Assessment, Management and Decision Making in the Treatment of Polytrauma Patients with Head Injuries Roman A. Hayda, MD Created March 2004; Revised July 2006

Epidemiologic Aspects 80,000 survivors of head injury annually 125,000 children <15yo head injured annually 40-60% of head injured patients have extremity injury 32,000-48,000 head injury survivors with orthopaedic injuries annually

Overview Initial evaluation Prognosis Management of Head Injury Orthopaedic Issues –Operative vs. nonoperative treatment Timing of surgery methods – Fracture healing in head injury –Associated injuries –Complications

Evaluation ATLS—ABC’s History –loss of consciousness Physical exam –Glasgow Coma Scale Radiographic studies –CT Scan

Evaluation Must exclude head injury by evaluation if –history of loss of consciousness –significant amnesia –confusion, combativeness Cannot be simply attributed to drug or alcohol use –neurologic deficits on exam of cranial nerves or extremities

Physical Exam Exam of head and cranial nerves for lateralizing signs –dilated or sluggish pupil(s) Extremities –unilateral weakness –posturing decorticate (flexor) decerebrate (extensor)

Glasgow Coma Scale Eye opening: 1-4 Motor response: 1-6 Verbal response: 1-5

Glasgow Coma Scale Eye opening –Spontaneous 4 –To speech 3 –To pain 2 –None1

Glasgow Coma Scale Motor response –Obeys commands6 –Purposeful response to pain5 –Withdrawal to pain4 –Flexion response to pain3 –Extension response to pain2 –None1

Glasgow Coma Scale Verbal response –Oriented 5 –Confused 4 –Inappropriate 3 –Incomprehensible2 –None1

Glasgow Coma Scale Sum scores (3-15) –<9 considered severe –9-12 moderate –13-15 mild* Modifiers—xT– if intubated (Best score possible 11T) xTP – if intubated and paralyzed (Best score possible is 3TP) Done in the field but best in trauma bay following initial resuscitation

Radiographic Studies CT scan –required in ALL cases EXCEPT: LOC is brief AND patient can be serially examined –lesions focal--epidural, subdural hematoma, contusions diffuse--diffuse axonal injury Plain films –useful only to detect skull fracture but in the trauma setting wastes time Frontal Contusion

Treatment Initial –Intubation if unresponsive or combative to give controlled ventilation –pharmacologic paralysis after neurologic exam is completed –Blood pressure and O 2 saturation monitoring keep systolic > 90 mm Hg 100% O 2 saturation

ICP Monitoring Indications –severe head injury (GCS < 9) abnormal head CT or normal CT and at least two of the following –age over 40 –uni- or bilateral flexor or extensor posturing –history of systolic BP < 90 mm Hg –when unable to follow serial neurologic exams –i.e. for operative or lengthy diagnostic procedures

ICU Management Goals O 2 saturation 100% Mean arterial pressure mm Hg ICP < 20 mm Hg Cerebral Perfusion Pressure (CPP=MAP-ICP) >70 mm Hg

ICU Adjuncts HCT~ 30-33% PaCO 2 = 35±2 mm Hg CVP= 8-14 mm Hg avoid dextrose IV maintain euthermia or mild hypothermia

Factors Influencing Prognosis Age –Younger pts have greatest potential for survival and recovery –61-75% mortality if over 65 –90% mortality in elderly with ICP >20 and coma for more than 3 days –100% mortality if GCS < 5, uni- or bilateral dilated pupils, and age over 75 Bottom line: survival and recovery not predictable except in old pts Treat presuming recovery

Factors Influencing Prognosis Hypotension--50% increase in mortality with single episode of hypotension Hypoxia Delay in treatment –prolonged transport –surgical delay when lateralizing signs present Potentially controllable!!

