Outcome after major trauma: discharge and 6-month follow-up results from the Trauma Recovery Project

Reflections on the Prospective Outcomes of Injury Study (POIS; 2006-2023): how population-based research can address Māori outcomes and governance

Injury is a leading cause of disability. Twenty years ago, we knew financial costs of injury were high but little was known about the short, medium and long-term outcomes after injury. In 2006, a Pilot Study and engagement with Māori across the country was undertaken to discuss the planned main study to understand how best to design a study that was meaningful and beneficial to Māori and policy-makers. Between 2007-2009, 2,856 injured New Zealanders (including 20% Māori) with an Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) entitlement claim were recruited to the Prospective Outcomes of Injury Study (POIS). Participants shared detailed information (at 3, 12 and 24 months, and 12-years post-injury) about a broad range of topics including: the injury, socio-demographics, health, health services access, employment and wellbeing. Administrative data about injury-related hospitalisations, the sentinel injury and subsequent injuries were also collected, as well as in-depth qualitative interviews. This paper focuses on the why, how and impacts of POIS, especially in relation to Māori design and approaches, capability and capacity building, and leadership. Focusing on these aspects for Māori within POIS over time has ensured delivery of findings capable of informing and improving outcomes and policy. In particular, POIS has had considerable impact, influencing ACC's research strategy and outcomes' focus, and has provided disability, health, and wellbeing outcomes knowledge previously unavailable, especially for Māori.

Illicit drug and alcohol use and measures of musculoskeletal function and mental health in orthopaedic trauma patients

Objectives

The objective of this study was to describe the relationship between positive toxicology screens and measures of preinjury mental health and physical function in an orthopaedic trauma population.

Design

This was a cross-sectional study.

Setting

Urban Level 1 trauma center.

Patients

A total of 125 trauma patients gave written consent for this study.

Main Outcome Measurements

Questionnaires such as, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, General Anxiety Disorder-7, PCL-5, and Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment, were used to survey patients after surgical intervention.

Results

Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (P = 0.05) and PCL-5 (P = 0.04) were not found to have significant differences between positive and negative toxicology screens. Both General Anxiety Disorder-7 (P = 0.004) and Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment function (P = 0.006) were significantly higher in patients with positive toxicology screens.

Conclusions

Positive toxicology seems to be associated with preinjury anxiety. Patient reported preinjury function was not adversely affected by the presence of illicit substances or alcohol, nor were levels of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression found to be higher in patients with positive toxicology screens.

Level of Evidence

Level IV Cross-Sectional Study.

Insurance churn after adult traumatic injury: A national evaluation among a large private insurance database

BACKGROUND

Traumatic injury leads to significant disability, with injured patients often requiring substantial health care resources to return to work and baseline health. Temporary disability or inability to work can result in changes or loss of employer-based private insurance coverage, which may significantly impact health care access and outcomes. Among privately insured patients, we hypothesized increased instability in insurance coverage for patients with higher severity of injury.

METHODS

Adults 18 years and older presenting to a hospital with traumatic injury were evaluated for insurance churn using Clinformatics Data Mart private-payer claims. Insurance churn was defined as cessation of enrollment in the patient's private health insurance plan. Using Injury Severity Score (ISS), we compared insurance churn over the year following injury between patients with mild (ISS, <9), moderate (ISS, 9-15), severe (ISS, 16-24), and very severe (ISS, >24) injuries. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare time with insurance churn by ISS category. Flexible parametric regression was used to estimate hazard ratios for insurance churn.

RESULTS

Among 750,862 privately insured patients suffering from a traumatic injury, 50% experienced insurance churn within 1 year after injury. Compared with patients who remained on their insurance plan, patients who experienced insurance churn were younger and more likely male and non-White. The median time to insurance churn was 7.7 months for those with mild traumatic injury, 7.5 months for moderately or severely injured, and 7.1 months for the very severely injured. In multivariable analysis, increasing injury severity was associated with higher rates of insurance churn compared with mild injury, up to 14% increased risk for the very severely injured.

CONCLUSION

Increasing severity of traumatic injury is associated with higher levels of health coverage churn among the privately insured. Lack of continuous access to health services may prolong recovery and further aggravate the medical and social impact of significant traumatic injury.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Economic and Value Based Evaluations; Level III.

Neuro-Inflammation Modulation and Post-Traumatic Brain Injury Lesions: From Bench to Bed-Side

Head trauma is the most common cause of disability in young adults. Known as a silent epidemic, it can cause a mosaic of symptoms, whether neurological (sensory-motor deficits), psychiatric (depressive and anxiety symptoms), or somatic (vertigo, tinnitus, phosphenes). Furthermore, cranial trauma (CT) in children presents several particularities in terms of epidemiology, mechanism, and physiopathology-notably linked to the attack of an immature organ. As in adults, head trauma in children can have lifelong repercussions and can cause social and family isolation, difficulties at school, and, later, socio-professional adversity. Improving management of the pre-hospital and rehabilitation course of these patients reduces secondary morbidity and mortality, but often not without long-term disability. One hypothesized contributor to this process is chronic neuroinflammation, which could accompany primary lesions and facilitate their development into tertiary lesions. Neuroinflammation is a complex process involving different actors such as glial cells (astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes), the permeability of the blood-brain barrier, excitotoxicity, production of oxygen derivatives, cytokine release, tissue damage, and neuronal death. Several studies have investigated the effect of various treatments on the neuroinflammatory response in traumatic brain injury in vitro and in animal and human models. The aim of this review is to examine the various anti-inflammatory therapies that have been implemented.

Estimating Risk of Chronic Pain and Disability Following Musculoskeletal Trauma in the United Kingdom

IMPORTANCE

Serious traumatic injury is a leading cause of death and disability globally, with most survivors known to develop chronic pain.

OBJECTIVE

To describe early variables associated with poor long-term outcome for posttrauma pain and create a clinical screening tool for this purpose.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This was a prospective cohort study at a major trauma center hospital in England. Recruitment commenced in December 2018 and ceased in March 2020. Participants were followed up for 12 months. Patients aged 16 years or older who were hospitalized because of acute musculoskeletal trauma within the preceding 14 days were included. Data were analyzed from March to December 2021.

EXPOSURE

Acute musculoskeletal trauma requiring admittance to a major trauma center hospital.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

A poor outcome was defined as Chronic Pain Grade II or higher and measured at both 6 months (primary time point) and 12 months. A broad range of candidate variables potentially associated with outcomes were used, including surrogates for pain mechanisms, quantitative sensory testing, and psychosocial factors. Univariable models were used to identify the variables most likely to be associated with poor outcome, which were entered into multivariable models. A clinical screening tool (nomogram) was derived from 6-month results.

RESULTS

In total, 1590 consecutive patients were assessed for eligibility, of whom 772 were deemed eligible and 124 (80 male [64.5%]; mean [SD] age, 48.9 [18.8] years) were recruited. At 6 months, 19 of 82 respondents (23.2%) reported a good outcome, whereas at 12 months 27 of 44 respondents (61.4%) reported a good outcome. At 6 months on univariable analysis, an increase in total posttraumatic stress symptoms (odds ratio [OR], 2.09; 95% CI, 1.33-3.28), pain intensity average (OR, 2.87; 95% CI, 1.37-6.00), number of fractures (OR, 2.79; 95% CI, 1.02-7.64), and pain extent (OR, 4.67; 95% CI, 1.57-13.87) were associated with worse outcomes. A multivariable model including those variables had a sensitivity of 0.93, a specificity of 0.54, and C-index of 0.92.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

A poor long-term pain outcome from musculoskeletal traumatic injuries may be estimated by measures recorded within days of injury. These findings suggest that posttraumatic stress symptoms, pain spatial distribution, perceived average pain intensity, and number of fractures are good candidates for a sensitive multivariable model and derived clinical screening tool.

“I Don’t Do Anything; I’m Just Being Taken Care Of”: Experiences of Patients and Their Caregivers Transitioning Back into the Community Following Traumatic Injury in Northern Tanzania

After discharge from the hospital for traumatic injury, patients and their caregivers face a period of increased vulnerability. This adjustment phase is poorly characterized, especially in low- and middle-income countries. We explored the experiences of patients and their caregivers in Northern Tanzania after hospitalization for a traumatic injury. Patients who received care for traumatic injury at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center and their caregivers were selected as part of a convenience sample from January 2019 to December 2019. Analysts developed a codebook; content and analytic memos were subsequently created. We then applied the biopsychosocial model to further characterize our findings. Participants included 26 patients and 11 caregivers. Patients were mostly middle-aged (mean age 37.7) males (80.8%), residing in urban settings (57.7%), injured in road traffic accidents (65.4%), and who required surgery (69.2%). Most caregivers were female. Seven major themes arose: pain, decreased physical functioning, poor emotional health, lack of support, challenges with daily activities, financial strain, and obstacles to accessing healthcare. This study describes some of the difficulties transitioning back into the community after hospitalization for traumatic injury. Our work demonstrates the importance of mixed methods approaches in characterizing and addressing transitions of care challenges.

