[The cost estimator in the TraumaRegister DGU]

Cranial nerve injuries in patients with moderate to severe head trauma - Analysis of 91,196 patients from the TraumaRegister DGU® between 2008 and 2017

OBJECTIVE

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) constitutes a major cause of trauma-related disability and mortality. The epidemiology and implications of associated cranial nerve injuries　(CNI)　in moderate to severe TBI are largely unknown. We aimed to determine the incidence of CNI in a large European cohort of TBI patients as well as clinical differences between TBI cases with and without concomitant CNI (CNI vs. control group) by means of a multinational trauma registry.

METHODS

The TraumaRegister DGU® was evaluated for trauma patients with head injuries ≥ 2 Abbreviated Injury Scale, who had to be treated on intensive care units after emergency admission to European hospitals between 2008 and 2017. CNI and control cases were compared with respect to demographic, clinical, and outcome variables.

RESULTS

1.0% (946 of 91,196) of TBI patients presented with additional CNI. On average, CNI patients were younger than control cases (44.3 ± 20.6 vs. 51.8 ± 23.0 years) but did not differ regarding sex distribution (CNI 69.4% males vs. control 69.1%). Traffic accidents were encountered more frequently in CNI cases (52.3% vs. 46.7%; p < 0.001; chi-squared test) and falls more commonly in the control group (45.2% vs. 37.1%; p < 0.001). CNI patients suffered more frequently from concomitant face injuries (28.2% vs. 17.5%; p < 0.001) and skull base fractures (51.0% vs. 23.5%; p < 0.001). Despite similar mean Injury Severity Score (CNI 21.8 ± 11.3; control 21.1 ± 11.7) and Glasgow Coma Scale score (CNI 10.9 ± 4.2, control 11.1 ± 4.4), there was a considerably higher proportion of anisocoria in CNI patients (20.1% vs. 11.2%; p < 0.001). Following primary treatment, 50.8% of CNI and 35.5% of control cases showed moderate to severe disability (Glasgow Outcome Scale score 3-4; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

CNI rarely occur in the context of TBI. When present, they indicate a higher likelihood of functional impairment following primary care and complicating skull base fractures should be suspected.

[Is polytrauma treatment in deficit in the aG-DRG system?]

BACKGROUND

The interdisciplinary care of severely injured patients is staff and resource intensive. Since the introduction of the G‑DRG system in Germany in 2003, most studies have identified a financial deficit in the care of severely injured patients. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of the new aG-DRG system introduced in 2020 on cost recovery in the treatment of severely injured patients. For the first time, the costs for organization, certification and documentation as well as the costs for non-seriously injured shock room patients were included.

METHODS

All patients who were treated in the surgical shock room of the emergency department of the Leipzig University Hospital in 2017 were included. For the analysis, the cost model according to Pape et al. was extended by the module organization, documentation and certification and for the first time the costs for overtriaged patients were considered. A cost calculation was performed for the years 2017-2020 as well a comparison with the respective earnings.

RESULTS

A total of 834 patients were treated in the shock room and 258 severely injured patients were divided into 3 groups: ISS 9-15 + ICU (n 72; ∅ ISS 11.9; costs per patient 14,715 €),ISS ≥ 16 (n 186; ∅ ISS 27.7; costs per patient 30,718 €) and DRG polytrauma (n 59; ∅ ISS 32.4; costs per patient 26,102 €).

CONCLUSION

Polytrauma care under the aG-DRG 2020 is in deficit. Overall, in 2020 a deficit of 5858 € per severely injured patient resulted.

[Emergency room and major trauma treatment is a "loss-making business" : A Swiss trauma center experience with current DRG reimbursement]

Hintergrund

Es galt herauszufinden, wie kostendeckend die Versorgung potenziell Schwerverletzter in einem Schweizer Traumazentrum ist, und inwieweit Spitalgewinne bzw. -verluste mit patientenbezogenen Unfall‑, Behandlungs- oder Outcome-Daten korrelieren.

Methodik

Analyse aller 2018 im Schockraum (SR) bzw. mit Verletzungsschwere New Injury Severity Score (NISS) ≥8 notfallmäßig stationär behandelter Patienten eines Schwerverletztenzentrums der Schweiz (uni- und multivariate Analyse; p < 0,05).

