injuries were detected. 69 % of the injuries were caused by traffic accidents while 31 % resulted from falls. Liver and spleen injuries were the most common. 50 % of the cases were treated surgically, and the other half of the cases underwent non-surgical conservative therapy. Massive chest traumas, pelvic injuries, cerebral traumas and injuries to extremities were commonly associated with abdominal injuries. Evaluation of the discrepancies in the clinical reports showed that injury to the pancreas and the small intestine were not successfully detected on CT, thus resulting in a false negative diagnosis. Early stages of organ parenchyma laceration were also initially misdiagnosed on CT., Conclusion: Contrast-enhanced whole-body MSCT is a reliable and rapid method for diagnosing abdominal injuries in patients after polytrauma. Only very few patterns of injury are not detected on CT. The appearance of fluid collection in the abdomen is an indicator of possible parenchyma injury and requires further evaluation in cases of clinically suspected organ trauma.

Background: It was the objective of this retrospective study to analyse the causes of injury, surgical approaches, outcome, and complications in patients with vascular trauma and to report our experience with vein homografts for arterial reconstruction in the upper and lower limbs and cervicothoracic region in patients operated on over a period between 1981-2001., Patients: In 128 patients with peripheral arterial injuries the mechanism was direct penetration in 90 cases and blunt injury in 20 cases. In 4 cases a chronic damage (false aneurysm, AV fistula) was observed. Isolated vascular trauma was present in 97 patients (75.8%), 31 cases (24.2%) were aggravated by concomitant bone fractures, and nerve or soft tissue damage. Most frequently injured vessels were the superficial femoral (22.6%), crural (22.6%), and ulnar and radial (13.2%) arteries. 16 patients with penetrating cervicothoracic arterial injuries were registered during this period. 8 patients underwent emergency exploration and 8 patients angiography prior urgent exploration., Results: Saphenous vein interposition grafting was applied with good results in 34 patients, polytetrafluoroethylene and Dacron grafts were used in eight cases, end to end anastomosis in 12 cases, venous bypasses in 5 cases, venous patches in 7 cases. 17 patients underwent arterial repair and 9 venous repair. Vein homografts as an arterial substitute were implanted in 8 patients. Five secondary amputations were performed and five patients died. The limb salvage rate was 95% and the primary patency rate of vein homografts was 75% (excluded primary amputations). The penetrating cervicothoracic injuries were all repaired with improvement in level of consciousness and neurological deficit when present., Conclusions: Most vascular injuries of the extremities can be managed successfully unless associated with severe concomitant damage of the bones, nerves and soft tissues. In the absence of suitable autologous vein grafts, homografts appear to be an interesting alternative for arterial repair. In penetrating cervicothoracic vascular injuries immediate operative repair offers the best chance of recovery.

We present our experience with a management of seat-belt syndrome in three children and draw particular attention to the severity of two-point fixation seat-belt injuries after a motor vehicle accident with 5 passengers whose vehicle was struck head-on by an oncoming vehicle. The parents were sitting in front, Adeline had a 2-point lap seat-belt, the 2 other children had 3-point seat-belts. The parents both had humerus fractures. The 4-year-old brother suffered a cervical and abdominal trauma with renal and splenic contusions and intestinal perforations. Adeline suffered multiple injuries, notably to the head, spine and abdominal viscera with erosions at the site of lap-seat-belt contact. The spinal injury was an L2 angular Chance fracture associated with paraplegia on the 7th day. Operative findings included a transverse tear of the left rectus abdominus muscle, an incomplete transection of the stomach and perforation of the ileum. The injuries were ultimately fatal. Given associated abdominal pain, skin erosions at the site of seatbelt contact, spinal fracture, and rectal muscle disruption apparent on emergency laparotomy, early diagnosis is important for better prognosis.

A 30-year old male car-driver was polytraumatized after a frontal collision with another motor vehicle (left-sided rib fractures, right-sided pneumothorax, multiple lung contusions, anterior and posterior pelvic ring fracture, femoral shaft fracture, traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage. After intubation and hemodynamic stabilization on the scene of accident, he was transported to our institution. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed a left-ventricular anteroseptal akinesia and patchy intramyocardial hyperdensities as indicator of myocardial contusion which was confirmed later by autopsy. In the further course, the patient developed an anteroseptal aneurysm with severe left ventricular dysfunction nad episodes of arrhythmias. Finally, septic shock complicated the case and the patient died 30 days of intensive care from therapy-refractory multiple organ system failure.