Comparison of two screeners predicting the future development of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder in Black men after serious injury

Background To assess the predictive performance of two established, short clinical screeners in predicting the future development of post-injury depression and PTSD. Methods This was a prospective, cohort design with a 3-month follow-up. Black adult male trauma patients were enrolled at an urban, Level 1 trauma center. The Penn Richmond Screener and the Posttraumatic Adjustment Scale (PAS) were collected in-hospital. Participants were categorized as depressed using the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms-Self Report and as positive for PTSD using the PTSD Check List - 5 (PCL-5) at 3-months post-discharge. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of each screener were calculated. We used receiver operating curve (ROC) analyses to calculate the area under the curve (AUC) with 95% CI to assess predictive performance of each screener. Results A cohort of 623 hospitalized, injured Black men were enrolled during acute hospitalization. 503 participants (80.6%) were retained at 3-months and formed the analytic sample. Mean age was 36.8 years (SD 15.4), 53.1% of injuries were intentional; median injury severity score was 9. At 3 months, 35.3% had moderate to severe depression, 32.7% had significant PTSD symptoms, and 22.4% met criteria for both depression and PTSD. Penn Richmond Screener: sensitivity 0.68, specificity 0.56, and AUC 0.62 for PTSD, and sensitivity 0.64, specificity 0.63, and AUC 0.64 for depression. PAS: sensitivity 0.59, specificity 0.73, and AUC 0.66 for PTSD, and sensitivity 0.75, specificity 0.49, and AUC 0.62 for depression. Conclusions This study validated the performance of both screeners within the same population, allowing a direct comparison. Two predictive screeners, developed through different methods and in different countries, showed comparable predictive ability. These findings indicate that risk markers for adverse psychological consequences of traumatic injury share some core similarities across populations and countries.

Designing and conducting initial application of a performance assessment model for in-hospital trauma care

BACKGROUND

Trauma is a major cause of death worldwide, especially in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC). The increase in health care costs and the differences in the quality of provided services indicates the need for trauma care evaluation. This study was done to develop and use a performance assessment model for in-hospital trauma care focusing on traffic injures.

METHODS

This multi-method study was conducted in three main phases of determining indicators, model development, and model application. Trauma care performance indicators were extracted through literature review and confirmed using a two-round Delphi survey and experts' perspectives. Two focus group discussions and 16 semi-structured interviews were conducted to design the prototype. In the next step, components and the final form of the model were confirmed following pre-determined factors, including importance and necessity, simplicity, clarity, and relevance. Finally, the model was tested by applying it in a trauma center.

RESULTS

A total of 50 trauma care indicators were approved after reviewing the literature and obtaining the experts' views. The final model consisted of six components of assessment level, teams, methods, scheduling, frequency, and data source. The model application revealed problems of a selected trauma center in terms of information recording, patient deposition, some clinical services, waiting time for deposit, recording medical errors and complications, patient follow-up, and patient satisfaction.

CONCLUSION

Performance assessment with an appropriate model can identify deficiencies and failures of services provided in trauma centers. Understanding the current situation is one of the main requirements for designing any quality improvement programs.

The association of hand and wrist injuries with other injuries in multiple trauma patients. A retrospective study in a UK Major Trauma Centre

BACKGROUND

Approximately 20,000 major trauma cases occur in England every year. However, the association with concomitant upper limb injuries is unknown. This study aims to determine the incidence, injury pattern and association of hand and wrist injuries with other body injuries and the Injury Severity Score (ISS) in multiply injured trauma patients.

METHODS

Single centre retrospective study was performed at a level-one UK Major Trauma Centre (MTC). Trauma Audit and Research Network (TARN) eligible multiply injured trauma patients that were admitted to the hospital between January 2014 and December 2018 were analysed. TARN is the national trauma registry. Eligible patients were: a trauma patient of any age who was admitted for 72 h or more, or was admitted to intensive care, or died at the hospital, was transferred into the hospital for specialist care, was transferred to another hospital for specialist care or for an intensive care bed and whose isolated injuries met a set of criteria. Data extracted included: age, gender, mode of arrival, location of injuries including: hand and/or wrist and mechanism of injury. We performed a logistic regression analysis to assess the association between hand/wrist injury to ISS score of 15 points or above/below and to the presentation of other injuries.

RESULTS

107 patients were analysed. Hand and wrist injuries were the second most common injury (26.2%), after thoracic injuries. Distal radial injuries were found in 5.6%, carpal/carpometacarpal in 6.5%, concurrent distal radius and carpometacarpal in 0.9%, phalangeal injuries in 4.7%, tendon injuries in 0.9% and concurrent hand and wrist injuries in 7.5% cases. There was a significant association between hand or wrist injuries and lower limb injuries (Odds Ratio (OR): 3.84; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.09 to 13.50; p = 0.04) and pelvic injuries (OR: 4.78; 95% CI: 1.31 to 17.44; p = 0.02). There was no statistical association between hand and wrist injuries and ISS score (OR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.11 to 5.79; p = 0.82).

CONCLUSIONS

Hand and wrist injuries are prevalent in trauma patients admitted to MTCs. They should not be under-estimated but routinely screened for in multiply injured patients particularly those with a pelvic or lower limb injury.

Understanding trajectories of underlying dimensions of posttraumatic psychopathology

BACKGROUND

Research suggests four modal trajectories of psychological symptoms after traumatic injury: Resilient, Chronic, Delayed Onset, Recovery. However, most studies focus on symptoms of psychiatric disorders (e.g., posttraumatic stress disorder, depression), which are limited by heterogeneity and symptom overlap. We examined trajectories of cross-cutting posttraumatic symptom dimensions following traumatic injury and predictors of trajectory membership.

METHODS

In this longitudinal study of 427 predominantly Hispanic/Latino traumatic injury survivors, posttraumatic psychopathology symptoms were assessed during hospitalization and approximately one and five months post-trauma. Using latent class growth analysis, we estimated trajectories of several posttraumatic symptom dimensions: re-experiencing, avoidance, anxious arousal, numbing, dysphoric arousal, loss, and threat. We then examined sociodemographic and trauma-related characteristics (measured during hospitalization) as predictors of trajectory membership for each dimension.

RESULTS

Four trajectories (Resilient, Chronic, Delayed Onset, Recovery) emerged for all dimensions except loss and threat, which manifested three trajectories (Resilient, Chronic, Delayed Onset). Across dimensions, membership in the Chronic (vs. Resilient) trajectory was consistently predicted by unemployment (7 of 7 dimensions), followed by older age (3/7), female sex (3/7), and assaultive trauma (2/7). For several dimensions, unemployment also distinguished between participants who presented with similar symptom levels days after trauma, but then diverged over time.

LIMITATIONS

Measures of posttraumatic symptom dimension constructs differed across assessments.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides evidence of distinct trajectories across transdiagnostic symptom dimensions after traumatic injury. Employment status emerged as the most important predictor of trajectory membership. Research is needed to better understand the etiologies and consequences of these posttraumatic symptom dimension trajectories.

Increasing burden of major trauma in elderly adults during 2003-2015: Analysis of real-world data from Taiwan

BACKGROUND

Major trauma has been one of the leading causes of morbidity, mortality, and functional disability, resulting in substantial societal burden. The aim of this study was to estimate the trends in burden of adult major trauma in Taiwan during 2003-2015.

METHODS

Adult patients with initial encounter of major trauma (injury severity score ≥ 16) were abstracted from the claim data of National Health Insurance (NHI) in Taiwan from January 2003 to December 2015. We explored the trends of incidence and mortality rates over time stratified by age and sex, as well as life expectancy (LE), loss-of-LE, lifetime healthcare expenditure and total loss-of-LE compared with age, sex and calendar-year matched referents simulated from the vital statistics of Taiwan.

RESULTS

A total of 71,731 cases of adult major trauma, and an estimated loss of 979,676 life-years were found with an increasing trend in cumulative incidence rate (CIR_18-84) during 2003-2015. The incidence rates were significantly higher in men than women. For both sexes, the incidence rates for those aged 65 and above were about 2-3 times higher than those of all other age groups. The one-year case fatality rates among the elderly were about 31-61%, higher than all other ages. The lifetime healthcare expenditures per person were 47,616 USD in men and 43,416 USD in women.

