- One year of treating patients with open fractures of the lower extremity in a new military trauma center in Korea: a case series
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Ji Wool Ko, Giho Moon, Jin Geun Kwon, Kyoung Eun Kim, Hankaram Jeon, Kyungwon Lee
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J Trauma Inj. 2023;36(4):376-384. Published online December 19, 2023
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.20408/jti.2023.0041
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 Abstract
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- Purpose
The Armed Forces Trauma Center of Korea was established in April 2022. This study was conducted to report our 1-year experience of treating soldiers with open fractures of the lower extremity.
Methods
In this case series, we reviewed the medical records of 51 Korean soldiers with open fractures of the lower extremity between April 2022 and March 2023 at a trauma center. We analyzed patients with Gustilo-Anderson type II and III fractures and reported the duration of transportation, injury mechanisms, injured sites, and associated injuries. We also presented laboratory findings, surgery types, intensive care unit stays, hospital stays, rehabilitation results, and reasons for psychiatric consultation. Additionally, we described patients’ mode of transport.
Results
This study enrolled nine male patients who were between 21 and 26 years old. Six patients had type II and three had type III fractures. Transport from the accident scene to the emergency room ranged from 75 to 455 minutes, and from the emergency room to the operating room ranged from 35 to 200 minutes. Injury mechanisms included gunshot wounds, landmine explosions, grenade explosions, and entrapment by ship mooring ropes. One case had serious associated injuries (inhalation burn, open facial bone fractures, and hemopneumothorax). No cases with serious blood loss or coagulopathies were found, but most cases had a significant elevation of creatinine kinase. Two patients underwent vascular reconstruction, whereas four patients received flap surgery. After rehabilitation, six patients could walk, one patient could move their joints actively, and two patients performed active assistive movement. Eight patients were referred to the psychiatry department due to suicidal attempts and posttraumatic stress disorder.
Conclusions
This study provides insights into how to improve treatment for patients with military trauma, as well as medical services such as the transport system, by revising treatment protocols and systematizing treatment.
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Summary
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Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by  - Injuries from blank cartridge shots in suicide attempts within the South Korean military: a case series of five patients
Jeong Il Joo, Changsin Lee, Kyungwon Lee
Journal of Trauma and Injury.2024; 37(4): 262. CrossRef
- Initial Experiences of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Trauma Patients at a Single Regional Trauma Center in South Korea
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Ji Wool Ko, Il Hwan Park, Chun Sung Byun, Sung Woo Jang, Pil Young Jung
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J Trauma Inj. 2021;34(3):162-169. Published online July 28, 2021
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.20408/jti.2020.0073
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Abstract
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- Purpose
For severe lung injuries or acute respiratory distress syndrome that occurs during critical care due to trauma, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) may be used as a salvage treatment. This study aimed to describe the experiences at a single center with the use of ECMO in trauma patients.
Methods
We enrolled a total of 25 trauma patients who were treated with ECMO between January 2015 and December 2019 at a regional trauma center. We analyzed and compared patients’ characteristics between survivors and non-survivors through a medical chart review. We also compared the characteristics of patients between direct and indirect lung injury groups.
Results
The mean age of the 25 patients was 45.9±19.5 years, and 19 patients (76.0%) were male. The mean Injury Severity Score was 26.1±10.1. Ten patients (40.0%) had an Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) 3 score of 4, and six patients (24.0%) had an AIS 3 score of 5. There were 19 cases (76.6%) of direct lung injury. The mortality rate was 60.0% (n=15). Sixteen patients (64.0%) received a loading dose of heparin for the initiation of ECMO. There was no significant difference in heparin use between the survivors and non-survivors (70% in survivors vs. 60% in non-survivors, p=0.691). When comparing the direct and indirect lung injury groups, there were no significant differences in variables other than age and ECMO onset time.
Conclusions
If more evidence is gathered, risk factors and indications will be identified and we expect that more trauma patients will receive appropriate treatment with ECMO.
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