J Trauma
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Burn victims often display psychological symptoms that can impede recovery, but knowledge about risk factors for psychopathology is limited. This study aimed to predict psychological health 3 months after burn injury from coping and trauma-related factors assessed early in hospitalization. ⋯ Coping style, life threat during the accident, and early symptoms are strong predictors of psychopathology after a burn.
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CT scans are often used in the evaluation of blunt trauma patients. Many scans are negative. Clinical predictors of positive abdominal CT scans would be beneficial in patient care. ⋯ Our data suggest that an abnormal pelvis x-ray and intubation are significant risk factors for a positive CT scan. Alcohol intoxication, mechanism of injury, and unreliable examination, without other associated indication for a scan, may warrant further study.
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This study aimed to determine predictive factors of mortality after posttraumatic brain injury. ⋯ In Tunisia, head injury is a frequent cause of hospitalization, comprising 14.4% of all adult admissions. It is observed most often among young patients involved in traffic accidents. The short-term prognosis is poor, with a high (29%) mortality rate, and determined by demographic, clinical, radiologic, and biologic factors. Prevention is highly advised.
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Injured survivors of individual and mass trauma receive their initial evaluation in acute care. Few investigations have comprehensively screened for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and related comorbidities across sites. ⋯ High levels of posttraumatic distress, recurrent trauma, and alcohol abuse/dependence were present in more than half of acute care inpatients. Early mental health screening and intervention procedures that target both PTSD and alcohol use should be developed for acute care settings.
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Free abdominal fluid on ultrasound in unstable pelvic ring fracture: is laparotomy always necessary?
In unstable pelvic ring fractures free abdominal fluid on ultrasound (US) may be caused by retroperitoneal hematoma that passes into the abdominal cavity or by an additional intraabdominal lesion. In this study a clinical pathway for the therapy of potentially combined lesions was analyzed. ⋯ The finding of intraperitoneal fluid on US in the emergency department strongly correlates with significant intraabdominal lesions requiring surgical intervention. Early laparotomy appears indicated in these cases. Shock control in pelvic bleeding can be sufficiently achieved by internal tamponade and external fixation.