CONCLUSION

There is a consistently increasing trend in incidence and mortality of major trauma in Taiwan, especially among elderly people. For Taiwan, an aged society beginning since 2018, the challenge should be tackled more effectively in the coming decades.

The feasibility and acceptability of mobile health monitoring for real-time assessment of traumatic injury outcomes

BACKGROUND

Traumatic injuries are a health event that can begin a trajectory towards chronic health and social challenges. Mobile technology-based prevention and treatment interventions have been used to monitor and transform outcomes across a myriad of health conditions, but their potential in long-term injury recovery is unexplored. The goal of this pilot study was to assess the acceptability and feasibility of mobile health monitoring for long-term outcomes in a population of trauma patients with known barriers to health and social care after injury.

METHODS

We re-recruited 25 individuals, 12-36 months after acute hospitalization, from a recently concluded study of psychological outcomes in seriously injured Black men in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This mixed- methods pilot study was conducted in three phases: (I) qualitative interviews and development of a pilot monitoring platform; (II) a 3-month feasibility trial of mobile monitoring of patient-reported outcomes and biometric data using a wrist-worn commercial fitness monitor (n=18); (III) post-implementation qualitative interviews.

RESULTS

Analysis of data from pre-implementation interviews indicated that the majority of participants used smartphones as a primary means of communicating with their social network and to access the internet. The 90-day pilot trial of mobile monitoring indicated participants' preference text-delivered communication and survey elicitation. Response rates for 12 automated surveys ranged from 84-92%. Twenty-four hours a day adherence to optional biometric monitoring was generally lower than 50% but ranged widely indicating both very low adherence and very high adherence. Four of 25 participants, 2 who had opted for Fitbit monitoring, were lost to follow-up at the end of the 90-day pilot trial. In post-implementation assessments, participants endorsed the acceptability of mobile monitoring highlighting the benefit of its convenience and flexibility over in-person outcome monitoring. Participants also perceived its potential benefit in long-term engagement with health and social services to assist with the challenges they faced when attempting to achieve physical, psychological, social, and financial recovery after hospitalization. These findings were reinforced through qualitative interviews which highlighted, in addition to acceptability, the perceived value of self-monitoring through the use of wearable devices to track health data like physical activity and sleep.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicates the feasibility and acceptability of mobile health monitoring used to examine long-term injury sequalae. Future research may leverage this novel strategy, refining its application to address current limitations in the reliability and accuracy of commercially available wearable technology, relative costs and benefits of different mobile data collection strategies, integration within current clinical paradigms and generalizability across injured populations and socio-ecological environments.

'Sharing things with people that I don't even know': help-seeking for psychological symptoms in injured Black men in Philadelphia

Objectives: Psychological distress is common in survivors of traumatic injury, yet across United States' trauma systems, it is rare that standard injury care integrates psychological evaluation and professional mental healthcare. The purpose of this study was to explore help-seeking for psychological symptoms in injured Black men living in Philadelphia. Design: A subset of a cohort of 551 injured Black men admitted to a Trauma Center in Philadelphia participated in qualitative interviews that explored their perceptions of psychological symptoms after injury and the factors that guided their decision to seek professional mental health help. Data from 32 participants were analyzed for narrative and thematic content. Results: Three overarching themes emerged: (1) facilitators of help-seeking, (2) barriers to help-seeking, and (3) factors underlying the decision not to consider professional help. Five participants felt that their injury-related psychological distress was severe enough to merit professional help despite any perceived barriers. Seventeen participants identified systemic and interpersonal obstacles to professional help that prevented them from seeking this kind of care. These included: financial constraints, limited access to mental healthcare services, and fear of the judgments of mental healthcare professionals. Ten participants would not consider professional help; these men perceived a lack of need and sufficiency in their existing social support networks. Conclusions: Research is needed to inform or identify interventions that diminish the impact of barriers to care, and identify from whom, where, and how professional mental health help might be more effectively offered to injured Black men in recovery environments like Philadelphia.

Pathways to Help-Seeking Among Black Male Trauma Survivors: A Fuzzy Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis

Many Black men suffer symptoms of traumatic stress in the aftermath of traumatic injury, and they also often carry social concerns, including experiences of discrimination and stigma, and a lack of financial resources. The objective of the present study was to understand how traumatic symptoms and social factors combine in complex ways toward the outcome of psychological help-seeking. We analyzed qualitative and quantitative data from 32 injured Black men admitted to a Level 1 trauma center. Qualitative interviews explored their attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help. We analyzed quantitative data, collected using validated instruments, on posttraumatic stress and depression symptoms, financial worry, and discrimination/stigma. Fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) was conducted by calibrating each condition to fuzzy set membership scores based on our knowledge of the causal conditions and the cases. We then constructed truth tables for QCA analysis using fsQCA software. Three causal pathways for psychological help-seeking were identified: Two pathways showed that severe trauma symptoms in the absence of financial worry were sufficient for seeking help, whereas the third showed that financial worry and discrimination in the absence of trauma symptoms were sufficient for help-seeking. We identified two causal pathways for negated help-seeking, in which low posttraumatic symptom severity and low levels of discrimination or financial worry were sufficient for not seeking psychological help. The QCA analysis revealed multiple pathways for psychological help-seeking among Black men who suffer trauma. These findings highlight the need for further research to understand complex pathways toward psychological help-seeking in this population.

Finnish translation and external validation of the Trauma Quality of Life questionnaire

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Major trauma impairs health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of this study was the Finnish translation and external validation of the Trauma Quality of Life (TQoL) questionnaire.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The Finnish version of the TQoL questionnaire and the 15D, a generic HRQoL questionnaire, were sent by mail to 417 patients identified from the Helsinki Trauma Registry.

RESULTS

Altogether 222 patients (53.2%) returned the questionnaires. Participants' mean age was 49.9 ± 18.1 years and 68.8% were males. The mean 15D score was significantly lower than that of the age- and sex-standardized general Finnish population (0.817 vs. 0.918, p < 0.001). The correlation between the Finnish translation and 15D scores was high (0.805). Factor analysis revealed that the Finnish TQoL questionnaire and the 15D have four common factors. Internal validation identified some differences between the Finnish and the original versions.

CONCLUSIONS

The correlation between the Finnish TQoL questionnaire and the 15D was high. The factor structures of the original and Finnish versions of the TQoL questionnaire were not identical, which may be a consequence of cultural or patient population differences.Implications for rehabilitationTrauma causes a long-term decrease in health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and this impact should be assessed in rehabilitation.The Trauma-Specific Quality of Life (TQoL) questionnaire has many shared features with the generic HRQoL questionnaire, but it also contains features related to post-traumatic disorder syndrome.The TQoL questionnaire is a valid tool for monitoring HRQoL after trauma.

Contributors to Postinjury Mental Health in Urban Black Men With Serious Injuries

Importance

Physical injury is associated with postinjury mental health problems, which typically increase disability, cost, recidivism, and self-medication for symptoms.

Objective

To determine risk and protective factors across the life span that contribute to depression and posttraumatic stress symptom severity at 3 months after hospital discharge.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This prospective cohort study used a 3-month postdischarge follow-up of patients who had been treated at an urban, level 1 trauma center in the Northeastern United States. Men with injuries who were hospitalized, self-identified as black, were 18 years or older, and resided in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, region were eligible and consecutively enrolled. Those who were experiencing a cognitive dysfunction or psychotic disorder, hospitalized because of attempted suicide, or receiving current treatment for depression or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were excluded. Data were collected from January 2013 to October 2017. Data analysis took place from January 2018 to August 2018.

Exposures

A serious injury requiring hospitalization; adverse childhood experiences, childhood neighborhood disadvantage, and preinjury physical and mental health; and emotional resources, injury intent, and acute stress responses.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Depression and PTSD symptom severity were assessed with the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms-Self-report and the PTSD Check List-5. The a priori hypothesis was that risk and protective factors are associated with depression and PTSD symptom severity. The analytic approach was structural equation modeling.

Results

A total of 623 black men were enrolled. Of these, 502 participants (80.6%) were retained at 3-month follow-up. Their mean (SD) age was 35.6 (14.9) years; 346 (55.5%) had experienced intentional injuries, and the median (range) Injury Severity Score was 9 (1-45). Of the 500 participants with complete primary outcome data, 225 (45.0%) met the cut point criteria for mental health diagnoses at 3 months. For both mental health outcomes, the models fit the data well (depression: root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA], 0.044; comparative fit index [CFI], 0.93; PTSD: RMSEA = 0.045; CFI = 0.93), and all hypothesized paths were significant and in the hypothesized direction. Outcomes were associated with poor preinjury health (standardized weights: depression, 0.28; P < .001; PTSD, 0.17; P = .02), acute psychological reactions (depression, 0.34; PTSD, 0.38; both P < .001), and intentional injury (depression, 0.16; PTSD, 0.24; both P < .001). Acute psychological reactions were associated with childhood adversity (depression, 0.33; PTSD, 0.36; both P < .001). A history of prior mental health challenges (depression, 0.70; PTSD, 0.70; both P < .001) and psychological or emotional health resources (depression, -0.22; PTSD, -0.23; both P = .003) affected poor preinjury health, which was in turn associated with acute psychological reaction (depression, 0.44; PTSD, 0.42; both P < .001).