Ergebnisse

Für das Studienkollektiv (n = 513; Ø NISS = 18) resultierte gemäß Spitalkostenträgerrechnung ein Defizit von 1,8 Mio. CHF. Bei einem Gesamtdeckungsgrad von 86 % waren 66 % aller Fälle defizitär (71 % der Allgemein- vs. 42 % der Zusatzversicherten; p < 0,001). Im Mittel betrug das Defizit 3493.- pro Patient (allg. Versicherte, Verlust 4545.-, Zusatzversicherte, Gewinn 1318.-; p < 0,001). Auch „in“- und „underlier“ waren in 63 % defizitär. SR-Fälle machten häufiger Verlust als Nicht-SR-Fälle (73 vs. 58 %; p = 0,002) wie auch Traumatologie- vs. Neurochirurgiefälle (72 vs. 55 %; p < 0,001). In der multivariaten Analyse ließen sich 43 % der Varianz erhaltener Erlöse mit den untersuchten Variablen erklären. Hingegen war der ermittelte Deckungsgrad nur zu 11 % (korr. R²) durch die Variablen SR, chirurgisches Fachgebiet, Intensivaufenthalt, Thoraxverletzungsstärke und Spitalletalität zu beschreiben. Case-Mix-Index gemäß aktuellen Diagnosis Related Groups (DRG) und Versicherungsklasse addierten weitere 13 % zu insgesamt 24 % erklärter Varianz.

Diskussion

Die notfallmäßige Versorgung potenziell Schwerverletzter an einem Schweizer Traumazentrum erweist sich nur in einem Drittel der Fälle als zumindest kostendeckend, dies v. a. bei Zusatzversicherten, Patienten mit einem hohen Case-Mix-Index oder einer IPS- bzw. kombinierten Polytrauma- und Schädel-Hirn-Trauma-DRG-Abrechnungsmöglichkeit.

Zusatzmaterial online

Die Online-Version dieses Beitrags (10.1007/s00113-020-00937-w) enthält weitere Tabellen und Abbildungen (s. Verweise „Zusatzmaterial online: Abb.“ bzw. „Zusatzmaterial online: Tab.“ im Text). Beitrag und Zusatzmaterial stehen Ihnen auf www.springermedizin.de zur Verfügung. Bitte geben Sie dort den Beitragstitel in die Suche ein, das Zusatzmaterial finden Sie beim Beitrag unter „Ergänzende Inhalte“.

Damage to the eye and optic nerve in seriously traumatized patients with concomitant head injury: analysis of 84,627 cases from the TraumaRegister DGU® between 2002 and 2015

BACKGROUND

To determine the prevalence and characteristics of prechiasmatic visual system injuries (VSI) among seriously injured patients with concomitant head trauma in Europe by means of a multinational trauma registry.

METHODS

The TraumaRegister DGU® was searched for patients suffering from serious trauma with a Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) ≥ 3 between 2002 and 2015 in Europe. After excluding cases without significant head injury defined by an AIS ≥ 2, groups were built regarding the existence of a concomitant damage to the prechiasmatic optic system comprising globe and optic nerve. Group comparisons were performed with respect to demographic, etiological, clinical and outcome characteristics.

RESULTS

2.2% (1901/84,627) of seriously injured patients with concomitant head trauma presented with additional VSI. These subjects tended to be younger (mean age 44.7 versus 50.9 years) and were more likely of male gender (74.8% versus 70.0%) compared to their counterparts without VSI. The most frequent trauma etiologies were car accidents in VSI patients (28.5%) and falls in the control group (43.2%). VSI cases were prone to additional soft tissue trauma of the head, skull and orbit fractures as well as pneumocephalus. Primary treatment duration was significantly longer in the VSI cohort (mean 23.3 versus 20.5 days) along with higher treatment costs and a larger proportion of patients with moderate or severe impairment at hospital discharge despite there being a similar average injury severity at admission in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

A substantial proportion of patients with head injury suffers from additional VSI. The correlation between VSI and prolonged hospitalization, increased direct treatment expenditures, and having a higher probability of posttraumatic impairment demonstrates the substantial socioeconomic relevance of these types of injuries.

