Browsing by Author "Smith, Jason"

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    A comparison of the demographics, injury patterns and outcome data for patients injured in motor vehicle collisions who are trapped compared to those patients who are not trapped
    (2021-01-14) Nutbeam, Tim; Fenwick, Rob; Smith, Jason; Bouamra, Omar; Wallis, Lee; Stassen, Willem
    Background Motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) are a common cause of major trauma and death. Following an MVC, up to 40% of patients will be trapped in their vehicle. Extrication methods are focused on the prevention of secondary spinal injury through movement minimisation and mitigation. This approach is time consuming and patients may have time-critical injuries. The purpose of this study is to describe the outcomes and injuries of those trapped following an MVC: this will help guide meaningful patient-focused interventions and future extrication strategies. Methods We undertook a retrospective database study using the Trauma Audit and Research Network database. Patients were included if they were admitted to an English hospital following an MVC from 2012 to 2018. Patients were excluded when their outcomes were not known or if they were secondary transfers. Results This analysis identified 426,135 cases of which 63,625 patients were included: 6983 trapped and 56,642 not trapped. Trapped patients had a higher mortality (8.9% vs 5.0%, p < 0.001). Spinal cord injuries were rare (0.71% of all extrications) but frequently (50.1%) associated with other severe injuries. Spinal cord injuries were more common in patients who were trapped (p < 0.001). Injury Severity Score (ISS) was higher in the trapped group 18 (IQR 10–29) vs 13 (IQR 9–22). Trapped patients had more deranged physiology with lower blood pressures, lower oxygen saturations and lower Glasgow Coma Scale, GCS (all p < 0.001). Trapped patients had more significant injuries of the head chest, abdomen and spine (all p < 0.001) and an increased rate of pelvic injures with significant blood loss, blood loss from other areas or tension pneumothorax (all p < 0.001). Conclusion Trapped patients are more likely to die than those who are not trapped. The frequency of spinal cord injuries is low, accounting for < 0.7% of all patients extricated. Patients who are trapped are more likely to have time-critical injuries requiring intervention. Extrication takes time and when considering the frequency, type and severity of injuries reported here, the benefit of movement minimisation may be outweighed by the additional time taken. Improved extrication strategies should be developed which are evidence-based and allow for the expedient management of other life-threatening injuries.
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    The development of evidence-based guidelines to inform the extrication of casualties trapped in motor vehicles following a collision
    (2022) Nutbeam, Tim; Stassen, Willem; Smith, Jason; Wallis Lee
    Background Motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) are a common cause of injury and death throughout the world. Following an MVC some patients will remain in their vehicles due to injury, the potential for injury or physical obstruction. Extrication is the process of removing injured or potentially injured patients from vehicles following a motor-vehicle collision. Current extrication practices are based on the principles of 'movement minimisation' with the purpose of minimising the incidence of avoidable secondary spinal injury. Movement minimisation adds time to the process of extrication and may result in an excess morbidity and mortality for patients with time dependent injuries. The current extrication approach has evolved without the application of evidence-based medicine (EBM) principles. The principles of EBM; consideration of the relevant scientific evidence, patient values and preferences and expert clinical judgement are used as a framework for this thesis. Aims and Objectives To develop evidence-based guidance for the extrication of patients trapped in motor vehicles by applying EBM principles to this area of practice. This will be achieved through: - Describing the injury patterns, morbidity and mortality of patients involved in MVCs (trapped and not trapped). - To analyse the movement associated with and the time taken to deliver across a variety of extrication methods. - Determining the perceptions of patients who have undergone vehicle extrication and describe their experiences of extrication. - Developing consensus-based guidelines for extrication.