Abstract
Objective: Traumatic rupture of the aorta is known to be associated with high-energy deceleration
injuries including head, abdominal and musculoskeletal trauma. The purpose of this
study was to identify common associated orthopaedic injuries and their effect on mortality
and morbidity in patients sustaining blunt aortic injury (BAI). Patients and Methods: We reviewed the medical records, autopsy reports and X-rays of all patients with
a diagnosis of traumatic aortic injury entered into the Trauma Registry and identified
by ICD 9 codes at the author's institution between July 1988 and July 1999. One-hundred
and four patients were identified, of which 88 sustained injuries secondary to blunt
trauma (BAI) and comprise the focus of our study. Results: Overall mortality was 47.7 % (42/88). Forty-six of fifty-four patients who received
emergency aortic repair survived (85.2 %). Sixty-three of eighty-eight patients (71.5
%) had associated orthopaedic injuries and 28 of the 42 deaths (66.6 %) occurred in
this group. A significant impact on morbidity and mortality was observed. Conclusions: Orthopaedic pathologies in patients with BAI share similar mechanisms of injury.
Fractures of the spine and pelvis are frequently associated with BAI and can serve
as vital diagnostic markers to alert physicians caring for these patients in the emergency
room and trauma centres. Pelvic disruption and long bone fractures associated with
haemorrhagic shock should be prioritised and selectively stabilised rapidly prior
to aortic repair.
Key words
blunt aortic injury (BAI) - associated orthopaedic injuries - compartment syndrome
- injury patterns - regional mortality
References
- 1
Benckart D H, Magovern G J, Liebler G A. et al .
Traumatic aortic transection: repair using left arterial to femoral bypass.
J Cardiac Surg.
1989;
4
43-49
- 2
Demetriades D, Gomez H, Velmahos G C. et al .
Routine helical computed tomographic evaluation of the mediastinum in high-risk blunt
trauma patients.
Arch Surg.
1998;
133
1084
- 3
Fabian T C, Richardson J D, Croce M A. et al .
Prospective study of blunt aortic injury: Multicenter Trial of the American Association
for Surgery of Trauma.
J Trauma.
1997;
42
374
- 4
Feliciano D V.
Trauma to the aorta and major vessels.
Chest Surg Clin North Am.
1997;
7
305
- 5
Forbes A D, Ashbaugh D G.
Mechanical circulatory support during repair of thoracic aortic injuries improves
morbidity and prevents spinal cord injury.
Arch Surg.
1994;
129
494-498
- 6
Gammie J S, Shah A S, Hattler B G. et al .
Traumatic aortic rupture: diagnosis and management.
Ann Thorac Surg.
1998;
66
1295
- 7 Greenfield L J. et al. (eds) .Surgery: Scientific Principles and Practice. Lippencort,
Williams and Wilkins, Philadelphia 2001; 11: 2081-2140
- 8
Higgins R S, Sanchez J A, DeGuidis L. et al .
Mechanical circulatory support decreases neurologic complications in the treatment
of traumatic injuries of the thoracic aorta.
Arch Surg.
1992;
127
516-519
- 9
Kemmerer W T, Eckert W G, Gathright J B. et al .
Patterns of thoracic injuries in fatal traffic accidents.
J Trauma.
1961;
1
595
- 10
Maggisano R, Nathens A, Alexandrova A. et al .
Traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta: should one always operate immediately?.
Ann Vasc Surg.
1995;
9
44-52
- 11
Marnocha K E, Maglinte D D.
Plain-film criteria for excluding aortic rupture in blunt chest trauma.
AJR Am J Roentgenol.
1985;
144
19-21
- 12
Mattox K L, Holtzman M, Pickard L R. et al .
Clamp/repair: a safe technique for the treatment of blunt injury to the descending
thoracic aorta.
Ann Thorac Surg.
1985;
40
456
- 13
Nicolosi A C, Almassi G H, Bousamra M. et al .
Mortality and neurologic morbidity after repair of traumatic aortic disruption.
Ann Thorac Surg.
1996;
61
875-878
- 14
Ochsner M G, Hoffman A P, DiPasquale D. et al .
Associated aortic rupture-pelvic fracture: an alert for orthopaedic and general surgeons.
J Trauma.
1992;
33
429
- 15
Pate J W, Fabian T C, Walker W A.
Acute traumatic rupture of the aortic isthmus: repair with cardiopulmonary bypass.
Ann Thorac Surg.
1995;
59
90-99
- 16
Rozycki G S, Ballard R B, Feliciano D V. et al .
Surgeon-performed ultrasounds for the assessment of truncal injuries: lessons learned
from 1 540 patients.
Ann Surg.
1998;
228
557-567
- 17
Sweeney M S, Young D J, Frazier O H. et al .
Traumatic aortic transections: eight-year experience with the “clamp-sew” technique.
Ann Thorac Surg.
1997;
64
384-389
- 18
Symbas P J, Horsley W S, Symbas P N.
Rupture of the ascending aorta caused by blunt trauma.
Ann Thorac Surg.
1998;
66
113
H. D. MoehringM. D.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery · Davis Medical Centre · University of California
4860 Y Street, Suite 3800
Sacramento, California 95817-2307
USA
Phone: +1/9 16/7 34 28 63
Email: david.moehring@ucdmc.ucdmc.edu