Outcome Glasgow Outcome Score: –1-dead –2-vegetative –3-cannot self care –4-deficits but able to self care –5-return to preinjury level of function

Outcome Prediction Glasgow scale (post resuscitation) 44-66% accuracy in determining ultimate outcome –39% with an initial GCS of < 5 made functional recovery CT based scoring (Marshall Computed Tomographic score) only 71% accurate

Outcome Prediction Serum markers (S-100B) –Accuracy of 83% (Woertgen, J Trauma, 1999) –Good sensitivity in moderate to severe injury even with extracranial injury (Savola, J Trauma, 2004) –May be elevated in 29% fx pts without head injury (Unden, J Trauma, 2005) Clinical utility not defined

Prognosis Significant 1 yr Disability even in “mild” injury –Glasgow cohort: 742 pts with 71% follow-up Rate of combined severe and moderate disability similar among groups (48%, 45% and 48%) Age >40, previous head injury, comorbidities increased disability (Thornhill, BMJ, 2000) Dead or vegetative Severe disability Moderate disability Good recovery Mild (GCS 13-15) 8%20%28%45% Mod (GCS 9-12) 16%22%24%38% Severe (GCS <9) 38%29%19%14%

Prognosis of the Severely Head Injured Patient Gordon (J Neurosurg Anes ’95) – 1,294 pts with severe injury(GCS <9) at 10 year follow-up 55% good recovery 19% significant disability 7% vegetative 19% mortality Sakas (J Neurosurg ‘95) –40 pts with fixed and dilated pupils 55% younger than 20 years made independent functional recovery 25% mild to moderate functional disability 43% mortality

Orthopaedic Issues in the Head Injured Patient Role in resuscitation –pelvic ring injury –open injuries –long bone fractures Treatment methods and timing Associated injuries Complications

Initial Surgery in the Head Injured is Damage Control Surgery

Damage Control Orthopaedics Goal –Limit ongoing hemorrhage, hypotension, and release of inflammatory factors –Limit stress on injured brain –Initial surgery <1-2 hrs limit surgical blood loss

Damage Control Orthopaedics Methods –Initial focus on stabilization External fixation Limited debridement Limited or no internal fixation or definitive care –Delayed definitive fixation (5-7 days)

Resuscitation: Role of Orthopaedics Goal: limit ongoing hemorrhage and hypotension –pelvic ring injury-- external fixation reduced mortality from 43% to 7% (Reimer, J Trauma, ‘93) –open injury--limit bleeding –long bone fracture--controversial

Long Bone Fracture in the Head Injured Patient Early fixation (<24 hours) well accepted in the polytrauma patient In the head injured patient early fixation may be associated with –hypotension– elevated ICP –blood loss/coagulopathy –hypoxia Advocates of early and delayed treatment

Early Osteosynthesis Hofman (J Trauma ‘91): –58 patients with a GCS < 7 –lower mortality and higher GOS with operative treatment within 24 hours Poole ( J Trauma ‘92): –114 patients with head injury –delayed fixation did not protect the injured brain McKee (J Trauma ’97): – 46 head injured with femur fractures matched with 99 patients without fracture –no difference in neurologic outcome or mortality

Early Osteosynthesis Bone (J Trauma ‘94): –in 22 patients (age <50) with a GCS 4-5 –13.6% (early fixation) vs 51.3% (delayed fixation) mortality rates Starr (J Orthop Trauma ‘98): –32 pts with head injury –14 early, 14 delayed, 4 nonoperative –delayed fixation associated with 45X greater pulmonary complications but did not affect neurologic complications

Early Osteosynthesis Kalb (Surgery ‘98): –123 patients, head AIS > 2, 84 early, 39 late fixation –early group had increased fluid requirement but no other difference in mortality or complication –emphasized the role of appropriate monitoring Scalea (J Trauma ‘99): –171 patients, mean GCS 9, 147 early, 24 late fixation –early fixation no effect on length of stay, mortality, CNS complications

