PURPOSETraumatic cardiac injury (TCI) is a challenge for trauma surgeons as it provides a short thera- peutic window and the management is often dictated by the underlying mechanism and hemodynamic status. The current study is to evaluate the factors influencing the outcome of TCI.

METHODSProspectively maintained database of TCI cases admitted at a Level-1 trauma center from July 2008 to June 2013 was retrospectively analyzed. Hospital records were reviewed and statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS version 15.

RESULTSOut of 21 cases of TCI, 6 (28.6%) had isolated and 15 (71.4%) had associated injuries. Ratio be- tween blunt and penetrating injuries was 2:1 with male preponderance. Mean ISS was 31.95. Thirteen patients (62%) presented with features suggestive of shock. Cardiac tamponade was present in 12 (57%) cases and pericardiocentesis was done in only 6 cases of them. Overall 19 patients underwent surgery. Perioperatively 8 (38.1%) patients developed cardiac arrest and 7 developed cardiac arrhythmia. Overall survival rate was 71.4%. Mortality was related to cardiac arrest (p = 0.014), arrhythmia (p = 0.014), and hemorrhagic shock (p =0.04). The diagnostic accuracy of focused assessment by sonography in trauma (FAST) was 95.24%.

CONCLUSIONHigh index of clinical suspicion based on the mechanism of injury, meticulous examination by FAST and early intervention could improve the overall outcome.

Adult ; Female ; Heart Injuries ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSEThe epidemiology of pediatric trauma is different in different parts of the world. Some re- searchers suggest falls as the most common mechanism, whereas others report road traffic accidents (RTAs) as the most common cause. The aim of this study is to find out the leading cause of pediatric admissions in Trauma Surgery in New Delhi, India.

METHODSInpatient data from January 2012 to September 2014 was searched retrospectively in Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre Trauma Registry. All patients aged 18 years or less on index presentation admitted to surgical ward/ICU or later taken transfer by the Department of Trauma Surgery were included. Data were retrieved in predesigned proformas. Information thus compiled was coded in unique alphanumeric codes for each variable and subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS version 21.

RESULTSWe had 300 patients over a 33 month period. Among them, 236 (78.6%) were males and 64 (21.3%) females. Overall the predominant cause was RTAs in 132 (43%) patients. On subgroup analysis of up to 12 years age group (n = 147), the most common cause was found to be RTAs again. However, falls showed an incremental upward trend (36.05% in up to 12 age group versus 27% overall), catching up with RTAs (44.89%). Pediatric Trauma Score (PTS) ranged from 0 to 12 with a mean of 8.12 ± 2.022. 223 (74.33%) patients experienced trauma limited to one anatomic region only, whereas 77 (25.66%) patients suffered polytrauma. 288 patients were discharged to home care. Overall, 12 patients expired in the cohort. Median hospital stay was 6 days (range 1-182).

CONCLUSIONPediatric trauma is becoming a cause of increasing concern, especially in the developing countries. The leading cause of admissions in Trauma Surgery is RTAs (43%) as compared to falls from height (27%); however, falls from height are showing an increasing trend as we move to younger age groups. Enhancing road safety alone may not be a lasting solution for prevention of pediatric trauma and local injury patterns must be taken into account when formulating policies to address this unique challenge.

Accidental Falls ; mortality ; statistics & numerical data ; Accidents, Traffic ; mortality ; statistics & numerical data ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Databases, Factual ; Developing Countries ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; India ; Injury Severity Score ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Pediatrics ; Registries ; Risk Assessment ; Survival Rate ; Trauma Centers ; Wounds and Injuries ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; surgery

PURPOSE: Comminuted intraarticular distal radial fractures are difficult to treat conservatively and require operative treatment. This study compared the functional outcomes between variable angle volar plating and external fixator with K-wire augmentation in open reduction and internal fixation. METHODS: A total of 62 adult patients with comminuted intraarticular distal radius fracture were randomized into 2 groups: volar plate group and external fixator group. These patients aged between 18 and 60 years had unilateral fractures, and agreed to be included in the study. Patients with a history of fracture, bilateral fracture, associated other injuries, delayed injury for more than 2 weeks, open fracture, pre-existing arthrosis or disability, psychiatric illness and pathological fracture were excluded. Patients were followed up at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year. The assessment of pain, functional activity, range of motion and grip strength was done at each stage of follow-up. The pain and functional activities were assessed by patient rated wrist evaluation (PRWE) score and disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) score. RESULTS: Patients in volar plate group had superior PRWE score and DASH score at each stage of follow-up. At 1 year follow-up, the mean PRWE score were 7.48 for volar plate group and 7.35 for external fixator group; while the mean DASH score was 4.65 for volar plate group and 5.61 for external fixator group. They had better flexion and extension range of movement. They also had better pronation and supination range of motion at initial follow-up, however the difference get attenuated by 1 year. Volar plate group had significantly better grip strength than external fixator group. Complication rates were higher in external fixation group. CONCLUSION Fixation with variable angle volar plate results in early wrist mobilization, better range of movement, less pain and disability and early return of function.

Coalescence of traditional medicine Ayurveda and in silico technology is a rigor for supplementary development of future-ready effective traditional medicine. Ayurveda is a popular traditional medicine in South Asia, emanating worldwide for the treatment of metabolic disorders and chronic illness. Techniques of in silico biology are not much explored for the investigation of a variety of bioactive phytochemicals of Ayurvedic herbs. Drug repurposing, reverse pharmacology, and polypharmacology in Ayurveda are areas in silico explorations that are needed to understand the rich repertoire of herbs, minerals, herbo-minerals, and assorted Ayurvedic formulations. This review emphasizes exploring the concept of Ayurveda with in silico approaches and the need for Ayurinformatics studies. It also provides an overview of in silico studies done on phytoconstituents of some important Ayurvedic plants, the utility of in silico studies in Ayurvedic phytoconstituents/formulations, limitations/challenges, and prospects of in silico studies in Ayurveda. This article discusses the convergence of in silico work, especially in the least explored field of Ayurveda. The focused coalesce of these two domains could present a predictive combinatorial platform to enhance translational research magnitude. In nutshell, it could provide new insight into an Ayurvedic drug discovery involving an in silico approach that could not only alleviate the process of traditional medicine research but also enhance its effectiveness in addressing health care.
Network Pharmacology ; Medicine, Traditional ; Medicine, Ayurvedic ; Drug Discovery/methods* ; Delivery of Health Care

The management of hemodynamically normal patients with retained intra-pericardial foreign body remains a matter of conjecture. The available literature supports non-operative management of such innocuous foreign bodies. We report our experience of a hemodynamically normal patient with a retained intra-pericardial pellet from a firearm injury. He initially received successful non-operative management but developed fatal hemopericardium 21 days after injury. In this paper, we discussed the pitfalls in the management of such injuries in light of the available literature and summarized the clinical experience.
Adult ; Fatal Outcome ; Foreign Bodies ; therapy ; Heart Injuries ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Wounds, Gunshot ; therapy