Types, Patterns and Outcomes of Personal Watercraft- Related Trauma

Background: Personal watercraft (PWC) - related injuries have increased significantly as well as its popularity.Aim: We aimed to describe types, patterns and outcomes of PWC injuries in Qatar.Subjects and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted to identify patients admitted and treated for PWC-related injuries between 2008 and 2014. Data included patients demographics, mechanism of injury, Glasgow coma scale, injury severity scoring, Abbreviated Injury Score, location of injuries, hospital length of stay, ventilator days and mortality. Data were analyzed by the type of PWC (Jet Ski and motorboat).Results: A total of 39 patients were identified with PWC-related injuries. The majority of cases (71.8%, 28/39) were young and aged 21 to 40 years. Twenty-six cases were injured in Jet Ski accidents and 13 sustained motorboat-related injuries. Patients injured in Jet Ski accidents were younger than those involved in motorboat accidents (mean age (SD); 25(7.6) vs 32.6(6), p=0.01). Chest injury was the most common type of injury; however, the severity of injury was highest in head trauma as compared with other body regions. The injured anatomical regions, severity of injury and outcomes were comparable in the Jet Ski and motorboat-related injuries. Two fatalities were reported; one in Jet Ski-related accident which occurred due to severe head injury and the other patient died due to drowning following motorboat accident. The small sample size in this cohort is one of the limitations, however, given the small number of Qatar population, rarity of reported PWC-related injuries and the importance of paying attention of healthcare authorities for this mechanism of injury may counteract this limitation.Conclusion: PWC-related injuries are increasing and possess potential risk of severe injuries and disabilities among young population. Strict regulation for training and operation of PWC together with public awareness is needed to improve the safety of recreational injuries.Keywords: Personal watercraft, Jet Ski, Motorboat, Sport, Injury pattern, Outcom

Clinical Study Prehospital Intubation in Patients with Isolated Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A 4-Year Observational Study

Objectives. To study the effect of prehospital intubation (PHI) on survival of patients with isolated severe traumatic brain injury (ISTBI). Method. Retrospective analyses of all intubated patients with ISTBI between 2008 and 2011 were studied. Comparison was made between those who were intubated in the PHI versus in the trauma resuscitation unit (TRU). Results. Among 1665 TBI patients, 160 met the inclusion criteria (105 underwent PHI, and 55 patients were intubated in TRU). PHI group was younger in age and had lower median scene motor GCS ( = 0.001). Ventilator days and hospital length of stay ( = 0.01 and 0.006, resp.) were higher in TRUI group. Mean ISS, length of stay, initial blood pressure, pneumonia, and ARDS were comparable among the two groups. Mortality rate was higher in the PHI group (54% versus 31%, = 0.005). On multivariate regression analysis, scene motor GCS (OR 0.55; 95% CI 0.41-0.73) was an independent predictor for mortality. Conclusion. PHI did not offer survival benefit in our group of patients with ISTBI based on the head AIS and the scene motor GCS. However, more studies are warranted to prove this finding and identify patients who may benefit from this intervention

Workplace-Related Traumatic Injuries: Insights from a Rapidly Developing Middle Eastern Country

Traumatic workplace-related injuries (WRIs) carry a substantial negative impact on the public health worldwide. We aimed to study the incidence and outcomes of WRIs in Qatar. We conducted occupational injury surveillance for all WRI patients between 2010 and 2012. A total of 5152 patients were admitted to the level 1 trauma unit in Qatar, of which 1496 (29%) sustained WRI with a mean age of 34.3±10.3. Fall from height (FFH) (51%) followed by being struck by heavy objects (FHO) (18%) and motor vehicle crashes (MVC) (17%) was the commonest mechanism of injury (MOI). WRI patients were mainly laborers involved in industrial work (43%), transportation (18%), installation/repair (12%), carpentry (9%), and housekeeping (3%). Use of protective device was not observed in 64% of cases. The mean ISS was 11.7±8.9, median ICU stay was 3 days (1–64), and total hospital stay was 6 days (1–192). The overall case fatality was 3.7%. Although the incidence of WRI in Qatar is quite substantial, its mortality rate is relatively low in comparison to other countries of similar socioeconomic status. Prolonged hospital stay and treatment exert a significant socioeconomic burden on the nation’s and families’ resources. Focused and efficient injury prevention strategies are mandatory to prevent future WRI

The Patterns and Impact of Off-Working Hours, Weekends and Seasonal Admissions of Patients with Major Trauma in a Level 1 Trauma Center

Background: The trauma incidence follows specific patterns in different societies and is expected to increase over the weekend and nighttime. We aimed to explore and analyze the incidence, pattern, and severity of trauma at different times (working hours vs. out off-working hours, weekdays vs. weekends and season). Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted at a level 1 trauma facility in Qatar. All injured patients admitted between June 2017 and May 2018 were included. The data were analyzed to determine whether outcomes and care parameters of these patients differed between regular working hours and off-working hours, weekdays vs. weekends, and between season intervals. Results: During the study period, 2477 patients were admitted. A total of 816 (32.9%) patients presented during working hours and 1500 (60.6%) during off-working hours. Off-working hours presentations differed significantly with the injury severity score (ISS) (p  <  0.001), ICU length of stay (p  =  0.001), blood transfusions (p = 0.001), intubations (p = 0.001), mortality rate (9.7% vs. 0.7%; p < 0.001), and disposition to rehabilitation centers. Weekend presentations were significantly associated with a higher ISS (p = 0.01), Priority 1 trauma activation (19.1% vs. 14.7%; p = 0005), and need for intubation (21% vs. 16%; p = 0.002). The length of stay (ICU and hospital), mortality, and disposition to rehabilitation centers and other clinical parameters did not show any significant differences. No significant seasonal variation was observed in terms of admissions at the trauma center. Conclusions: The off-working hours admission showed an apparent demographic effect in involved mechanisms, injury severity, and trauma activations, while outcomes, especially the mortality rate, were significantly different during nights but not during the weekends. The only observed seasonal effect was a decrease in the number of admissions during the summer break

