TY - JOUR
T1 - Blunt cerebrovascular injury
T2 - An evaluation from a major trauma centre
AU - Risgaard, Ole
AU - Sugrue, Michael
AU - D'Amours, Scott
AU - Christey, Grant
AU - Smith, Katherine
AU - Caldwell, Erica
AU - Larivière, Christian
PY - 2007/8
Y1 - 2007/8
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Blunt carotid injury
KW - Blunt cerebrovascular injury
KW - Blunt vertebral injury
KW - Cerebral angiography
KW - Trauma
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34447345169&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1445-2197.2007.04187.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1445-2197.2007.04187.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 17635285
AN - SCOPUS:34447345169
SN - 1445-1433
VL - 77
SP - 686
EP - 689
JO - ANZ Journal of Surgery
JF - ANZ Journal of Surgery
IS - 8
ER -
