PURPOSE: Non-operative management (NOM) has been validated for blunt liver and splenic injuries. Literature on continuous intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) monitoring as a part of NOM remains to be equivocal. The study aimed to find any correlation between clinical parameters and IAP, and their effect on the NOM of patients with blunt liver and splenic injury. METHOD: A prospective cross-sectional study conducted at a level I trauma center from October 2018 to January 2020 including 174 patients who underwent NOM following blunt liver and splenic injuries. Hemodynamically unstable patients or those on ventilators were excluded, as well as patients who suffered significant head, spinal cord, and/or bladder injuries. The study predominantly included males (83.9%) with a mean age of 32.5 years. IAP was monitored continuously and the relation of IAP with various parameters, interventions, and outcomes were measured. Data were summarized as frequency (percentage) or mean ± SD or median (Q₁, Q₃) as indicated. χ² or Fisher's exact test was used for categorical variables, while for continuous variables parametric (independent t-test) or nonparametric tests (Wilcoxon rank sum test) were used as appropriate. Clinical and laboratory correlates of IAP < 12 with p < 0.200 in the univariable logistic regression analysis were included in the multivariable analysis. A p < 0.05 was used to indicate statistical significance. RESULTS: Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) was seen in 19.0% of the study population. IAH was strongly associated with a high injury severity score (p < 0.001), and other physiological parameters like respiratory rate (p < 0.001), change in abdominal girth (AG) (p < 0.001), and serum creatinine (p < 0.001). IAH along with the number of solid organs involved, respiratory rate, change in AG, and serum creatinine was associated with the intervention, either operative or non-operative (p = 0.001, p = 0.002, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.013, respectively). On multivariable analysis, IAP (p = 0.006) and the mean change of AG (p = 0.004) were significantly associated with the need for intervention. CONCLUSION As a part of NOM, IAP should be monitored as a continuous vital. However, the decision for any intervention, either operative or non-operative cannot be guided by IAP values alone.
Humans ; Male ; Adult ; Female ; Wounds, Nonpenetrating/physiopathology* ; Spleen/injuries* ; Prospective Studies ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Liver/injuries* ; Middle Aged ; Monitoring, Physiologic/methods* ; Pressure ; Abdominal Injuries/physiopathology* ; Intra-Abdominal Hypertension ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the observational chart for traumatic limb swelling (OCTLS) for osteofascial compartment syndrome (OCS). METHODS: This was a descriptive-longitudinal study. Data of 316 patients who underwent surgical treatment for tibial fractures in our department from January 2015 to December 2023 were collected. Patients with Gustilo type II or higher open fractures, vascular injury, or bilateral fractures were excluded from the study. Two groups of double-blinded investigators independently assessed patients for the presence of OCS using 2 distinct diagnostic methods. Three senior orthopedic trauma surgeons evaluated patients with post-fracture calf swelling for OCS and the need for fasciotomy based on clinical signs and their extensive clinical experience. Subsequently, fasciotomy was performed according to their judgment, followed by postoperative examination of muscle and soft tissue conditions. Additionally, a follow-up evaluation was conducted to assess for complications such as ischemic muscle contracture. Another 3 trained researchers used OCTLS to grade swelling severity and determine the need for fasciotomy. The final diagnostic gold standard of OCS was determined by referring to whether there was escape of muscles at fasciotomy and/or color change in the muscles or muscle necrosis intraoperatively, and neurological abnormality or contracture at the last follow-up. The results of the 2 diagnostic methods were compared with the final diagnostic result. Kappa consistency test, paired χ² test (McNemar test), and receiver operating characteristic curve were used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of the 2 diagnostic methods. RESULTS: Of the 316 patients, 211 were finally included in the study, including 160 males and 51 females, with an average follow-up time of (14.5 ± 2.7) months. Among the 211 patients with tibial fracture-associated swelling, 42 were definitively diagnosed with OCS. Based on clinical symptoms and signs judgment, among the 65 fasciotomy patients, 38 were confirmed as correct, while among the 146 non-fasciotomy patients, 4 developed ischemic muscle contractures. Based on the OCTLS for assessment, fasciotomy was correctly recommended in 36 out of 43 cases, while 6 out of 168 non-fasciotomy patients developed OCS. Compared to the use of the gold standard, clinical signs judgment showed moderate consistency (McNemar's test p < 0.001, Kappa = 0.618, p < 0.001), whereas OCTLS demonstrated strong agreement (McNemar's test p = 1.000, Kappa = 0.808, p < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed higher diagnostic accuracy for OCTLS (area under curve = 0.908, 95% CI: 0.843 - 0.972) compared to clinical signs judgment (area under curve = 0.872, 95% CI: 0.812 - 0.933). OCTLS achieved superior accuracy (93.8% vs. 85.3%, χ² = 8.221, p < 0.001) and a lower fasciotomy rate (20.4% vs. 30.8%, χ² = 6.023, p = 0.014). CONCLUSION Compared to clinical signs judgment, OCTLS significantly reduces unnecessary fasciotomy, improves diagnostic accuracy for OCS, and enables non-invasive, dynamic, and quantitative assessment, making it a valuable tool for clinical practice.
Humans ; Compartment Syndromes/etiology* ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Tibial Fractures/surgery* ; Middle Aged ; Fasciotomy ; Edema/etiology* ; Longitudinal Studies ; Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the clinical characteristics, differential diagnosis, and treatment methods of finger flexion contracture caused by three kinds of forearm flexor diseases. METHODS: Between December 2008 and August 2021, 17 patients with finger flexion contracture were treated, including 8 males and 9 females, aged 5-42 years, with a median of 16 years. The disease duration ranged from 1.5 months to 30 years, with a median of 13 years. The etiology included 6 cases of Volkmann's contracture, all of which were flexion deformity of the 2nd to 5th fingers, accompanied by limitation of thumb dorsiflexion in 3 cases and limitation of wrist dorsiflexion in 3 cases; 3 cases of pseudo-Volkmann's contracture, including 2 cases of flexion deformity of middle, ring, and little fingers, and 1 case of flexion deformity of ring and little fingers; 8 cases of ulnar finger flexion contracture caused by forearm flexor disease or anatomical variations, all of which were flexion deformity of middle, ring, and little fingers. Operations such as slide of flexor and pronator teres origin, excision of abnormal fibrous cord and bony prominence, and release of entrapped muscle (tendon) were performed. Hand function was evaluated according to WANG Haihua's hand function rating standard or modified Buck-Gramcko classification standard, and muscle strength was evaluated according to British Medical Research Council (MRC) muscle strength rating standard. RESULTS: All patients were followed up 1-10 years (median, 1.5 years). At last follow-up, 8 patients with contracture caused by forearm flexor disease or anatomical variations and 3 patients with pseudo-Volkmann's contracture achieved excellent hand function, with muscle strength of grade M5 in 6 cases and grade M4 in 5 cases. One patient with mild Volkmann's contracture and 3 patients with moderate Volkmann's contracture without severe nerve damage had excellent hand function in 2 cases and good in 2 cases, with muscle strength of grade M5 in 1 case and grade M4 in 3 cases. Two patients with moderate or severe Volkmann's contracture had poor hand function, with 1 case of muscle strength of grade M3 and 1 case of grade M2, which improved when compared with those before operation. The overall excellent and good rate of hand function and the proportion of patients with muscle strength of grade M4 and above were 88.2% (15/17), respectively. CONCLUSION The finger flexion contracture caused by different etiology can be differentiated by analyzing the history, physical examination, radiographs, and intraoperative findings. After different surgical treatments, such as resection of contracture band, release of compressed muscle (tendon), and downward movement of flexor origin, most patients have a good outcome.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Forearm/surgery* ; Contracture/surgery* ; Ischemic Contracture/surgery* ; Fingers/surgery* ; Muscle, Skeletal/surgery*

