The significance of penetrating gluteal injuries: an analysis of the Operation Iraqi Freedom experience

Massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding due to pseudoaneurysm of the femoral artery following buttock gunshot injury: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Arterio-enteric fistula is one of the extremely rare complications of penetrating trauma.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 27-year-old male presented to the emergency department with a gunshot to the right buttock. Initial assessments revealed a left femoral shaft fracture, the right buttock as the bullet inlet and the medial portion of the left thigh as an outlet, with no other significant findings. He underwent external fixation for the left femoral fracture. On the seventh day of admission, the patient experienced two episodes of massive melena and hypovolemic shock. The patient underwent an upper endoscopy without any remarkable findings. Also, we performed an emergent laparotomy to find the source of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB); however, no evidence of upper GIB was found. Then, the patient underwent CT angiography, which subsequently identified a deep femoral artery pseudoaneurysm. Also, we performed a colonoscopy to investigate the source of GIB, revealing an orifice on the rectal wall. The patient underwent open surgery for a pseudoaneurysm. During surgery, a tract from the pseudoaneurysm of the deep femoral artery to the rectum was discovered, leading to the ligation of the deep femoral artery branch. After recovery from the operation and completion of the orthopedic treatment, the patient was discharged in an appropriate condition.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

Traumatic arterio-enteric fistulas can present with fatal gastrointestinal bleeding, requiring crucial investigations and proper imaging evaluations.

CONCLUSION

In case of new-onset massive melena during hospitalization, upper GIB should always be considered. However, in penetrating trauma patients, repeating CT angiography should be considered.

Isolated penetrating gluteal stab injury with uncontrolled bleeding in Türkiye: a case report

Arterial injuries in the gluteal region caused by a knife are rare but serious, with mortality rates of up to 25%. This case report presents the management of a young male patient admitted to the emergency department in hypovolemic shock, with uncontrollable bleeding from an isolated penetrating gluteal injury. Additionally, the details of the surgical approach employed are discussed.

Superior gluteal artery pseudoaneurysm after a gunshot wound to the buttock: A case

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Gunshot and stab wounds are common causes of penetrating trauma to the buttock.

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Penetrating trauma to the upper zone of the buttock can result in vascular injury.

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Pseudoaneurysms are rare complications of traumatic arterial injuries.

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Pseudoaneurysms can be treated with embolization.

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There are no guidelines for screening of gluteal pseudoaneurysms after trauma.

Introduction

Penetrating trauma to the buttock can rarely result into the development of a gluteal artery pseudoaneurysm. Here we present the case of a patient with a superior gluteal pseudoaneurysm after a gunshot wound to the left buttock.

Presentation of case

A 48-year-old male presented with fullness and tenderness at the left gluteal wound that resulted from a gunshot 18 days prior. At the time of initial trauma, imaging showed minimal extravasation of contrast at the left superior gluteal artery, but the bleeding stopped and patient was discharged. On his return, examination showed palpable fluctuance but no bleeding. A superior gluteal artery pseudoaneurysm was identified on CT scan. Patient also complained of intermittent subjective fever and new onset of SOB. CT chest demonstrated a pulmonary embolism at the right basilar segmental artery. Coil embolization was performed to treat the pseudoaneurysm and patient was subsequently started on anticoagulation therapy.

Discussion

Penetrating wounds to the buttock can result in associated vascular or visceral injuries. Pseudoaneurysms can develop days to years after the initial injury. On exam, presence of pain, swelling, tenderness, bleeding from wound, thrill, bruit or a pulsating mass should raise suspicion for pseudoaneurysm, which can be diagnosed on CT scan and treated with embolization.

Conclusion

Proper management of traumatic wounds to the buttock with associated vascular injuries, with follow up protocols and patient education is necessary to prevent life-threatening complications such as hemorrhage from pseudoaneurysm.

Buttock wounds: beware what lies beneath

A 25-year-old man presented to a major trauma centre with multiple stab wounds, most significantly to the right buttock. Triple-phase CT revealed no acute bleeding and his wounds were closed. In the month following injury, he re-presented seven times to the emergency department (ED) complaining of bleeding and wound breakdown. After his seventh ED attendance, he was examined under general anaesthesia. Intraoperatively, profuse arterial bleeding was encountered and the local major haemorrhage protocol was activated. The on-call consultant vascular surgeon attended and definitive control was achieved. A large haematoma had acted to tamponade ongoing arterial bleeding and an underlying pseudoaneurysm: a finding not reported, but present, on the initial CT angiogram. Following 24 hours in the intensive care unit, he was transferred to the surgical ward and discharged 4 days later. Regular review in the outpatient department over the following 9 weeks monitored successful wound healing.

Gunshot wounds to the buttock and contralateral thigh presenting with intestinal injury without history of abdominal trauma. Case report

We present a clinical case of a patient who sustained a gunshot wounds to his right buttock (entrance), left thigh (exit), and right thumb, as well as intestinal injuries without history of abdominal trauma. Initially the abdominal injuries were not recognised and the patient did not mention an injury to the abdomen. For this reason he was unfortunately admitted to the orthopaedic ward first for further treatment of his thumb injury.