Delayed Osteosynthesis Reynolds (Annals of Surg ‘95): –Mortality 2/105 patients, both early rodding (<24 hrs) –one due to neurologic and the other pulmonary deterioration Jaicks (J Trauma ‘97): –33 patients with head AIS > 2; 19 early fixation 14 late –early group required more fluid in 48 hrs (14 vs 8.7 l); more intraoperative hypotension (16% vs 7%); lower discharge GCS (13.5 vs 15)

Delayed Osteosythesis Townsend (J Trauma ‘98): –61 patients with GCS < 8; –hypotension 8 X more likely if operated < 2 hrs and 2 X more likely when operated within 24 hrs –no difference noted in GOS

Fracture Care Ultimate neurologic outcome continues to be difficult to predict –Presume recovery –Avoid treatments that may compromise neurologic outcome All interventions must strive to reduce musculoskeletal complications inherent in the head injured patient Management decisions made in conjunction with trauma/neurosurgical team

Operative Fracture Care Surgery is often optimal form of fracture treatment in the head injured polytrauma patient Advantages –Alignment –Articular congruity –Early rehabilitation –Facilitated nursing care Galleazzi, ulna and olecranon fx with compartment syndrome

Operative Fracture Care Perform early surgery when appropriate –MUST minimize hypotension hypoxia elevated ICP –Consider temporary methods (external fixation) Fixation must be adequate –Patient may be non compliant –“accelerated” healing cannot be relied upon use appropriate monitors

Advances in Care of Head Injured ICP monitoring Evolution of anesthetic agents Improvement in neuroanesthetic techniques Allow for safer surgery in the head injured

Nonoperative Fracture Management Treatment of choice when –nonoperative means best treat that particular fracture –operative risks outweigh potential benefits Modalities –splint –brace –cast –traction Caveat –device must be removed periodically to inspect underlying skin for decubiti

Bone Healing in the Head Injured Patient Humoral osteogenic factors are released by the injured brain Exuberant callus MAY be seen Soft tissue ossification is common Ultimate union rate of fractures is not significantly affected

Complications Heterotopic Ossification –up to % incidence periarticular injury with head injury Contractures Malunion Recurrent elbow dislocation secondary to extensor posturing and heterotopic ossification

Heterotopic Ossification Associated with ventilator dependency Avoid periarticular procedures Use approaches/techniques less associated with H.O. Prophylaxis –XRT –Indocin Excision

Contractures Occurs due to spasticity/posturing Effects –Inhibits restoration of function –Complicates nursing care –Predisposes to decubitus ulcers

Contractures Treatment: –Prevention splinting/positioning early physical and occupational therapy –Established serial casting manipulation surgery nerve blocks

Associated Injuries Normal methods of clinical and radiologic assessment may not apply in the head injured patient –C spine injury –Occult fractures and injury

C Spine Injury Incidence increases with increasing severity of head injury Demetraiades, J Trauma, ’00 Evaluation more difficult Optimal protocol for evaluation and management controversial 10.2%<9 6.8% %13-15 C spine injury Incidence GCS

C Spine Injury Minimum requirement –Cervical collar –Plain films (3 views) –CT entire C spine Adjuncts –MRI Difficult in vent patient May over call injury –“Dynamic” flexion extension radiographs in the obtunded patient Safety and reliability not established

Occult Injuries Fractures, dislocations and peripheral nerve injuries may be “missed” –Up to 11% of orthopaedic injuries may be “missed” –Peripheral nerve injuries are particularly common (as high as 34%) –Occult fractures in children with head injury are also common (37-82%)

Occult Injuries Detailed physical exam with radiographs of any suspect area due to bruising, abrasion, deformity, loss of motion Consider EMG for unexplained neurologic deficits Bone scan advocated in children with severe head 72 hrs

Summary Orthopaedic injuries are common in head injured polytrauma patients Head injury outcome is difficult to predict Management requires multidisciplinary approach Operative management is safe and often improves functional outcome if secondary brain insults are avoided –Hypotension, hypoxia, increased ICP OTA about Questions/Comments If you would like to volunteer as an author for the Resident Slide Project or recommend updates to any of the following slides, please send an to Return to General/Principles Index