Conclusions and Relevance

The intersection of prior trauma and adversity, prior exposure to neighborhood disadvantage, and poorer preinjury health and functioning are important, even in the midst of acute medical care for traumatic injury. These results support the importance of trauma-informed health care and focused assessment to identified patients with injuries who are at highest risk for poor postinjury mental health outcomes.

Prevalence and association of depression in in-patient orthopaedic trauma patients: A single centre study in India

INTRODUCTION

Depression is characterized by a persistent state of low mood and aversion to activity affecting a person's thoughts, behavior, feelings and sense of well-being. It has been reported in Orthopaedic trauma patients. Depression is likely to interfere in an individual's ability to sustain a long duration rehabilitation programme leading to poor function and delayed return to a productive lifestyle. The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence and identify factors associated with depression in indoor Orthopaedic trauma patients.

METHODS

This prospective cohort study was conducted on 190 adult Orthopaedic trauma patients enrolled on a randomly selected day of a week subject to written informed consent. Patients with conditions that may preclude assessment of the mental status were excluded from the study. Age, sex, duration since injury, Injury Severity Score (ISS), type of surgery, marital status, insurance coverage, level of education, socioeconomic status, familial support, substance abuse. Hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) score and pain score (visual analogue scale) were recorded as soon as the patient was stabilized. Bivariate analyses and Logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with a HADS score of ≥8.

RESULTS

Mean age was 33.8 years. One hundred fifty-one (79.47%) patients were males and thirty-nine patients were females (21.53%). A HADS score ≥8 was present in 42.63% enrolled cases. On logistic regression a higher pain score, nuclear family, and female sex were found to be significantly associated with HADS ≥8.

CONCLUSION

Depression is common in indoor Orthopaedic trauma patients. HADS may be used to screen patients for depression and refer patients to a psychiatrist for a definitive diagnosis and management.

Psychological Prophylaxis: An Integrated Psychological Services Program in Trauma Care

The primary medical goals of acute care are restoration of physical health and return to physical function. However, in response to traumatic events and injuries, psychological factors are critical to one's overall recovery. Both pre-morbid psychiatric comorbidities and post-injury psychological compromise affect physical and psychological recovery in inpatient trauma populations. The Psychological Services Program (PSP), a model trauma/acute care program, addresses these critical factors in a Level 1 Trauma Center. The program routinely treats over one-quarter of the trauma patients at any given time. The incorporation of the PSP into treatment team care ensures that patients in need of mental health support can be identified and treated during their recovery. This unique model is recommended as a potential injury prevention and recovery intervention strategy for the myriad mental health comorbidities that may function as risk factors for poor post-injury adaptation and also as risk factors for possible future traumatic injury.

Factors Associated With Long-term Outcomes After Injury: Results of the Functional Outcomes and Recovery After Trauma Emergencies (FORTE) Multicenter Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine factors associated with patient-reported outcomes, 6 to 12 months after moderate to severe injury.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Due to limitations of trauma registries, we have an incomplete understanding of factors that impact long-term patient-reported outcomes after injury. As 96% of patients survive their injuries, several entities including the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine have called for a mechanism to routinely follow trauma patients and determine factors associated with survival, patient-reported outcomes, and reintegration into society after trauma.

METHODS

Over 30 months, major trauma patients [Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥9] admitted to 3 Level-I trauma centers in Boston were assessed via telephone between 6 and 12 months after injury. Outcome measures evaluated long-term functional, physical, and mental-health outcomes. Multiple regression models were utilized to identify patient and injury factors associated with outcomes.

RESULTS

We successfully followed 1736 patients (65% of patients contacted). More than half (62%) reported current physical limitations, 37% needed help for at least 1 activity of daily living, 20% screened positive for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), all SF-12 physical health subdomain scores were significantly below US norms, and 41% of patients who were working previously were unable to return to work. Age, sex, and education were associated with long-term outcomes, while almost none of the traditional measures of injury severity were.

CONCLUSION

The long-term sequelae of trauma are more significant than previously expected. Collection of postdischarge outcomes identified patient factors, such as female sex and low education, associated with worse recovery. This suggests that social support systems are potentially at the core of recovery rather than traditional measures of injury severity.

Reliability of temporal summation, thermal and pressure pain thresholds in a healthy cohort and musculoskeletal trauma population

Traumatic injuries affect approximately 978 million people worldwide with 56.2 million requiring inpatient care. Quantitative sensory testing (QST) can be useful in predicting outcome following trauma, however the reliability of multiple QST including temporal summation (TS), heat and cold pain thresholds (HPT, CPT) and pressure pain thresholds (PPT) is unknown. We assessed intra (between day) and inter-rater (within day) reliability of QST in asymptomatic participants (n = 21), and inter-rater (within day) reliability in participants presenting with acute musculoskeletal trauma (n = 25). Intra-class correlations with 95% confidence intervals (ICC 3,2), standard error of measurement (SEM) and Bland Altman Plots for limits of agreement were calculated. For asymptomatic participants, reliability was good to excellent for HPT (ICC range 0.76–0.95), moderate to good for PPT (ICC range 0.52–0.93), with one site rated poor (ICC 0.41), and poor to excellent for TS scores (ICC range 0.20–0.91). For musculoskeletal trauma participants reliability was good to excellent for HPT and PPT (ICC range 0.76–0.86), and moderate to good reliability for TS (ICC range 0.69–0.91). SEM for HPT for both sets of participants was ~1°C and an average of 7N for asymptomatic participants and less than 8N for acute musculoskeletal trauma participants for PPT. This study demonstrates moderate to excellent intra and inter-rater reliability for HPT and PPT in asymptomatic participants and good to excellent inter-rater reliability for acute musculoskeletal trauma participants, with TS showing more variability for both sets of participants. This study provides foundations for future work evaluating the sensory function over time following acute musculoskeletal trauma.

Resilience and long-term outcomes after trauma: An opportunity for early intervention?

BACKGROUND

Resilience, or the ability to cope with difficulties, influences an individual's response to life events including unexpected injury. We sought to assess the relationship between patient self-reported resilience traits and functional and psychosocial outcomes 6 months after traumatic injury.

METHODS

Adult trauma patients 18 years to 64 years of age with moderate to severe injuries (Injury Severity Score, ≥9) admitted to one of three Level I trauma centers between 2015 and 2017 were contacted by phone at 6 months postinjury and asked to complete a validated Trauma Quality of Life (T-QoL) survey and PTSD screen. Patients were classified into "low" and "high" resilience categories. Long-term outcomes were compared between groups. Adjusted logistic regression models were built to determine the association between resilience and each of the long-term outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 305 patients completed the 6-month interview. Two hundred four (67%) of the 305 patients were classified as having low resilience. Mean age was 42 ± 14 years, 65% were male, 91% suffering a blunt injury, and average Injury Severity Score was 15.4 ± 7.9. Patients in the low-resilience group had significantly higher odds of functional limitations in activities of daily living (odds ratio [OR], 4.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.48-9.34). In addition, patients in the lower resilience group were less likely to have returned to work/school (OR, 3.25; 95% CI, 1.71-6.19), more likely to report chronic pain (OR, 2.57; 95% CI, 1.54-4.30) and more likely to screen positive for PTSD (OR, 2.96; 95% CI, 1.58-5.54).

CONCLUSION

Patients with low resilience demonstrated worse functional and psychosocial outcomes 6 months after injury. These data suggest that screening for resilience and developing and deploying early interventions to improve resilience-associated traits as soon as possible after injury may hold promise for improving important long-term functional outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic, level II.

Injury patterns in elderly cyclists and motorcyclists presenting to a tertiary trauma centre in Singapore

INTRODUCTION

With Singapore's ageing population, there are increasing numbers of elderly cyclists and motorcyclists. Compared to younger riders, this cohort sustains more injuries and has poorer outcomes. This study aimed to describe and compare patient demographics, injury patterns and outcomes among elderly cyclists and motorcyclists at a Level 1 trauma centre.