Nerve injury in severe trauma with upper extremity involvement: evaluation of 49,382 patients from the TraumaRegister DGU® between 2002 and 2015

BACKGROUND

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) as an adjunct lesion in patients with upper extremity trauma has not been investigated in a Central European setting so far, despite of its devastating long-term consequences. This study evaluates a large multinational trauma registry for prevalence, mechanisms, injury severity and outcome characteristics of upper limb nerve lesions.

METHODS

After formal approval the TraumaRegister DGU® (TR-DGU) was searched for severely injured cases with upper extremity involvement between 2002 and 2015. Patients were separated into two cohorts with regard to presence of an accompanying nerve injury. For all cases demographic data, trauma mechanism, concomitant lesions, severity of injury and outcome characteristics were obtained and group comparisons performed.

RESULTS

About 3,3% of all trauma patients with upper limb affection (n = 49,382) revealed additional nerve injuries. PNI cases were more likely of male gender (78,6% vs.73,2%) and tended to be significantly younger than their counterparts without nerve lesions (mean age 40,6 y vs. 47,2 y). Motorcycle accidents were the most frequently encountered single cause of injury in PNI patients (32,5%), whereas control cases primarily sustained their trauma from high or low falls (32,2%). Typical lesions recognized in PNI patients were fractures of the humerus (37,2%) or ulna (20,3%), vascular lacerations (arterial 10,9%; venous 2,4%) and extensive soft tissue damage (21,3%). Despite of similar average trauma severity in both groups patients with nerve affection had a longer primary hospital stay (30,6 d vs. 24,2 d) and required more subsequent inpatient rehabilitation (36,0% vs. 29,2%).

CONCLUSION

PNI complicating upper extremity trauma might be more commonly encountered in Central Europe than suggested by previous foreign studies. PNI typically affect males of young age who show significantly increased length of hospitalization and subsequent need for inpatient rehabilitation. Hence these lesions induce extraordinary high financial expenses besides their impact on health related quality of life for the individual patient. Further research is necessary to develop specific prevention strategies for this kind of trauma.

Nerve injury in severe trauma with upper extremity involvement: evaluation of 49,382 patients from the TraumaRegister DGU® between 2002 and 2015

BACKGROUND

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) as an adjunct lesion in patients with upper extremity trauma has not been investigated in a Central European setting so far, despite of its devastating long-term consequences. This study evaluates a large multinational trauma registry for prevalence, mechanisms, injury severity and outcome characteristics of upper limb nerve lesions.

METHODS

After formal approval the TraumaRegister DGU® (TR-DGU) was searched for severely injured cases with upper extremity involvement between 2002 and 2015. Patients were separated into two cohorts with regard to presence of an accompanying nerve injury. For all cases demographic data, trauma mechanism, concomitant lesions, severity of injury and outcome characteristics were obtained and group comparisons performed.

RESULTS

About 3,3% of all trauma patients with upper limb affection (n = 49,382) revealed additional nerve injuries. PNI cases were more likely of male gender (78,6% vs.73,2%) and tended to be significantly younger than their counterparts without nerve lesions (mean age 40,6 y vs. 47,2 y). Motorcycle accidents were the most frequently encountered single cause of injury in PNI patients (32,5%), whereas control cases primarily sustained their trauma from high or low falls (32,2%). Typical lesions recognized in PNI patients were fractures of the humerus (37,2%) or ulna (20,3%), vascular lacerations (arterial 10,9%; venous 2,4%) and extensive soft tissue damage (21,3%). Despite of similar average trauma severity in both groups patients with nerve affection had a longer primary hospital stay (30,6 d vs. 24,2 d) and required more subsequent inpatient rehabilitation (36,0% vs. 29,2%).

CONCLUSION

PNI complicating upper extremity trauma might be more commonly encountered in Central Europe than suggested by previous foreign studies. PNI typically affect males of young age who show significantly increased length of hospitalization and subsequent need for inpatient rehabilitation. Hence these lesions induce extraordinary high financial expenses besides their impact on health related quality of life for the individual patient. Further research is necessary to develop specific prevention strategies for this kind of trauma.