Ocular trauma from land mines among soldiers treated at a University Hospital in Medellin, Colombia / Caracterización del trauma ocular por minas antipersonales en soldados atendidos en un hospital Universitario en Medellín, Colombia

Introduction: Currently ocular combat injuries are complex and associated with poor visual outcomes. Our objective is to characterize the military population that suffer land mine combat ocular trauma in Colombia and identify the type of wound, treatment and visual outcomes. Methods: Retrospectively review of medical history of soldiers evaluated in Pablo Tobon Uribe Hospital, whom had land mine trauma during January of 2004 and December 2012. Results: 635 soldiers had land mine trauma, 153 of them had ocular trauma (226 eyes). Open ocular trauma was observed in 29.6%. The Ocular Trauma Score was calculated in 183 eyes, the initial visual acuity was not possible to be reported in the rest of them; the 45% of the eyes were classified in category 3. Three patients had no light perception in both eyes. 97.3% of the eyes received medical treatment and 49.1% had surgery also. Primary evisceration was made in 5.8% and enucleation in 1.8%. Intraocular foreign body was observed by ultrasonography in 11.1% and in 5.8% by orbital tomography. Eleven patients were legally blind at discharge. Conclusions: The ocular trauma related to a land mine is highly destructive at an ocular level. The treatments associated with better visual outcomes are primary closure of globe and systemic antibiotics; although the characteristics of the wound itself are the main prognostic factor. The Ocular trauma score is a useful tool for determining visual outcome in combat ocular trauma.

Introducción: Los combates armados generan heridas oculares complejas con mal pronóstico visual. Nuestro objetivo es caracterizar la población militar que sufre trauma ocular de combate en Colombia asociado a minas antipersona, así como las características de las lesiones, el tratamiento recibido y desenlace visual final. Métodos: Se evaluó retrospectivamente las historias clínicas de soldados atendidos en el Hospital Pablo Tobon Uribe, que sufrieron accidente por mina antipersona durante el período entre enero de 2004 y diciembre de 2012. Resultados: 635 soldados, sufrieron trauma por mina antipersona; de estos, 153 (226 ojos) tuvieron trauma ocular. El 29.6% tuvieron trauma abierto. Se calculó el Ocular Trauma Score en 183 ojos. El 45% de los ojos se clasificaron como categoría 3. Tres pacientes tuvieron una visión final de no percepción de luz por ambos ojos. El 97.3% de los ojos tuvieron tratamiento farmacológico y 49.1% recibieron cirugía además. Se realizó evisceración primaria en el 5.8% y enucleación en 1.8%. Se logró comprobar cuerpo extraño intraocular por ecografía en el 11.1% y por tomografía de órbitas en el 5.8%. Once pacientes fueron legalmente ciegos, al momento de abandonar el hospital. Conclusiones: Las principales medidas terapéuticas asociadas con mejoría del pronóstico visual son el cierre primario de herida y la administración de antibióticos; aunque las características de las heridas oculares son el principal factor pronóstico. El Ocular Trauma Score es una herramienta útil para determinar el pronóstico visual en trauma ocular de combate.

Análise comparativa entre as lesões encontradas em motociclistas envolvidos em acidentes de trânsito e vítimas de outros mecanismos de trauma fechado / Comparative analysis of injuries observed in motorcycle riders involved in traffic accidents and victims of other blunt trauma mechanisms

OBJETIVO: Realizar uma análise comparativa entre as lesões encontradas em motociclistas envolvidos em acidentes de trânsito e vítimas de outros mecanismos de trauma fechado. MÉTODOS: Análise dos protocolos (colhidos prospectivamente) dos traumatizados com idade superior a 13 anos, admitidos de 10/06/2008 a 01/09/2009, vítimas de trauma fechado. Foram coletadas informações sobre mecanismo de trauma, dados vitais à admissão, exames complementares, lesões e tratamento. A estratificação da gravidade do trauma e das lesões foi realizada pelo cálculo dos índices de trauma: RTS, escala de coma de Glasgow (ECG), AIS, ISS e TRISS. Comparamos as variáveis entre os motociclistas (grupo A) e os demais (grupo B). Consideramos graves as lesões com AIS > 3. Para a análise estatística, utilizamos os testes t de Student, Mann Whitney, qui-quadrado e Fisher, considerando p < 0,05 significativo. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos no estudo 3.783 vítimas de trauma fechado, com idade de 14 a 99 anos, sendo 76,0 por cento do sexo masculino. Os mecanismos de trauma mais frequentes foram os acidentes com motociclistas (24,4 por cento) e atropelamentos (22,6 por cento). Na comparação das variáveis entre os grupos A e B, observamos que os motociclistas apresentaram, significativamente, (p < 0,05), menor média etária (28,9 ± 8,5 anosvs. 42,4 ± 18,5 anos) e menor média de AIS em segmento cefálico (0,3 ± 0,9 vs. 0,8 ± 1,1), como também, maior média da ECG à admissão (14,5 ± 1,9vs. 14,2 ± 2,2), de AIS em extremidades (1,5 ± 1,2 vs. 0,9 ± 1,2), de RTS (7,8 ± 0,5 vs. 7,7 ± 0,6) e de TRISS (0,98 ± 0,1 vs. 0,97 ± 0,1). O gênero masculino foi significativamente mais frequente no grupo A (87,9 por centovs. 72,6 por cento). Na comparação das lesões entre os grupos, notamos que os motociclistas apresentaram, significativamente, (p < 0,05), menor frequência de hematomas extradurais (0,6 por cento vs. 2,1 por cento), hematomas subdurais (0,9 por cento vs. 2,1 por cento), hemorragia subaracnóidea (0,9 por cento vs. 2,2 por cento), contusão encefálica (1,2 por cento vs. 3,6 por cento) e lesões graves em crânio (4,8 por centovs. 9,4 por cento), bem como maior frequência de lesão axonal difusa (1,6 por centovs. 0,7 por cento), fraturas de membros superiores (7,9 por centovs. 4,4 por cento), inferiores (7,7 por centovs. 5,2 por cento), e lesões graves em extremidades (20,6 por centovs. 12,6 por cento). CONCLUSÃO: Em comparação às vítimas dos demais mecanismos de trauma, os motociclistas apresentaram menor frequência e gravidade das lesões em segmento cefálico, bem como maior frequência e gravidade das lesões em extremidades.

