Premium
BLUNT CEREBROVASCULAR INJURY: AN EVALUATION FROM A MAJOR TRAUMA CENTRE
Author(s) -
Risgaard Ole,
Sugrue Michael,
D’Amours Scott,
Christey Grant,
Smith Katherine,
Caldwell Erica,
Larivière Christian
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
anz journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.426
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 1445-1433
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-2197.2007.04187.x
Subject(s) - medicine , blunt , blunt trauma , retrospective cohort study , mortality rate , injury severity score , glasgow coma scale , surgery , major trauma , emergency medicine , injury prevention , poison control
Background: Blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI), although uncommon, is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality and remains poorly understood. This study was conducted to determine the pattern and outcome of BCVI at a major trauma centre. Methods: A retrospective review of all trauma admissions between 1996 and 2004 at Liverpool Hospital, the major trauma service for south‐west Sydney, was undertaken using the hospital’s computerized trauma registry. Results: Fourteen of the 7788 (0.18%) admitted blunt trauma patients sustained BCVI. Blunt carotid injury occurred in 10 of 14 and blunt vertebral injury occurred in 4 of 14 patients. Road trauma accounted for 9 of 14 cases. The median time to diagnosis was 2 days (range 1–45 days). The stroke rate was 36%, and the overall mortality was 29%. Conclusion: This study identified BCVI as a relatively infrequent occurrence but with significant mortality and morbidity rates. Practice guidelines for both the screening and management of this patient group need to be developed and introduced in this major trauma centre.