METHODS

Data of all cyclists, motorcyclists and pillion riders aged 65 years and above who presented to the emergency department after accidents from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2017 was extracted from the hospital's trauma registry and reviewed.

RESULTS

Cyclists and motorcyclists formed 42.0% and 58.0%, respectively, of 157 recruited patients. At the time of the accident, 40.8% of the patients were employed. The mean age of the patients was 71.6 ± 5.8 years. Extremities and pelvic girdle injuries (61.1%) were the most frequent, followed by chest injuries (48.4%), and head and neck injuries (40.1%). Among severe injuries (defined as Abbreviated Injury Scale score ≥ 3), chest injuries (39.5%) were the most common, followed by head and neck injuries (36.3%). The overall mortality rate was 9.6%, with cyclists at nearly three times the risk compared to motorcyclists. More cyclists than motorcyclists (18.2% vs. 11.0%) required intensive care. There were no significant differences in the length of hospital stay between cyclists and motorcyclists.

CONCLUSION

Elderly riders have unique injury patterns and consume significant healthcare resources. Trauma systems need to acknowledge this changing injury epidemiology and equip trauma centres with the necessary resources targeted at elderly patients. Future work should focus on strategies to minimise extremity and chest injuries.

Feasibility of a trauma quality-of-life follow-up clinic

BACKGROUND

Little effort has been made to address long-term quality of life, chronic pain (CP), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and functional disability in trauma survivors. This quality initiative was developed to determine feasibility of a coordinated, comprehensive, patient-centered follow-up clinic for those at risk for poor long-term outcomes.

METHODS

A convenience sample from 649 hospitalized trauma patients at a Midwestern level 1 trauma center between February 2018 and August 2018 was screened for risk of PTSD and CP. Thirty-six patients were randomized into a standard follow-up clinic (standard of care [SOC]) (2-week postdischarge surgical clinic) or a new trauma quality of life clinic (TQOL). The TQOL was developed to provide comprehensive care to patients at high risk for PTSD (Injured Trauma Survivor Score, ≥2) and/or CP (discharge pain score, ≥4). Trauma quality of life clinic included a nurse practitioner or surgeon (physician), psychologist, social worker, and physical therapist at 1-week post discharge. All providers saw the patient independently, developed a care plan collaboratively, and communicated the plan to the patient. The SOC involved a visit only with a nurse practitioner or surgeon (medical doctor). Measures of pain, PTSD, depression, quality of life, physical functioning, and life satisfaction were completed at time of the TQOL/SOC or over the phone.

RESULTS

There were no differences in demographics, readmissions, or emergency department visits after discharge between groups. However, no show rates were almost twice as high in SOC (40%) compared with TQOL (22%) and those in TQOL completed 23 additional psychology visits versus one psychology visit in SOC. This clinic structure is feasible for high-risk patients, and TQOL patients demonstrated improved engagement in their care.

CONCLUSIONS

A comprehensive multidisciplinary TQOL addressing issues affecting convalescence for trauma patients at high risk for developing PTSD and CP can improve follow-up rates to ensure patients are recovering successfully.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic, Level IV.

Screening and treating hospitalized trauma survivors for posttraumatic stress disorder and depression

Traumatic injury affects over 2.6 million U.S. adults annually and elevates risk for a number of negative health consequences. This includes substantial psychological harm, the most prominent being posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with approximately 21% of traumatic injury survivors developing the disorder within the first year after injury. Posttraumatic stress disorder is associated with deficits in physical recovery, social functioning, and quality of life. Depression is diagnosed in approximately 6% in the year after injury and is also a predictor of poor quality of life. The American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma suggests screening for and treatment of PTSD and depression, reflecting a growing awareness of the critical need to address patients' mental health needs after trauma. While some trauma centers have implemented screening and treatment or referral for treatment programs, the majority are evaluating how to best address this recommendation, and no standard approach for screening and treatment currently exists. Further, guidelines are not yet available with respect to resources that may be used to effectively screen and treat these disorders in trauma survivors, as well as who is going to bear the costs. The purpose of this review is: (1) to evaluate the current state of the literature regarding evidence-based screens for PTSD and depression in the hospitalized trauma patient and (2) summarize the literature to date regarding the treatments that have empirical support in treating PTSD and depression acutely after injury. This review also includes structural and funding information regarding existing postinjury mental health programs. Screening of injured patients and timely intervention to prevent or treat PTSD and depression could substantially improve health outcomes and improve quality of life for this high-risk population. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Review, level IV.

Perceived loss of social support after non-neurologic injury negatively impacts recovery

BACKGROUND

Traumatic injury is not only physically devastating, but also psychologically isolating, potentially leading to poor quality of life, depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Perceived social support (PSS) is associated with better outcomes in some populations. What is not known is if changes in PSS influence long-term outcomes following nonneurologic injury. We hypothesized that a single drop in PSS during recovery would be associated with worse quality of life.

METHODS

This is a post hoc analysis of a prospectively collected database that included patients 18 years or older admitted to a Level I trauma center with Injury Severity Score (ISS) of 10 or higher, and no traumatic brain or spinal cord injury. Demographic and injury data were collected at the initial hospital admission. Screening for depression, PTSD, and Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 Mental Composite Score (MCS) were obtained at the initial hospitalization, 1, 2, 4, and 12 months postinjury. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) was obtained at similar time points. Patients with high MSPSS (>5) at baseline were included and grouped by those that ever reported a score ≤5 (DROP), and those that remained high (STABLE). Outcomes were determined at 4 and 12 months.

RESULTS

Four hundred eleven patients were included with 96 meeting DROP criteria at 4 months, and 97 at 1 years. There were no differences in sex, race, or injury mechanism. The DROP patients were more likely to be single (p = 0.012 at 4 months, p = 0.0006 at 1 year) and unemployed (p = 0.016 at 4 months, and p = 0.026 at 1 year) compared with STABLE patients. At 4 months and 1 year, DROP patients were more likely to have PTSD, depression, and a lower MCS (p = 0.0006, p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Patients who have a drop in PSS during the first year of recovery have significantly higher odds of poor psychological outcomes. Identifying these socially frail patients provides an opportunity for intervention to positively influence an otherwise poor quality of life.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic, Prognostic and Epidemiological, Level III.

Injury-related variation in patient-reported outcome after musculoskeletal trauma: a systematic review

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to explore injury-related characteristics that differentiate between patient-reported outcomes (PROs) following traumatic musculoskeletal injury.

METHODS

We reviewed English-language articles in PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (January 1995 to September 2018). We included studies that compared patient-reported outcomes of musculoskeletal trauma based on injury characteristics, and excluded studies related to development or validation of outcome tools without implementation, measurement, or comparison. Studies on patients with isolated neurotrauma or spine trauma were not included. Study level of evidence was assessed by 2 reviewers using the modified Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine rating system.

RESULTS

A total of 20 studies (21 articles) that reported on a total of 10,186 patients were included (4 were prospective cohort-studies, 8 were matched-control retrospective cohort-studies, and 8 were retrospective cohort-studies). Median minimum follow-up was 3 years (range 0.5-10 years). Injury-related factors associated with worse PROs were polytrauma or multiple injuries (10 studies), neurotrauma (11 studies), and high-energy injury mechanism (7 studies). Among all studies, 32 different outcome metrics were used (17 general health status metrics and 15 limb-specific metrics) making meta-analysis infeasible.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the included studies, we propose a framework where musculoskeletal injuries occur in one of 4 scenarios that is associated with a different context-dependent outcome: (1) polytrauma with neurotrauma, (2) polytrauma without neurotrauma, (3) high-energy monotrauma, and (4) low-energy monotrauma. Our results suggest that standardization of outcome instruments is needed to facilitate future meta-analyses that assess PROs in this population.

SOFT-TISSUE INJURY TO THE FOOT AND ANKLE: LITERATURE REVIEW AND STAGED MANAGEMENT PROTOCOL

Complex trauma of the foot and ankle is characterized by fractures with severe soft tissue damage associated with neurovascular injury and joint involvement. These injuries are frequently present in the polytraumatized patient and are a predictor of unfavorable clinical outcome. In the initial approach to a patient with complex foot and ankle trauma, the decision between amputation and reconstruction is crucial. The various existing classification systems are of limited effectiveness and should serve as tools to assist and support a clinical decision rather than as determinants of conduct. In the emergency department, one of two treatment options must be adopted: early complete treatment or staged treatment. The former consists of definitive fixation and immediate skin coverage, using either primary closure (suturing) or flaps, and is usually reserved for less complex cases. Staged treatment is divided into initial and definitive. The objectives in the first phase are: prevention of the progression of ischemia, necrosis and infection. The principles of definitive treatment are: proximal-to-distal bone reconstruction, anatomic foot alignment, fusions in severe cartilage lesions or gross instabilities, stable internal fixation and adequate skin coverage. Level of evidence III, Systematic review of level III studies.