Delayed Presentation of Traumatic Intraperitoneal Rupture of Urinary Bladder

Blunt injury of the urinary bladder is well known and usually associates pelvic fractures. Isolated bladder injury is a rare condition and on the other hand, delayed bladder perforation is an extremely rare entity. Herein, we described an unusual case of isolated delayed intraperitoneal bladder rupture that occurred on the third post injury day in a young male in the absence of free intraperitoneal fluid and pelvic fracture. The diagnostic workup, course and the need for surgical repair of the injury is presented

Home-related falls: An underestimated mechanism of injury

BACKGROUND: The home is a leading location for falls, but the epidemiology and outcome of falls at home (FH) have not been adequately described. Our aim was to evaluate FH, particularly in the bathroom. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with a history of FH admitted to the Level I trauma center in Qatar. Patients were divided into Group 1: <60 years and Group 2: 60 year or older, and their data were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: A total of 98 patients with FH in the bathroom with a mean age of 51 ± 18 years, mostly males (73.5%) were identified over 3 years. One out of every 50 trauma patients admitted was a victim of a fall in the bathroom. Group 2 had significantly more females and sustained a single-site injury. Group 1 had more involvement of alcohol (P = 0.02) and sustained more multiple injuries (44% vs. 23%; P = 0.02). The mean Injury Severity Score and length of hospital stay was comparable among the two groups. Head, abdomen, and facial injuries were significantly higher in Group 1 whereas lower extremity injuries and mortality were significantly higher in Group 2. CONCLUSION: FH, particularly in the bathroom, is an underrecognized mechanism of injury with a unique dichotomous epidemiology based on age. This needs increased public awareness and primary prevention programs for high-risk populations

Using trauma registry data to predict prolonged mechanical ventilation in patients with traumatic brain injury: Machine learning approach.

OBJECTIVES:We aimed to build a machine learning predictive model to predict the risk of prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) for patients with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). METHODS:This study included TBI patients who were hospitalized in a level 1 trauma center between January 2014 and February 2019. Data were analyzed for all adult patients who received mechanical ventilation following TBI with abbreviated injury severity (AIS) score for the head region of ≥ 3. This study designed three sets of machine learning models: set A defined PMV to be greater than 7 days, set B (PMV > 10 days) and set C (PMV >14 days) to determine the optimal model for deployment. Patients' demographics, injury characteristics and CT findings were used as predictors. Logistic regression (LR), Artificial neural networks (ANN) Support vector machines (SVM), Random Forest (RF) and C.5 Decision Tree (C.5 DT) were used to predict the PMV. RESULTS:The number of eligible patients that were included in the study were 674, 643 and 622 patients in sets A, B and C respectively. In set A, LR achieved the optimal performance with accuracy 0.75 and Area under the curve (AUC) 0.83. SVM achieved the optimal performance among other models in sets B with accuracy/AUC of 0.79/0.84 respectively. ANNs achieved the optimal performance in set C with accuracy/AUC of 0.76/0.72 respectively. Machine learning models in set B demonstrated more stable performance with higher prediction success and discrimination power. CONCLUSION:This study not only provides evidence that machine learning methods outperform the traditional multivariate analytical methods, but also provides a perspective to reach a consensual definition of PMV

Blunt traumatic injury in the Arab Middle Eastern populations

Background: Trauma represents a global public health concern with an estimated 5 million deaths annually. Moreover, the incidence of blunt traumatic injuries (BTI) particularly road traffic accidents (RTAs) and workplace-related injuries are rising throughout the world-wide. Objectives: We aimed to review the epidemiology and prevention of BTI, in the Arab Middle East. Materials and Methods: A traditional narrative literature review was carried out using PubMed, MEDLINE and EMBASE search engines. We used the keywords "traumatic injuries," "blunt" "epidemiology," "Arab Middle East" between December 1972 and March 2013. Results: The most common mechanisms of BTI in our region are RTAs, falls from height, struck by heavy objects and pedestrian motor vehicle trauma crashes. The rate of RTA and occupational injuries are markedly increased in the region due to rapid industrial development, extreme climatic conditions and unfamiliar working environment. However, lack of reliable information on these unintentional injuries is mainly responsible for the underestimation of this trauma burden. This knowledge deficit shields the extent of the problem from policy makers, leading to continued fatalities. These preventable injuries in turn add to the overall financial burden on the society through loss of productivity and greater need of medical and welfare services. Conclusion: In the Arab Middle East, population-based studies on the incidence, mechanism of injury, prevention and outcome of BTI are not well-documented. Therefore, region-specific BTI studies would strengthen surveillance to better understand the burden of these injuries in the region