Case Presentation, Discussion and Sharing of Information on Skin and Soft Tissue Trauma

1. Case Presentation, Discussion and Sharing of Information on Skin and Soft Tissue Trauma JGGuerra, M.D. Level III Surgery Resident OMMC 092606

2. General Data P.C., 29M Tondo, Manila.

3. Chief Complaint Lacerated wound, right wrist

4. History of the Present Illness Few minutes PTA accidentally slashed by a mirror sustaining injury to his right wrist noted brisk bleeding hence CONSULT

5. Initial Survey: Extremity Trauma Assessment Intervention Injured Extremity Check Circulation PNSS Pain control BP: 110/70 CR: 90 Diminished distal radial pulse Pulsatile bleeding Control Bleeding Digital Pressure Proximal Torniquet application Quick Neurologic Exam Motor function Sensory function

6. Initial Survey: Extremity Trauma Assessment of nerve, muscle and tendon Injury Diminished distal Radial pulse Pulsatile bleeding Exposed transected Flexor tendons ???????????????? Splinting Definitive Repair

7. Physical Examination (+) Laceration, wrist, right (+) Pulsatile Arterial bleeding, ulnar side (+) Diminished distal radial pulses (+) Distal pallor (+) Exposed transected flexor tendons (+) Inability to Flex wrist (+) Wrist extension Intact Sensory function No structural deformity \

8. Secondary Survey • Conscious, coherent, NICRD • BP 110/70mmHg CR: 90bpm RR: 22cpm Temp: 37.1 • Pink palpebral conjunctivae, anicteric sclerae • Supple neck, no cervical lymphadenopathy

9. Physical Examination • Symmetrical chest expansion, no retractions, clear breath sounds • Adynamic precordium, no murmur • Flat abdomen, normoactive bowel sounds, soft, non-tender

10. Past Medical History No known history of Allergy Vaccinations – unknown

11. Salient Features • 29M • (+) Laceration, wrist, right • (+) Pulsatile bleeding, ulnar side • (+) Diminished distal pulse, radial side • (+) Distal pallor • (+) Exposed transected flexor tendons • (+) Inability to Flex Hand • (+) Wrist extension • Intact sensory function • No structural deformity

12. Algorithm Injured Extremity PE Extent of Injury Superficial Deep Skin Subcutaneous Neurovascular Muscle Tendon

13. Clinical Diagnosis

14. Paraclinical Diagnostic Procedure • Do I need a paraclinical diagnostic procedure? NO

15. Pretreatment Diagnosis Deep Lacerated wound, with Vascular and Tendon Injury, Wrist, Right

16. Goals of Treatment • Control of bleeding • Restore anatomy and function • Prevent complication

17. TREATMENT OPTIONS( Vascular Injury)

18. Treatment Options( Tendon Injury)

19. Plan of Operation Wound Exploration Primary repair of tissue, vascular and tendon injury

20. Pre-operative Preparation • Informed consent -Plan Carefully explained to relatives • Psychosocial support • Optimize patient’s health - Resuscitation - Tetanus Immunization - Antibiotics • Screen for any condition that will interfere with treatment • Prepare materials for OR

21. Intra- Operative • Patient placed supine with right arm extended • Area prepared, Asepsis and antisepsis technique • Sterile drapes placed • Irrigation

22. Intra-Operative Findings • Complete Transection of radial artery • Partial transection of ulnar artery • Transected Tendons Flexor carpi radialis Palmaris Longus • Intact median, ulnar and radial nerve

23. Intra-Operative Findings • End to End anastomosis of radial artery using prolene 7-0 suture • Repair of ulnar artery • Repair of transected tendons using 3-0 prolene suture • Debridement • Hemostasis checked

24. Intra- Operative • Washing with NSS • Correct instrument, needle and sponge count • Closure of the skin • Dry sterile dressing • Immobilization • - splinting

25. Operation Done Wound Exploration Radial artery anastomosis Repair of Ulnar Artery Tenorrhapy

26. Final Diagnosis Deep Lacerated wound wrist, right Complete transection of radial artery Partial transection of ulnar artery Complete Transection of Flexor carpi radialis, Zone IV Palmaris Longus, Zone IV

27. Post-operative Management • Basic needs supplied • Nutrition • Antibiotics • Analgesia • Comfort

28. Post-operative Management • Maintain dorsal splint at 30º wrist flexion • Proper monitoring of limb perfusion • Elevate affected extremity • Wound checked

