Management of a Pediatric Type 3C Open Femoral Fracture Following a High-Velocity Gunshot Wound at an Adult Level II Trauma Center.

ABSTRACT: We present a case of a 10-year-old girl shot in the thigh by a stray bullet who had a favorable outcome when treated with a multidisciplinary approach at the nearest nonpediatric level II trauma center. Point-of-care thromboelastography facilitated effective resuscitation based on her coagulation profile, minimized blood product use, and allowed for damage-control surgery to stabilize and revascularize her complex femur fracture.

Thromboelastography in Orthopaedic Trauma Acute Pelvic Fracture Resuscitation: A Descriptive Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the adjunctive use of thromboelastography (TEG) in directing initial blood component therapy resuscitation of patients with polytrauma with acute pelvic/acetabular fractures. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort review. SETTING: Level-2 trauma center. PATIENTS: Forty adult trauma activations with acute pelvic and/or acetabular fractures were treated with standard fracture care and TEG with adjuvant platelet mapping (TEG/PM) analysis to guide their initial 24-hour resuscitation. INTERVENTION: TEG with PM provided goal-directed hemostatic resuscitation using component blood products and an established hospital transfusion protocol. Transfusions were triggered by abnormal TEG/PM results and/or the presence of active hemorrhage, persistent hemorrhagic shock, and abnormal base deficit levels. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT: The correction of trauma-induced coagulopathy was determined by the return of a normal TEG/PM tracing. The numbers of component blood products transfused in the first 24 hours using TEG/PM were calculated. Subgroup analysis of transfusion requirements and differences between pelvic ring and acetabular fracture patterns were determined. RESULTS: More than 90% of patients received a transfusion of at least 1 blood product with 84% of transfusions occurring within 6 hours of admission. TEG/PM-guided resuscitation yielded greater volumes of platelets and packed red blood cells (PRBCs) versus fresh frozen plasma (FFP) (P = 0.018) with an average transfusion ratio of 2.5:1:2.8 (PRBC:FFP:platelet). There was a trend toward greater transfusion requirements in combined injuries versus pelvic ring or acetabular fractures (P = 0.08). CONCLUSION: TEG with PM is a valuable adjunct to guide the acute phase of resuscitation in patients with polytrauma with pelvic injuries because it allows a real-time assessment of the coagulation status. The routine use of TEG/PM may result in transfusion ratios of blood products different from those of the current empiric 1:1:1 guidelines. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Haemothorax and thoracic spine fractures in the elderly.

Both osteoporotic fractures and pleural effusions are frequently observed in medicine. However, rarely does one associate a hemorrhagic pleural effusion with a thoracic spinal fracture when the patient has not sustained massive trauma. In this paper, we discuss two cases where seemingly insignificant low-energy trauma precipitated massive haemothoraces in elderly patients with underlying osteoporosis, ultimately resulting in their immediate causes of death. This paper serves to remind health care professionals of the importance of using caution when moving elderly patients as well as to consider thoracic spinal fracture as a potential explanation for a hemorrhagic pleural effusion of undetermined etiology.

Position of immobilization for pediatric forearm fractures.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of forearm position on residual fracture angulation for pediatric distal-third forearm fractures at the time of union. One hundred nine pediatric distal-third forearm fractures undergoing closed reduction and casting were prospectively randomized to be immobilized in pronated, supinated, or neutral position. Initial angulation and displacements were radiographically compared with healed fracture angulation at a minimum of 6 weeks. With 99 complete patient files, 38 fractures were casted in neutral, 26 in pronated, and 35 in supinated positions. Average initial angulation was 20 degrees; postreduction angulation measured 3 degrees. Final angulation at union averaged 7 degrees for all fractures. Forearm position failed to show a significant effect on fracture angulation at union. Residual fracture angulation at the time of union for pediatric distal-third forearm fractures was not significantly affected by forearm position (pronation, supination, neutral) during cast immobilization.