Mental illness is associated with more pain and worse functional outcomes after ankle fracture

Objectives

To assess clinical and functional outcomes after ankle fracture in patients with preexisting mental illness.

Design

Retrospective study.

Setting

Level 1 trauma center.

Patients/Participants

One thousand three hundred seventy-eight adult patients treated for ankle fractures; 228 (17%) had preexisting mental illness.

Intervention

Open reduction internal fixation.

Main outcome measure

Rates of complications and reoperations. Functional outcomes were assessed via Foot Function Index (n = 530) and Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (n = 530).

Results

Depression was the most common mental illness (63%), followed by anxiety (23%). Mental illness was associated with older age, female sex, and preexisting medical comorbidities, including diabetes and obesity. Mental illness was not associated with specific fracture patterns or open injury. Complications occurred no more often in patients with mental illness, but secondary operations (13% vs 7%) were more likely, particularly implant removals (8% vs 4%), both P < .05. Functional outcomes were worse in mentally ill patients as measured by the Foot Function Index (39 vs 30, P = .006) and Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment Mobility: 45 vs 35, Bothersome: 35 vs 26 and Dysfunction: 35 vs 26, all P < .01.

Conclusion

Secondary operations were nearly 50% more frequent in patients with mental illness, and functional outcome scores were significantly worse, suggesting that mental illness, unrelated to injury and treatment parameters, has major influence on outcomes. In the future, strategies to identify and treat mental illness prior to and after treatment could improve functional outcomes following ankle fracture.

Long-term social dysfunction after trauma: What is the prevalence, risk factors, and associated outcomes?

BACKGROUND

Social functioning-the ability to participate in organized or informal family, friend, or peer groups and communal activities-is intertwined with physical and emotional health. Although trauma can have a lasting effect on both the physical and emotional well-being of patients, little is known about the long-term impact of injury on social functioning. We sought to determine the prevalence of, risk factors for, and outcomes associated with long-term social dysfunction after trauma.

METHODS

Adults with moderate-to-severe injuries managed at three Level I trauma centers were contacted at 6 to 12 months after injury to inquire about social dysfunction. Demographics, socioeconomic parameters, and injury-related and hospital course information were also obtained. A stepwise backward logistic regression model was fitted to determine independent risk factors of social dysfunction, and multiple logistic regression models were used to determine associations between social dysfunction and post-traumatic stress disorder, functional limitations, and return to work.

RESULTS

Of the 805 screened patients, 45.2% reported social dysfunction. Patients with social dysfunction were more likely to be African American, be Medicaid beneficiaries, be of lower education, require mechanical ventilation, be discharged less often to home, have a lower mean age and had longer hospital stays. In multivariable analysis, low education, longer hospital stay, past psychiatric illness, and African-American race independently increased the risk for social dysfunction. Furthermore, patients with social dysfunction were more likely to screen positive for post-traumatic stress disorder (odds ratio: 16.25 [95% confidence interval: 9.49-27.85]), be experiencing functional limitations (odds ratio: 2.80 [95% confidence interval: 1.76-4.44]), and to not have returned to work (odds ratio: 5.65 [95% confidence interval: 3.92-8.14]).

CONCLUSION

Lower educational attainment, long hospital stay, past pyschiatric illness, and African-American race appear to predispose to social dysfunction after trauma, which in turn is associated with a positive post-traumatic stress disorder screen, functional limitations, and delayed return to work.

Quality of life and level of post-traumatic stress disorder among trauma patients: A comparative study between a regional and a university hospital

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to assess outcome in long-term quality of life (QoL) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among adult survivors of trauma. Secondary aim was to compare levels of the outcome with injury severity and specialization level of two trauma centres.

METHODS

A retrospective study included patients received by the trauma response teams at two hospitals in 2013 aged 18 or more at follow-up. We assessed QoL and PTSD with one mailed questionnaire to each patient at either 12 or 24 months of follow-up. Health status was measured by EuroQol EQ-5D and the Glasgow Outcome Scale. PTSD symptoms were classified according to the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL) and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV).

RESULTS

A questionnaire was mailed to 774 patients at end of 2014 or early 2015, 455 were included for analysis; median age 44 (IQR 25-57; 68% male); median NISS 9 (IQR 2-17); At follow-up 24% (95% CI 20-28) reported a EQ index score value equivalent to the lowest 2.3% in the Danish population norm. Probable PTSD was present in 19% (95% CI 13-27) of patients with severe injuries (NISS> 15), and 23% (95% CI 19-28) of those with NISS < 15.

CONCLUSION

Severe trauma has substantial impact on QoL and PTSD assessed at 12-24 months after the trauma. The QoL was well below the Danish population norm. The presence of PTSD was independent of injury severity. Trauma Centres should consider to include this as part of the treatment principles.

Development of a screening tool to predict the risk of chronic pain and disability following musculoskeletal trauma: protocol for a prospective observational study in the United Kingdom

INTRODUCTION

Pain is an expected and appropriate experience following traumatic musculoskeletal injury. By contrast, chronic pain and disability are unhelpful yet common sequelae of trauma-related injuries. Presently, the mechanisms that underlie the transition from acute to chronic disabling post-traumatic pain are not fully understood. Such knowledge would facilitate the development and implementation of precision rehabilitation approaches that match interventions to projected risk of recovery, with the aim of preventing poor long-term outcomes. The aim of this study is to identify a set of predictive factors to identify patients at risk of developing ongoing post-traumatic pain and disability following acute musculoskeletal trauma. To achieve this, we will use a unique and comprehensive combination of patient-reported outcome measures, psychophysical testing and biomarkers.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

A prospective observational study will recruit two temporally staggered cohorts (n=250 each cohort; at least 10 cases per candidate predictor) of consecutive patients with acute musculoskeletal trauma aged ≥16 years, who are emergency admissions into a Major Trauma Centre in the United Kingdom, with an episode inception defined as the traumatic event. The first cohort will identify candidate predictors to develop a screening tool to predict development of chronic and disabling pain, and the second will allow evaluation of the predictive performance of the tool (validation). The outcome being predicted is an individual's absolute risk of poor outcome measured at a 6-month follow-up using the Chronic Pain Grade Scale (poor outcome ≥grade II). Candidate predictors encompass the four primary mechanisms of pain: nociceptive (eg, injury location), neuropathic (eg, painDETECT), inflammatory (biomarkers) and nociplastic (eg, quantitative sensory testing). Concurrently, patient-reported outcome measures will assess general health and psychosocial factors (eg, pain self-efficacy). Risk of poor outcome will be calculated using multiple variable regression analysis.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Approved by the NHS Research Ethics Committee (17/WA/0421).

Long-term outcome in 324 polytrauma patients: what factors are associated with posttraumatic stress disorder and depressive disorder symptoms?

Background

Physical impairment is well-known to last for many years after a severe injury, and there is a high impact on the quality of the survivor’s life. The purpose of this study was to examine if this is also true for psychological impairment with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder or depression after polytrauma.

Design

Retrospective cohort outcome study.

Setting

Level I trauma centre.

Population

637 polytrauma trauma patients who were treated at our Level I trauma centre between 1973 and 1990. Minimum follow-up was 10 years after the injury.

Methods

Patients were asked to fill in a questionnaire, including parts of the Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale, the Impact of Event Scale-Revised and the German Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, to evaluate mental health. Clinical outcome was assessed before by standardised scores.

Results

Three hundred and twenty-four questionnaires were evaluated. One hundred and forty-nine (45.9%) patients presented with symptoms of mental impairment. Quality of life was significantly higher in the mentally healthy group, while the impaired group achieved a lower rehabilitation status.

Conclusions

Mental impairment can be found in multiple trauma victims, even after 10 years or more. Treating physicians should not only focus on early physical rehabilitation but also focus on early mental rehabilitation to prevent long-term problems in both physical and mental disability.

Violent injury predicts poor psychological outcomes after traumatic injury in a hard-to-reach population: an observational cohort study

BACKGROUND

People who experience physical trauma face a range of psychosocial outcomes. These may be overlooked by busy clinicians. While some risk factors are understood, understanding of the psychological effects of violent injury remains limited, particularly in UK settings. This study compared psychological outcomes following interpersonal violence and accidental injury, including the persistence of psychological distress.

METHODS

A questionnaire survey was carried out at two time points of patients admitted to a large teaching hospital in London between July 2012 and April 2014. Participants were consecutive adult patients admitted to the Royal London Hospital with traumatic injuries, with 219 participants at baseline. Follow-up survey was 8  months later (n=109). Standardised measures assessed post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) (Acute Stress Disorder Scale and PTSD Checklist) and depressive symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale).