Topic of the Study: In 1994 more than 50,000 children under 15 years were involved in a road accident in Germany. About one third of them received major injuries and 431 children died. These data obviously show the importance of multiple trauma in children in a developed country., Methods: Between 1985 and 1990, 64 multi-traumatized children were evaluated after receiving treatment at the Aachen University Hospital. It was possible to evaluate 66% of the patients at the follow-up examination after 1 and 5 years. The results have been measured with the ALOS (Aachen long-term outcome score) and the GOS (Glasgow outcome score) in relation to the degree of trauma. OWN RESULTS: 12.5% died mainly from the effects of a cerebral injury. 25% developed different complications. Again the effects of craniocerebral trauma determined the long-term outcome. All other injuries can be managed by aggressive treatment without major consequences., Conclusions: In multi-traumatized children, craniocerebral trauma is the key injury regarding both lethality and long-term outcome. Therefore, prevention is of primary importance. Aggressive treatment of thoracic and abdominal trauma can usually help to cure completely these injuries. Especially osteosynthetic procedures, exerting little strain and performed as appropriate for children, have made injuries of the limbs less critical.

Purpose: Since frontobasal fractures after severe head trauma may cause serious late-term complications such as meningitis, their recognition and operative treatment are essential. Therefore, we analysed the importance of rhinoliquorrhoea as an early symptom of such fractures by comparison with neuroradiological methods., Material and Methods: In all patients undergoing operative revision of frontobasal fractures during a 7-year period, the clinical symptoms, results of neuroradiological examinations, concomitant injuries, as well as operative results, were studied retrospectively., Results: 45 patients out of 688 with severe head injury showed frontobasal fractures (6.5%). The most common cause of these injuries were traffic accidents (55%) and precipitated falls or plunges (35%). Posttraumatic rhinoliquorrhoea was seen in 41 of 45 patients (91%), and 30 showed external periorbital injuries (66%). In 8 patients (18%) the frontobasal fractures could not be visualised by facultatively performed neuroradiological methods (coronary CT-scan, CT-cisternography, subarachnoid space scintigraphy). 15 patients (33%) were secondarily transferred to our institution, two of them more than two years after the causative injury. All patients were operated on successfully within 14 days after admission., Conclusion: Traffic accidents and precipitated falls or plunges are the main causes of head injuries with frontobasal fractures and about 2/3 of these patients show external periorbital injuries. Rhinoliquorrhoea as an early symptom allows diagnosis of frontobasal fractures in 90% of all cases rather than neuroradiological methods which failed to demonstrate frontobasal fractures in about 20% of our patients. Therefore, recognition of rhinoliquorrhoea in patients with severe head injury is essential.

We report on a case of successful outpatient cardiopulmonary resuscitation of cardiac arrest after blunt multisystem injury. The literature is discussed and prognostic indicators are described.

We report on 10 polytraumatised patients who were treated in an ICU after a free-fall injury. The injury pattern of these patients proved to be relatively uniform. Brain oedema occurred in many victims. Remarkable was the fact that 8 out of 10 patients developed a pneumothorax, but only three of them had rib fractures on the same side. All patients suffered from fractures of the extremities with the lower extremities being affected more often. Abdominal injuries were not of importance.

Falling accidents rank high on the list of industrial accidents in the building industry, accounting for 5.6 per cent (2) of allnotifiable cases. Studies were conducted into 266 falling accidents from lean-to-wall ladders, with age, trade, time of accident, cause of accident, and consequences being separately analysed. More than 50 per cent of all falling accidents occurred to workers while they were climbing ladders. Slight injuries accounted for 60.5 per cent, moderate injuries for 32.7 per cent, and severe injuries for 6.8 per cent. The falling depths of 79 per cent were between 0.3 m and 1.99 m. Lower extremities were primarily affected by distortion or dislocation, while upper extremities were more often injured by fractures. Non-compliance with safety rules was the most common single cause.