Hemorragia incoercible por trauma maxilofacial: experiencia del Hospital del Trabajador / Management of intractable bleeding facial trauma

Introduction: The aim of this paper is to show our experience in the management of intractable bleeding facial trauma during the past 10 years to determine its impact on our environment and outline the basic principles of treatment. Methods: A retrospective study of all patients with maxillofacial trauma and uncontrollable bleeding from 1999 to 2009. Inclusion criteria were oro-nasal bleeding secondary to maxi-llofacial trauma requiring emergency treatment by a specialist, without other associated lesions that could be a source of bleeding. We obtained demographic information, mechanism of injury, diagnosis of injury, hemodynamic status, type and timing of tamponade, definitive surgical treatment, results and evolution. Results: 21 patients in the study period, a true incidence of 0.002 percent. 7 patients (33.3 percent) with trauma naso-septal; 5 (23.8 percent) with panfacial fractures, and 7 (33.3 percent) with variable involvement of the upper and middle face. Nine patients (42.9 percent) had isolated facial injuries. Only 5 patients (23.8 percent) had hemodynamic compromise. Thirteen patients (61.9 percent) required posterior nasal packing with or without another procedure to control bleeding. Eight patients (38.1 percent) required early reduction and internal fixation as definitive treatment. Conclusions: Maxillofacial trauma uncontrollable bleeding is uncommon and rarely is the primary cause of hypovolemic shock. It should be suspected in patients with facial injuries from hours bleeding. The packing, suturing of wounds and reduce/OTS are the mainstays of early treatment.

Introducción: El objetivo del presente trabajo es mostrar nuestra experiencia en el manejo de la hemorragia incoercible por trauma facial durante los últimos 10 años, para determinar su incidencia y delinear los principios básicos del tratamiento. Material y Método: Estudio retrospectivo de todos los pacientes con hemorragia incoercible por trauma maxilofacial entre 1999 y 2009. Criterios de inclusión fueron hemorragia oro-nasal secundaria a traumatismo maxilofacial, sin otras lesiones asociadas que pudieran ser fuente de hemorragia, que requirió de tratamiento de urgencia por un especialista. Se obtuvo información demográfica, mecanismo de injuria, diagnóstico del traumatismo, estado hemodinámico, tipo y momento del tratamiento especializado, tratamiento quirúrgico definitivo, resultados y evolución. Resultados: 21 pacientes en el período de estudio, con incidencia real de 0,002 por ciento. Destacan 7 pacientes (33,3 por ciento) con trauma nasoseptal, con o sin heridas faciales; 5 (23,8 por ciento) con fracturas panfaciales; 7 (33,3 por ciento) con compromiso variable del tercio superior y medio de la cara. Nueve pacientes (42,9 por ciento) presentaron lesiones faciales aisladas. 5 pacientes (23,8 por ciento) presentaron compromiso hemodinámico. Trece pacientes (61,9 por ciento) necesitaron un taponamiento nasal posterior, asociado o no a otro procedimiento para el control de la hemorragia. Ocho pacientes (38,1 por ciento) necesitaron reducción y osteosíntesis precoz como tratamiento definitivo. Conclusiones: La hemorragia incoercible por trauma maxilofacial es poco frecuente y rara vez es la causa primaria de shock hipovolémi-co. Se la debe sospechar especialmente en pacientes con lesiones faciales que llevan horas con sangrado, aún de poca cuantía, pero persistente. El taponamiento, sutura de heridas y reducción/OTS precoz son los pilares de su tratamiento.

Fracturas mandibulares: experiencia en un hospital de trauma / Mandibular fractures: experience of a trauma hospital

Background: Facial trauma has reached a peak in the last decades in the world; however, scanty epidemiological information is available in Chile. Aim: To report the experience in the treatment of mandibular fractures in the maxillofacial unit at Hospital del Trabajador, Santiago. Patients and methods: A retrospective study of patients with mandibular fractures treated in a seven years period (1990-1996). Demographic and clinical aspects of the patients are analyzed, with emphasis in causes of trauma, anatomic distribution of the fractures, treatment and complications. Results: One hundred and sixty patients (aged 14 to 65 years old) sustained 245 mandibular fractures. Road traffic accidents were the most common cause of fractures (46 percent). The most common mandibular fracture was subcondylar. Thirty eight patients (24 percent) presented with associated facial fractures, while 34 (21 percent) had also other non-facial fractures. Open reduction and internal fixation was performed in 88 subjects. Complications occurred in 60 patients (38 percent). Conclusions: Road traffic accidents are the main cause of mandibular fractures in this series of patients. The most common mandibular fracture is subcondylar, which can be linked to the high rate of occlusal complications observed