RESULTS

PTSS and depressive symptoms affected 27% and 33%, respectively, at baseline. At 8  months, 27% and 31% reported these symptoms for PTSS and depressive symptoms, respectively. The repeated measures were assessed with multilevel models: after adjusting for demographic factors, patients with violent injury showed more PTSS (OR 6.27, 95% CI 1.90 to 20.66) and depressive symptoms (OR 3.12, 95% CI 1.08 to 8.99).

CONCLUSIONS

There were high levels of psychological distress among traumatic injury patients. Violent injuries were associated with an increased risk of both post-traumatic and depressive symptoms. People vulnerable to distress would benefit from psychological support, and hospital admission provides a unique opportunity to engage hard-to-reach groups in interventions.

The effect of socio-economic status on non-fatal outcome after injury: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Over the past decades, the number of survivors of injuries has rapidly grown. It has become important to focus more on the determinants of non-fatal outcome. Although socio-economic status (SES) is considered to be a fundamental determinant of health in general, the role of SES as a determinant of non-fatal outcome after injury is largely unknown.

METHODS

An online search was conducted in November 2015 using Embase, Medline, Web of Science, Cinahl, Cochrane, Google scholar and PubMed. Studies examining the relation between SES and a physical or psychological outcome measure, or using SES as a confounder in a general trauma population were included. There were no restrictions regarding study design. The 'Quality in Prognostic Studies tool' was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies.

RESULTS

The 24 included studies showed large variations in methodological quality. The number of participants ranged from 56 to 4639, and assessments of the measures ranged from immediately to 6year post-injury. Studies used a large number of variables as indicators of SES. Participant's educational level was used most frequently. The majority of the studies used a multivariable technique to analyse the relation between SES and non-fatal outcome after injury. All studies found a positive association (80% of studies significant, n=19) between increased SES and better non-fatal outcome after injury.

CONCLUSION

Although an adequate and valid measure of SES is lacking, the results of this review showed that SES is an important determinant of non-fatal outcome after injury. Future research should focus on the definition and measurement of SES and should further underpin the effect of SES on non-fatal outcome after injury.

Psychological distress and physical disability in patients sustaining severe injuries in road traffic crashes: Results from a one-year cohort study from three European countries

The current study aimed to follow-up a group of road crash survivors for one year and assesses the impact of injury on their psychological and physical condition. All crash survivors that were admitted to the intensive or sub-intensive care units of selected hospitals in Greece, Germany and Italy over one year period (2013-2014), were invited to participate in the study and were interviewed at three different time-points as follows: (a) at one month (baseline data), (b) at six months, and (c) at twelve months. The study used widely recommended classifications for injury severity (AIS, MAIS) and standardized health outcome measures such as the Disability Assessment Schedule II (WHODAS 2.0) to measure disability, "Impact of Event Scale" (IES-R) to measure Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D Scale) to measure depression. A total of 120 patients were enrolled in the study in all the partner countries and 93 completed all follow up questionnaires. The risk of physical disability was 4.57 times higher [CI 1.98-2.27] at the first follow up and 3.43 times higher [CI 1.43-9.42] at the second follow up as compared with the time before the injury. There was a 79% and an 88% lower risk of depression at the first and the second follow up respectively, as compared with the baseline time. There was also a 72% lower risk of Post-Traumatic Stress at the second follow up as compared with the baseline time. A number of factors relevant to the individuals, the road crash and the injury, were shown to distinguish those at higher risk of long-lasting disability and psychological distress including age, marital status, type of road user, severity and type of the injury, past emotional reaction to distress. The study highlights the importance of a comprehensive and holistic understanding of the impact of injury on an individual and further underlines the importance of screening and treating psychological comorbidities in injury in a timely manner.

Prescription Opioid and Benzodiazepine Use After Road Traffic Injury

BACKGROUND

Motor vehicle crash victims with physical injury are likely to receive prescription opioids and benzodiazepines. Potential mental trauma and lack of primary treating physician contribute to the risk of adverse opioid outcomes for this group. The purpose of this study is to characterise opioid and benzodiazepine prescribing after road traffic injury.

METHOD

Individuals who claimed Transport Accident Commission compensation for a noncatastrophic injury that occurred between 2010 and 2012 in Victoria, Australia and who provided consent for pharmaceutical benefits scheme (PBS) linkage were included (n = 734). PBS records dating between 12 months preinjury and 18 months postinjury were provided by the Department of Human Services.

RESULTS

In the year before injury, 10.5% of participants received prescription opioids; after injury, 45.1% of hospitalized and 21.1% of nonhospitalized participants received opioids. Benzodiazepines were used by 4.8% preinjury, and 7.0% and 7.4% postinjury (with and without hospitalization, respectively). Postinjury, 39% of opioid use and 73% of benzodiazepine use was potentially unrelated to the injury.

CONCLUSIONS

Prescription opioid and benzodiazepine before road traffic injury was substantial: the significance of postinjury prescription drug use cannot be established without taking preinjury use into account. It may be beneficial for pain medication to be managed by a pain treatment coordinator, in this injured population with high rates of pre-existing opioid and benzodiazepine use.

Mortality, functional and return to work outcomes of major trauma patients injured from deliberate self-harm

BACKGROUND

Self-harm and intentional injuries represent a significant public health concern. People who survive serious injury from self-harm can experience poor outcomes that negatively impact on their daily life. The aim of this study was to investigate a cohort of major trauma patients hospitalised for self-harm in Victoria, and to identify risk factors for longer term mortality, functional recovery and return to work.

METHOD

482 adult major trauma patients who were injured due to self-harm and survived to hospital discharge, and were captured by the population-based Victorian State Trauma Registry (VSTR), were included. For those with a date of injury from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2013, demographics and injury event data, Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended (GOS-E) and return to work (RTW) outcomes at 6, 12 and 24 months post-injury were extracted from the registry. Post-discharge mortality was identified through the Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM). Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine predictors of the GOS-E and RTW and survival analysis was used to identify predictors of mortality.

RESULTS

A total of 37 (7.7%) deaths occurred post-discharge. There were no clear predictors of all-cause mortality. Overall, 36% of patients reported making a good recovery at 24 months. Older age (p=0.01), transport-related methods of self-harm (p=0.02), higher Injury Severity Score (p<0.001) and having a Charlson Comorbidity Index weighting of one or more (p=0.02) were predictive of poorer functional recovery. Of patients who were working or studying prior to injury, 54% reported returning to work by 24 months post-injury. Higher Injury Severity Score was an important predictor of not returning to work (p=0.002).

CONCLUSION

The vast majority of major trauma patients who self-harmed and survived to hospital discharge were alive at two years post-injury, yet only half of this cohort returned to work and just over a third of patients experienced a good recovery.

Trajectories of quality of life in patients with traumatic limb injury: a 2-year follow-up study

PURPOSE

Traumatic limb injury (TLI) can have a negative impact on a patient's quality of life (QOL), and the patient's QOL may fluctuate over time. However, the longitudinal change patterns of QOL in patients with TLI are largely unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the QOL trajectories in patients with TLI in 4 QOL domains: physical capacity, psychological well-being, social relationships, and environment.

METHODS

The patients' QOL was assessed within 14 days and at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after injury. In each QOL domain, 4 latent growth curve models (LGMs, including non-growth, linear growth, quadratic growth, and cubic LGM) were adopted to examine the QOL trajectories across the 6 time points.

RESULTS

A total of 499 patients completed the 6 assessments. For all 4 QOL domains, the cubic LGM had the best model fitting (root-mean-square error of approximation < 0.01) revealing that the patients' 4 QOL domains changed with cubic trajectories: QOL improved in the first 6 months, deteriorated in the second 6 months, and improved smoothly at 12-24 months after injury.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found that the trajectories in the 4 QOL domains were cubic trajectories in patients with TLI. These findings indicate that clinicians should pay additional attention to improve the patients' QOL in the first 6 months after injury and to prevent or reduce QOL deterioration at 6-12 months.

Measurement of Disability and Its Predictors Among Trauma Patients: A Follow-up Study

Background:

Globally more than a billion people, 15% of the population, lives with disability and most of disabilities are caused by injuries.

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of disability and its predictors at 1 and 3 months post-injury in Kashan City during 2014 - 2015.