PURPOSE: Liver is the most frequently injured organ in abdominal trauma. Today non-operative management (NOM) is considered as the standard of care in hemodynamically stable patients, with or without the adjunct of angioembolisation (AE). This systematic review assesses the incidence of complications in patients who sustained liver injuries and were treated with simple clinical observation. Given the differences in indications of treatment and severity of liver trauma and acknowledging the limitations of this study, an analysis of the results has been done in reference to the complications in patients who were treated with AE. METHODS: A systematic literature review searched "liver trauma", "hepatic trauma", "conservative management", "non operative management" on MEDLINE (via PubMed), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases, EMBASE, and Google Scholar, to identify studies published on the conservative management of traumatic liver injuries between January 1990 and June 2020. Patients with traumatic liver injuries (blunt and penetrating) treated by NOM, described at least one outcome of interests and provided morbidity outcomes from NOM were included in this study. Studies reported the outcome of NOM without separating liver from other solid organs; studies reported NOM complications together with those post-intervention; case reports; studies including less than 5 cases; studies not written in English; and studies including patients who had NOM with AE as primary management were excluded. Efficacy of NOM and overall morbidity and mortality were assessed, the specific causes of morbidity were investigated, and the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma classification was used in all the studies analysed. Statistical significance has been calculated using the Chi-square test. RESULTS: A total of 19 studies qualified for inclusion criteria were in this review. The NOM success rate ranged from 85% to 99%. The most commonly reported complications were hepatic collection (3.1%), followed by bile leak (1.5%), with variability between the studies. Other complications included hepatic haematoma, bleeding, fistula, pseudoaneurysm, compartment syndrome, peritonitis, and gallbladder ischemia, all with an incidence below 1%. CONCLUSION NOM with simple clinical observation showed an overall low incidence of complications, but higher for bile leak and collections. In patients with grade III and above injuries, the incidence of bile leak, collections and compartment syndrome did not show a statistically significant difference with the AE group. However, the latter result is limited by the small number of studies available and it requires further investigations.
Abdominal Injuries/complications* ; Compartment Syndromes ; Humans ; Injury Severity Score ; Liver/injuries* ; Retrospective Studies ; Wounds, Nonpenetrating/complications*

