Pediatric tracheal injuries: Report on 5 cases with special view on the role of bronchoscopy and management.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of these case reports is to draw the attention to the difficulties of diagnosing trachea injuries in children, who are often part of a polytrauma scenario. MATERIALS: A retrospective multicenter analysis of 5 cases were analysed. The age of the children was between 1 and 16 years old. Injury mechanism was blunt thoracic trauma, misintubation and shot injury. RESULTS: Case No.1. a three-year-old child suffered a train accident. Resuscitation and decompression of the tension pneumothorax were performed. CT found a pneumomediastinum and bubbles along the trachea. Thoracolaparotomy was performed. Bronchoscopy could not rule out a tracheal injury. The child died of a cerebral edema. Case No. 2: a 13 month drowned and was resuscitated. A chest drain was inserted to treat the pneumothorax. CT revealed a pneumomediastinum, which was drained and a small tear of the trachea. Bronchoscopy was not preformed. Case No. 3: 9 year-old polytrauma patient was airlifted with bilateral mini thoracostomies and chest drains for pneumothorax. CT revealed bilateral pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum. The chest drains were repositioned oxygenation improved, but some ventilation difficulties remained. CT revealed pneumomediastinum and a tracheal injury. This was bridged by a tube, and the mediastinum drained. The ventilation difficulties were resolved. Case No. 4: an eight-year-old boy was shot on the neck. The region was explored surgically and the laceration of the trachea was sutured. Case No. 5: 12-year-old girl suffered blunt thoracic trauma. CT revealed bilateral pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum. Bilateral thoracic drainage was performed, some ventilation problems persisted. CT and fiberoscopy revealed a rupture of the trachea. Thoracotomy was performed and the laceration was closed. CONCLUSION: Pneumomediastinum and persistent ventilation difficulties should raise suspicion of a tracheal injury in a typical clinical scenario. Bronchoscopy is recommended for early diagnosis, despite the possibility of misdiagnosis. In certain cases CT scan only and close observation may be considered.

[Ultrasonographic diagnosis of distal pediatric forearm fractures]. / Gyermekkori csuklótáji törések diagnosztikája ultrahanggal.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: The aim of our prospective study was to evaluate the effectivity of sonographic diagnosis of pediatric wrist fractures and analyzing the results of two pediatric musculoskeletal centers. METHOD: Between 2011 January and 2015 December 467 children aged 0-15 with closed wrist injuries and open growth plates were sonographically and radiologically evaluated by an orthopaedic surgeon or a resident in trainee. Sonography was performed immediately after physical examination with linear probes of 7-14 Mhz frequency. Results were compared to conventional two plane wrist x-rays. RESULTS: We found 97 sensitivity and 96 specificity of the sonographic evaluation. Fractures with dislocations and more serious clinical consequences were never missed. CONCLUSION: Musculoskeletal ultrasound is a very effective tool in daily routine for diagnosing or excluding pediatric wrist fractures. Orv Hetil. 2017; 158(24): 944-948.