Penetrating injury to the buttock: an update

Clinical research on penetrating injury to the buttock is sparse and largely limited to case reports and clinical series. The purpose of this paper is to provide a detailed overview of literature of the topic and to propose a basic algorithm for management of penetrating gluteal injuries (PGI). MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochran, and CINAHL databases were employed. Thirty-seven papers were selected and retrieved for overview from 1,021 records. PGI accounts for 2-3 % of all penetrating injuries, with a mortality rate up to 4 %. Most haemodynamically stable patients will benefit from traditional wound care and selective non-operative management. When gluteal fascia injury is confirmed or suspected, a contrast-enhanced CT-scan provides the most accurate injury diagnosis. CT-scan-based angiography and endovascular interventions radically supplement assessment and management of patients with penetrating injury to the major buttock and adjacent extra-buttock arteries. Immediate life-saving damage-control surgery is indicated for patients with hypovolemic shock and signs of internal bleeding. A universal basic management algorithm is proposed. This overview shows that penetrating injury to the buttock should be regarded as a potential life-threatening injury, and therefore, patients with such injuries should be managed in trauma centres equipped with hybrid operating theatres for emergency endovascular and open surgery for multidisciplinary teams operating 24/7.

An unusual stab wound to the buttock

Stab wounds to the buttock are uncommon injuries that are rarely seen in surgical civilian practice. Although, the wound appears trivial, it may cause major life-threatening visceral and vascular injuries. Failure to detect these injuries may lead to serious morbidity and mortality. Herein, we report a patient with a single gluteal stab wound, which was initially sutured and treated conservatively. Two days later, patient developed fever, lower abdominal pain and tenderness with leakage of fecal material from the wound. Exploratory laparotomy revealed an extraperitoneal rectal perforation for which a Hartmann's procedure was performed. Computed tomography scanning is recommended as a diagnostic tool for stable patients having buttock stab wounds. Diverging colostomy is the standard surgical procedure for extraperitonal rectal injuries that cannot be properly visualized and repaired during a laparotomy. More evidence is needed to assess the fecal non-diversion approach in the treatment of these patients.

Initial predictors associated with outcome in injured multiple traumatic limb amputations: a Kandahar-based combat hospital experience

INTRODUCTION

Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are the defining mechanism of injury during Operation Enduring Freedom. This is a retrospective analysis of initial management for IED blast injuries presenting with bilateral, traumatic, lower-extremity (LE) amputations with and without pelvic and perineal involvement.

METHODS

A database of trauma admissions presenting to a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Role 3 combat hospital in southern Afghanistan over a 7-month period was created to evaluate the care of this particular injury pattern. Patients were included if they were received from point of injury with at least bilateral traumatic LE amputations and had vital signs with initial resuscitation efforts.

RESULTS

Thirty-two presented with double LE amputations (36%) and nine with triple amputations (10%). After excluding 10 patients who failed to meet the inclusion criteria, 22 patients were analysed. The mean age was 29 years, and the average ISS and admission haemoglobin were 22 and 11.3mgl(-1), respectively. Patients received an average of 54 units of blood products and underwent 1.6 operations with a mean operative time of 142.5min. The pattern of injury was associated with an increase in the total blood products required for resuscitation (pelvis n=12, p=0.028, gastrointestinal tract (GI) n=14, p=0.02, perineal n=15, p=0.036). There was no relationship between ISS or admission haemoglobin and the need for massive transfusion. Low Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was associated with increased 30-day mortality. Hollow viscus injury and operative hemipelvectomy were also associated with mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Early 30-day follow-up demonstrated that IED injuries with bilateral LE amputations with and without pelvic and perineal involvement are survivable injuries. Standard measures of injury and predictors of survival bore little relationship to observed outcomes and may need to be re-evaluated. Long-term follow-up is needed to assess the extent of functional recovery and overall morbidity and mortality.

Analytical review of 664 cases of penetrating buttock trauma

A comprehensive review of data has not yet been provided as penetrating injury to the buttock is not a common condition accounting for 2-3% of all penetrating injuries. The aim of the study is to provide the as yet lacking analytical review of the literature on penetrating trauma to the buttock, with appraisal of characteristics, features, outcomes, and patterns of major injuries. Based on these results we will provide an algorithm. Using a set of terms we searched the databases Pub Med, EMBASE, Cochran, and CINAHL for articles published in English between 1970 and 2010. We analysed cumulative data from prospective and retrospective studies, and case reports. The literature search revealed 36 relevant articles containing data on 664 patients. There was no grade A evidence found. The injury population mostly consists of young males (95.4%) with a high proportion missile injury (75.9%). Bleeding was found to be the key problem which mostly occurs from internal injury and results in shock in 10%. Overall mortality is 2.9% with significant adverse impact of visceral or vascular injury and shock (P < 0.001). The major injury pattern significantly varies between shot and stab injury with small bowel, colon, or rectum injuries leading in shot wounds, whilst vascular injury leads in stab wounds (P < 0.01). Laparotomy was required in 26.9% of patients. Wound infection, sepsis or multiorgan failure, small bowel fistula, ileus, rebleeding, focal neurologic deficit, and urinary tract infection were the most common complications. Sharp differences in injury pattern endorse an algorithm for differential therapy of penetrating buttock trauma. In conclusion, penetrating buttock trauma should be regarded as a life-threatening injury with impact beyond the pelvis until proven otherwise.