Patients and Methods:

In this longitudinal follow-up study, 400 injured patients 15 - 65 years referred to Shahid Beheshti hospital in Kashan and hospitalized more than 24 hours were assessed for disability status with the WHODAS II 12-item instrument at 1 and 3-months post-injury. Patients based on their disability scores were divided into 5 groups: none, mild, moderate, severe and very severe. Work status was assessed at the 3-month follow-up with one question “Are you back at work following your injury”. Also, demographic characteristics and information about injury were gathered by a checklist. Data were analyzed using chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal Wallis, Pearson correlation coefficient and logistic regression by SPSS software. The significance level was set at P < 0.05.

Results:

The mean disability scores at 1 and 3 months post-injury was 30.3 (9.2) and 18.8 (8.3), respectively and there was a statistical significant difference between disability status at 1 and 3 months after trauma (P < 0.0001). The rates of return to work in 262 employed patients at 1 and 3 months after injury were 29% and 55.4%, respectively. The disability score showed a statistically significant correlation with Injury Severity Score (ISS) (P < 0.0001), work return (P = 0.033), intensive care unit transfer (P < 0.0001), trauma type (P = 0.001) and age (P = 0.004). Also, age, ISS, duration of hospital stay and injury to extremities were predictors of disability.

Conclusions:

More than half of the patients were disabled after 3 months of trauma. Elderly patients, patient with severe trauma, and long hospitalization and patients with extremity injuries were high risk for disability.

Process optimization in the emergency department by the use of point-of-care-testing (POCT) in life-threatening conditions: comparative best practice examples from Germany and Malta

PURPOSE

Point-of-care testing (POCT) at the Emergency Department (ED) attains better objectives in patient care while aiming to achieve early diagnosis for faster medical decision-making. This study assesses and compares the benefits of POCT in the ED in Germany and Malta, while considering differences in their health systems.

METHODOLOGY/APPROACH

This chapter utilizes multiple case study approach using Six Sigma. The German case study assesses the use of POCT in acute coronary syndrome patients, compared to the central lab setting. The Maltese case study is a pilot study of the use of medical ultrasonography as a POCT to detect abdominal free fluid in post-blunt trauma.

FINDINGS

This study provides clear examples of the effectiveness of POCT in life-threatening conditions, as compared to the use of traditional central lab or the medical imaging department. Therapeutic quality in the ED and patient outcomes directly depend upon turnaround time, particularly for life-threatening conditions. Faster turnaround time not only saves lives but reduces morbidity, which in the long-term is a critical cost driver for hospitals.

ORIGINALITY/VALUE

The application of Six Sigma and the international comparison of POCT as best practice for life-threatening conditions in the ED.

Orthopaedic trauma patients and depression: a prospective cohort

OBJECTIVES

This study prospectively followed a cohort of orthopaedic trauma patients to identify risk factors that contribute to depression in patients with skeletal injuries.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Level I trauma center.

PATIENTS

One hundred ten orthopaedic trauma patients admitted as inpatients.

INTERVENTION

None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scores.

RESULTS

One hundred ten patients were enrolled at the time of injury in which 22 patients had moderate-to-major depression and 36 patients had mild depression. Forty-eight patients completed the follow-up surveys that were taken, on average, 9 months after the date of injury. Factors that were significant for mild depression (PHQ-9 >4) at the time of injury included a history of illegal drug use (P = 0.037) and a lower Duke Social Support and Stress Scale (DUSOCS) support score (P = 0.002). The duke social support and stress scale score had a negative Pearson correlation coefficient with PHQ-9 (n = -0.18, P = 0.03). Factors that were significant for moderate-to-major depression (PHQ-9 >9) at the time of injury were a history of a psychiatric diagnosis (P = 0.0009) and unemployment at injury (P = 0.039). Both a history of psychiatric diagnosis and an elevated PHQ-9 score at the time of injury were predictors of having depression at 9 months (P = 0.02 and P = 0.001, respectively). Also, patients with Medicaid insurance had a significant increase in their depression scores at 9 months (P = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

Depression was quite prevalent in our patient sample. A previous psychiatric diagnosis predisposed patients to depression. The socioeconomic status was also a predictive factor for increased depression scores at 9 months. Patients with a higher feeling of support from friends and family had an inverse correlation for depression. Employment also seems to have a protective effect against depression. Surprisingly, the severity of injury did not affect the depression score. Targeted consultation with a mental health care provider may obviate any morbidity that is associated with depression in an injured patient.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Health care costs and functional outcomes of road traffic injuries in the Lazio region of Italy

The economic consequences of road traffic injuries (RTIs) are very important in terms of health care costs. The aim of this study is to provide estimates of health care costs of non-fatal RTIs and to estimate functional outcomes using in-hospital rehabilitation data. We identified all emergency department (ED) visits related to RTI during 2008 and then linked them with hospital discharges and rehabilitation admissions, health care costs following RTI were estimated from the integrated database. We performed an epidemiological evaluation of RTI with a comprehensive description of functional outcomes at 6 months. Health care costs have been estimated at about €80 million with a per person cost of €522. About 18% of the total cost was due to rehabilitation treatments. In multivariate analysis the variables that correlated better with higher total health care costs were: older age, injury severity, presence of spinal lesion. Patients requiring rehabilitation were: the elderly, patients suffering from a spinal cord injury and leg injuries. This study provides consistent health care cost estimates of RTI using administrative databases and it shows a picture of functional outcomes after RTI. Further research is needed for the estimation of other components of the total cost of RTI.

Clinical decision rule to prevent unnecessary chest X-ray in patients with blunt multiple traumas

BACKGROUND

Since the diagnostic yield of chest X-ray (CXR) is not high enough, when it is ordered for all the multiple trauma patients, this study was aimed to evaluate the relationship between clinical and CXR findings in order to formulate a clinical decision rule to prevent unnecessary CXR in these patients.

METHODS

Stable multiple blunt trauma patients referring to the ED were included. The clinical and radiographic findings of all the patients were collected and the relationships between these variables analysed. Finally, based on the regression coefficients (β) of the variables, the Thoracic Injury Rule-out Criteria (TIRC) were designed.

RESULTS

A total of 2607 patients were included (males: 78.9%, mean age: 34.1 ± 15.0 years). Age over 60 (β = 0.8; 95% CI: 0.27-1.34; P = 0.003), crepitation (β = 4.33; 95% CI: 1.65-7.0; P < 0.001), loss of consciousness (β = 3.16; 95% CI: 2.44-3.88; P < 0.001), decrease in pulmonary sounds (β = 2.67; 95% CI: 1.73-3.6; P < 0.001), chest wall pain (β = 2.12; 95% CI: 1.63-2.61; P < 0.001) and tenderness (β = 1.78; 95% CI: 1.26-2.27; P < 0.001), dyspnea (β = 1.3; 95% CI: 0.41-2.18; P = 0.004) and abrasion (β = 0.5; 95% CI: 0.22-0.83; P = 0.03) were independent factors predicting thoracic injury. CXR in stable conscious multiple blunt trauma patients under 60 years, without chest wall pain and tenderness, decrease in pulmonary sounds, crepitation, skin abrasion, and dyspnea did not provide any additional findings.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on TIRC, it seems that CXR in stable multiple blunt trauma patients who are conscious and under 60 and have no decrease in pulmonary sounds, no dyspnea, no thoracic skin abrasion, and no crepitation can be ignored.

Do the severity and the body region of injury correlate with long-term outcome in the severe traumatic patient?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

To investigate if the Injury Severity Score (ISS) and the Abbreviated Injury Score (AIS) are correlated with the long-term quality of life in severe trauma patients.

METHODS

Patients injured from 2005 to 2007 with an ISS≥15 were surveyed 16-24 months after injury. The Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ-DI) was used for measuring the functional status and the Short Form-12 (SF-12) was used for measuring the health status divided into its two components, the PCS (Physical Component Summary) and the MCS (Mental Component Summary). The results of the questionnaires were compared with the ISS and AIS components. Results of the SF-12 were compared with the values expected from the general population.

RESULTS

Seventy-four patients filled the questionnaires (response rate 28%). The mean scores were: PCS 42.6±13.3; MCS 49.4±1.4; HAQ-DI 0.5±0.7. Correlation was observed with the HAQ-DI and the PCS (Spearman's Rho: -0.83; p<0.05) and no correlation between the HAQ-DI and the MCS neither between the MCS and PCS (Spearman's Rho=-0.21; and 0.01 respectively). The cutaneous-external and extremities-pelvic AIS punctuation were correlated with The PCS (Spearman's Rho: -0.39 and -0.34, p<0.05) and with the HAQ-DI (Spearman's Rho: 0.31 and 0.23; p<0.05). The physical condition compared with the regular population was worse except for the groups aged between 65-74 and 55-64.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with extremities and pelvic fractures are more likely to suffer long-term disability. The severity of the external injuries influenced the long-term disability.