Comparison of Geriatric Versus Non-geriatric Trauma Patients With Palliative Care Consultations.

Background: Palliative care in trauma patients is still evolving. The goal was to compare characteristics, outcomes, triggers and timing for palliative care consultations (PCC) in geriatric (≥65 y.o.

Reduction in Potentially Inappropriate Interventions in Trauma Patients following a Palliative Care Consultation.

Palliative care is expanding as part of treatment, but remains underutilized in trauma settings. Palliative care consultations (PCC) have shown to reduce nonbeneficial, potentially inappropriate interventions (PII), as decision for their use should always be made in the context of both the patient's prognosis and the patient's goals of care. To characterize trauma patients who received PCC and to analyze the effect of PCC and do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders on PII in severely injured patients.

Surgical Stabilization of Rib Fractures: Indications, Techniques, and Pitfalls.

Unlabelled: Rib fractures are a common thoracic injury that is encountered in 20% to 39% of patients with blunt chest trauma and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Traditionally, the majority of patient with rib fractures have been managed nonoperatively. Recently, the utilization of surgical stabilization of rib fractures has increased considerably because the procedure has shown improved outcomes.

Palliative Care Consultations in Trauma Patients and Role of Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders: Propensity-Matched Study.

Objective: To delineate characteristics of trauma patients associated with a palliative care consultation (PCC) and to analyze the role of do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders and related outcomes.

Methods: Retrospective study included 864 patients from 2 level one trauma centers admitted between 2012 and 2019.  Level 1 trauma centers are designated for admission of the most severe injured patients.

Comparing Opinions on Meaningful Recognition: Do Views of Trauma Nursing Leaders and Staff Align?

With increased demand for registered nurses (RN), due to increasing shortage and turnover rate, the role of meaningful recognition becomes of paramount importance. We hypothesized that RNs and leaders value forms of recognition differently, due to generational gap and changing health care environment. This study included 46 RN/support staff (RN/SS group) and 10 nurse leaders (leaders group) from a Level 1 trauma center.

Early Versus Late Tracheostomy in Trauma Patients With Rib Fractures.

Background: Patients with blunt chest trauma with multiple rib fractures (RF) may require tracheostomy. The goal was to compare early (≤7 d) versus late (>7 d) tracheostomy patients and to analyze clinical outcomes, to determine which timing is more beneficial.

Methods: This retrospective review included 124 patients with RF admitted to trauma ICU at two level 1 trauma centers who underwent tracheostomy.

Highly Flexible Precisely Braided Multielectrode Probes and Combinatorics for Future Neuroprostheses.

The braided multielectrode probe (BMEP) is an ultrafine microwire bundle interwoven into a precise tubular braided structure, which is designed to be used as an invasive neural probe consisting of multiple microelectrodes for electrophysiological neural recording and stimulation. Significant advantages of BMEPs include highly flexible mechanical properties leading to decreased immune responses after chronic implantation in neural tissue and dense recording/stimulation sites (24 channels) within the 100-200 μm diameter. In addition, because BMEPs can be manufactured using various materials in any size and shape without length limitations, they could be expanded to applications in deep central nervous system (CNS) regions as well as peripheral nervous system (PNS) in larger animals and humans.

Tracheostomy in trauma patients with rib fractures.

Purpose: Patients with rib fractures (RF) may require prolonged mechanical ventilation and tracheostomy. Indications for tracheostomy in trauma patients with RF remain debatable. The goal was to delineate characteristics of patients who underwent tracheostomy due to thoracic versus extra-thoracic causes, such as maxillofacial-mandibular injury (MFM), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and cervical vertebrae trauma (CVT), and to analyze clinical outcomes.

Outcome Analysis of Surgical Stabilization of Rib Fractures in Trauma Patients.

Objectives: To compare outcomes in patients with rib fractures (RFX) who underwent surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) to those treated nonoperatively.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Two Level 1 Trauma Centers.

Evaluation of patients with surgically stabilized rib fractures by different scoring systems.

Purpose: Surgical Stabilization (SSRF) is gaining popularity as an alternative to non-operative management (NOM) of patients with rib fractures, however, there are no established guidelines for patients' quantifiable evaluation and for SSRF recommendation. Known rib scoring systems include: Rib Fracture Score (RFS), Chest Wall Trauma Score (CWTS), Chest Trauma Score (CTS) and RibScore (RS), but are underutilized. The purpose was to provide values of scoring systems in SSRF and NOM patients and correlate them with treatment assignment.

Quantification of rib fractures by different scoring systems.

Background: The three known systems for evaluation of patients with rib fractures are rib fracture score (RFS), chest trauma score (CTS), and RibScore (RS). The aim was to establish critical values for these systems in different patient populations.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study included 1089 patients with rib fractures, from level-1 trauma center; divided into two groups: first group included 620 nongeriatric patients, and second group included 469 geriatric patients (≥65 y.

Is First Rib Fracture a Culprit or a Sign of Injury Severity? It Is Both.

Objectives: First rib fractures (first RFX) have been correlated with increased morbidity and mortality. Whether this is due to the fracture of the rib itself or due to an increased number of associated injuries remains debatable.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.