29. Follow Up care • 2 weeks post Op - removal of sutures • 6 weeks post op - refer to rehabilitation medicine for active range of motion exercise

30. Sharing of Information • Upper extremity injuries 30-40% of peripheral vascular injuries • 15-20% of peripheral vascular traumas -ulnar and radial arteries • Penetrating trauma -most common cause

31. Assessment and Management of Extremity Injuries • Trauma to the extremities falls into two basic categories • penetrating (vascular or neurologic injury) • blunt (fractures and the soft tissue injuries) • Unless active bleeding is present, injuries to the extremities are less urgent than injuries to the trunk, the head, or the neck

32. Assessment and Management of Extremity Injuries • most extremity injuries are not immediately life-threatening and thus can be treated more deliberately • Massive Hemorrhage: goal is to control bleeding and transport to the OR

33. Initial Assessment • History • PE • Time of Injury if vessels are involved • Mechanism of Injury • Presence of major vascular injury

34. Initial Assessment • The initial examination should first be directed toward the circulation • Blood pressure and temperature in both the injured limb and its contralateral counterpart should be determined

35. Initial Assessment • The circulatory examination should be followed first by a quick neurologic examination aimed at assessing motor function in the hands and feet • Ascertain the presence or absence of sensation and later by a proximal examination of sensory and motor function

36. Initial Assessment • Gross deformity is pathognomonic of fracture or dislocation • Soft tissue defects should be noted • If oozing is present, particularly in the hand, proximal application of a tourniquet • may facilitate examination • permit definitive control of the bleeding point • determine nerve, muscle, or tendon

37. Injuries to Blood Vessels • Arterial injuries in an upper extremity are generally a less demanding problem than corresponding injuries in a lower extremity • main reasons: • that upper extremity vessels have much better collateral flow • remain viable except when extensive soft tissue damage is present

38. Injuries to Blood Vessels • Injuries from blunt trauma usually result in thrombosis of a vessel • Penetrating injuries that completely divide the vessel may be manifested by thrombosis rather than hemorrhage • If the vessel is only partially divided, it contracts and will continue to bleed. • Partial transections are more dangerous than complete ones

39. Injuries to Blood Vessels • If the location of the penetrating injury is obscure or if multiple injuries may exist, angiographic or ultrasonographic evaluation may be appropriate • Extremity arteriography in the OR can be performed by injection into the axillary artery (for upper extremity injuries) or the common femoral artery (for lower extremity injuries).

40. Injuries to Blood Vessels • Exposure of the x-ray plate immediately after injection of 15 to 20 ml of full-strength contrast material usually results in visualization of the injured area

41. Injuries to Blood Vessels Classic signs of tissue Ischemia • Pain • Pallor • Paralysis • Paresthesia • Poikilothermia

42. Injuries to Blood Vessels Hard signs • Diminished or absent pulses • Ischemia • Pulsatile or expanding hematoma • Bruit

43. Injuries to Blood Vessels Equivocal or soft signs • Wound proximity to a major vessel • Small, stable hematoma • Nearby nerve injury

44. Injuries to Blood Vessels • Hard signs -indicative of an underlying arterial injury -requires immediate operative exploration and repair. • Soft signs -further evaluation • Critical time for restoration of perfusion is 6-8 hours following extremity vascular trauma

45. Complications • Occlusion and bleeding -early complications -necessitate reoperation. • Muscle edema • Nerve injury • Arteriovenous fistulas and false aneurysms -late complications

46. Muscle Layers Relevant Anatomy: • Superficial layer pronator teres- most radial flexor carpi radialis palmaris longus flexor carpi ulnaris • Intermediate layer FDS • Deep layer FDP FPL

48. TENDON INJURIES • Flexor tendon injuries cause less impairment of hand function than extensor tendon injuries • This is mainly due to the redundancy of the flexor tendons in the hand • Flexor tendon lacerations should always be repaired in the operating room because the synovial sheaths predispose to serious infections

49. TENDON INJURIES Table 1 - Classification of Flexor Tendon Injury

50. Any flexor tendon lacerations should be repaired by a hand surgeon within 12 hours • But they can be splinted with the fingers flexed for delayed repair within four weeks. This is not as favorable, however, as having the tendon repaired within the first 12 hours.