OBJECTIVE: To explore clinical effect of early incision and decompression combined with screw fixation in treating Lisfranc injury and foot osteofascial compartment syndrome. METHODS: Clinical data of 5 patients with Lisfranc injury and foot osteofascial compartment syndrome were retrospective analysized from January 2017 to December 2018, including 4 males and 1 female, aged from 19 to 62 years old. All patients were suffered from closed injuries. The time from injury to treatment ranged from 1 to 14 h. According to Myerson classification, 1 patient was type A, 1 patient was type B, and 3 patients were type C. All patients were performed early incision decompression and screw fixation. Maryland foot functional scoring standard at 12 months after opertaion was used to evaluate clinical effect. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for 10 to 48 months. All fractures were achieved bone union, and healing time ranged from 3 to 9 months. All metatarsal and tarsal joints were reached to anatomical reduction. No infection, osteomyelitis, loosening or breaking of internal fixation occurred. Postopertaive Maryland foot function score at 12 months was from 44 to 97, and 2 patients got excellent result, 2 good, and 1 poor. CONCLUSION Early incision and decompression with screw fixation for the treatment of Lisfranc injury and foot osteofascial compartment syndrome, which has advantages of simple opertaion, thoroughly decompression, screw fixation does not occupy space, stable decompression and fixation, and could receive satisfied clinical effect.
Adult ; Bone Screws ; Compartment Syndromes/surgery* ; Decompression ; Female ; Foot Injuries ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Fractures, Bone/surgery* ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tarsal Joints ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

compartment syndrome (ECS) was made. Due to the clinical deterioration, emergency fasciotomy of the crural fascia and biopsy was performed. Histological and immunohistochemical examination of the samples confirmed a diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma likely originating from the tunica media of the MSV. This report is the first to describe an unique combination of ECS and thrombophlebitis associated with a leiomyosarcoma in a horse.]]>
Animals ; Biopsy ; Child ; Compartment Syndromes ; Diagnosis ; Emergencies ; Extremities ; Fascia ; Hindlimb ; Horses ; Humans ; Leiomyosarcoma ; Saphenous Vein ; Thrombophlebitis ; Tunica Media