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a comparative analysis of the lesions found among motorcycle riders involved in traffic accidents and victims of other mechanisms of blunt trauma. METHODS: Analysis of data prospectively collected on protocols for trauma patients older than 13 years, admitted from 06/10/2008 to 09/01/2009, victims of blunt trauma. Data collected included trauma mechanism, vital signs at admission, laboratory tests, injuries, and treatment.Stratification of trauma and lesion severity was performed by calculating the trauma index: Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Revised Trauma Score (RTS), Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS), Injury Severity Score (ISS) and TRISS. We compared the variables between motorcycle riders (group A) and the others (group B). Severe injuries were considered when AIS > 3. For statistical analysis, we used Student's t, Mann Whitney, chi-square and Fisher's test, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The study included 3,783 blunt trauma victims, aged 14 to 99 years, of which 76.0 percent were males. The most frequent trauma mechanisms were accidents involving motorcycle riders (24.4 percent) and pedestrians (22.6 percent). When comparing the variables between groups A and B, we observed that motorcycle riders were significantly (p < 0.05) younger (28.9 ± 8.5 years vs. 42.4 ± 18.5 years) and had lower mean AIS in the head segment (0.3 ± 0.9 vs. 0.8 ± 1.1), as well as higher mean GCS at admission (14.5 ± 1.9 vs. 14.2 ± 2.2), AIS in the extremities (1.5 ± 1.2 vs. 0.9 ± 1.2), RTS (7.8 ± 0.5 vs. 7.7 ± 0.6) and TRISS (0.98 ± 0.1 vs. 0.97 ± 0.1). Men were significantly more frequent in group A (87.9 percent vs. 72.6 percent). When comparing injuries between groups, we observed that the motorcycle riders had significantly (p < 0.05) lower frequency of extradural hematomas (0.6 percent vs. 2.1 percent), subdural hematomas (0.9 percent vs. 2.1 percent), subarachnoid hemorrhage (0.9 percent vs. 2.2 percent), brain injury (1.2 vs. 3.6 percent), and severe head injuries (4.8 percent vs. 9.4 percent ), as well as higher frequency of diffuse axonal injury (1.6 percent vs. 0.7 percent), upper- (7.9 percent vs. 4.4 percent) and lower-limb fractures (7.7 percent vs. 5, 2 percent), and severe extremity lesions (20.6 percent vs. 12.6 percent). CONCLUSION: Compared to victims of other trauma mechanisms, motorcycle riders had a lower frequency and severity of head injuries, as well as increased frequency and severity of lesions in the extremities.

An Observational Study of Blood Glucose Levels during Admission and 24 Hours Post-Operation in a Sample of Patients with Traumatic Injury in a Hospital in Kuala Lumpur

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been associated with an acute stress response mediated by the sympathoadrenomedullary axis, which can be assessed by measuring blood glucose level. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted for a year in 2007 among 294 patients who had been treated for TBI in Hospital Kuala Lumpur. Patients fulfilling the set criteria were recruited into the study and data, including blood glucose level and Glasgow Outcome Score at 3-month follow-up, were collected. Results: 294 patients were included in the study: 50 females (17.0%) and 244 males (83.0%). The majority of cases were young adult patients (mean age of 34.2 years, SD 13.0). The mean blood glucose level during admission and post-surgery were 6.26 mmol/L (SD 1.30, n = 294) and 6.66 mmol/L (SD 1.44, n = 261), respectively. Specifically, the mean admission glucose level associated with mild TBI was 5.04 mmol/L (SD 0.71); moderate TBI, 5.78 mmol/L (SD 1.02); and severe TBI, 7.04 mmol/L (SD 1.18). The mean admission glucose level associated with a poor outcome in patients with isolated TBI was 6.98 mmol/L (SD 1.21). Patients with admission glucose of 5.56 mmol/L (SD 1.21) were more likely to have a favourable outcome. Conclusion: Mild, moderate, and severe TBI were associated with an increase in blood glucose levels during admission, and the mean increase in glucose levels is based on the severity of the isolated TBI. Surgical intervention did not cause further significant changes in blood glucose levels. Patients with isolated TBI and minimal increases in blood glucose levels were more likely to have a favourable outcome.