PURPOSE: Tibial plateau fracture (TPF) is a devastating injury as it shatters lower articular surface of the largest joint. Apart from bony injury, TPF can lead to great soft tissue envelope compromise which affects the treatment plan and outcome. In the present study, clinical results were assessed in cases of high energy TPFs treated in staged manner. METHODS: Twenty-three (20 males and 3 females) patients of high energy communited TPFs (Schatzker type V and VI) were consecutively treated. All the patient had compromise of overlying skin conditions. They were all successively scheduled for staged treatment plan which comprised of application of bridging knee external fixator on the first day of admission and definitive internal fixation after skin and soft tissue overlying the fracture were healed. Schatzker type I, II, III and IV were excluded from the study. Primary survey was done and patient who had head injury, chest and abdominal injury, pelvic injury and contralateral limb injury and open fractures were excluded from the study. The patients were also evaluated in terms of wound complications, axial and rotary alignment of limb, fixation failure, articular congruity and range of motion of the knees and post injury employment. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software. RESULTS: Maximum follow-up period was 13 months. All the fractures were united at final follow-up. Clinical evaluation was done with the Tegner Lysholm knee scoring scale. Excellent results were found in 78% cases and good and fair results in 22% cases. There was significant correlation between range of motion and the Tegner Lysholm knee score (p < 0.001, Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.741). The correlation between the score and the radiographical union duration was significant (p = 0.006, Pearson correlation coefficient = -0.554). CONCLUSION A staged treatment plan allows healing of soft tissue envelope, with avoidance of dreadful complications such as compartment syndrome and chronic infection. In addition, a staged treatment strategy does not hamper the fracture reduction, bony union and the functional results.
Adult ; Compartment Syndromes ; prevention & control ; Connective Tissue ; physiopathology ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Fracture Healing ; Fractures, Comminuted ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Knee ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Tibial Fractures ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

A 37-year-old male visited the hospital with multiple trauma after traffic accident. Fractures of ribs, left femur, and right humerus and spleen rupture with hemoperitoneum were founded on image studies. He was moved to operation room and general anesthesia was performed for splenectomy. During the operation, excessive high peak inspiratory pressure was observed. After abdominal closure, hypoxia, hypercapnia, and respiratory acidosis were worsened. Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was initiated after the operation. Status of the patient were improved after the application of ECMO. The patient was discharged without significant complication. Despite of several limitations in applying ECMO to patients with abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) and multiple trauma, severe pulmonary dysfunction in ACS patients may be rescued without open abdomen treatment.
Abdomen ; Accidents, Traffic ; Acidosis, Respiratory ; Adult ; Anesthesia, General ; Anoxia ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation* ; Femur ; Hemoperitoneum ; Humans ; Humerus ; Hypercapnia ; Intra-Abdominal Hypertension ; Male ; Multiple Trauma ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; Ribs ; Rupture ; Spleen ; Splenectomy

Acute compartment syndrome, which is an orthopedic emergency, induces irreversible tissue necrosis by increasing the compartment pressure. In serious cases, this event may result in functional impairment, loss of the lower limb, and death by renal failure. When the patient initially presents with pain and swelling that are similar to deep vein thrombosis, a differential diagnosis between the two diseases is very critical. The authors encountered a case of acute compartment syndrome after anticoagulant therapy in a patient presenting with painful swelling of the left leg following a massage that was initially misdiagnosed as deep vein thrombosis. A fasciotomy was performed on this case with satisfactory results. This paper reports this case with a review of the relevant literature.
Compartment Syndromes ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Leg ; Lower Extremity ; Massage ; Necrosis ; Orthopedics ; Renal Insufficiency ; Venous Thrombosis

Bosworth ankle fracture-dislocation is rare, known to be an irreducible type of ankle injury, with a high incidence of complication. We present two cases of even rarer variants of Bosworth ankle fracture-dislocation. The first case is a type of supination external rotation adduction, and the second case is a type of supination external rotation adduction. These types have not been described before. In both of the cases we failed to achieve close reduction, and therefore proceeded with emergency surgeries, with open reduction and internal fixation. Both of the cases were performed with a postero-lateral approach to reduce the dislocations, and fix the fractures successfully. Unfortunately in one of the cases, acute compartment syndrome developed post-surgically. However, both cases showed good functional outcomes.
Acute Disease ; Ankle Fractures ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Ankle Injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Compartment Syndromes ; Fracture Dislocation ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Open Fracture Reduction ; methods ; Postoperative Complications ; Recovery of Function ; Rotation ; Supination ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult