OBJECTIVE To evaluate the epidemiological aspects, behavior, morbidity and treatment outcomes for liver trauma. METHODS We conducted a retrospective study of patients over 13 years of age admitted to a university hospital from 1990 to 2010, submitted to surgery or nonoperative management (NOM). RESULTS 748 patients were admitted with liver trauma. The most common mechanism of injury was pen...

We read with great interest the paper by Kilmartin et al in which the authors noted that most of the newly diagnosed cases of sympathetic ophthalmia (SO) in their prospective study occurred in eyes that had sustained multiple injuries, either via trauma or intraocular surgery, and that enucleation following the onset of SO in these eyes was not related to a better visual outcome in the fellow e...

We read with great interest the paper by Kilmartin et al in which the authors noted that most of the newly diagnosed cases of sympathetic ophthalmia (SO) in their prospective study occurred in eyes that had sustained multiple injuries, either via trauma or intraocular surgery, and that enucleation following the onset of SO in these eyes was not related to a better visual outcome in the fellow e...

BACKGROUND Penetrating spinal cord injuries pose a great challenge to both patients and the treating physicians. Although the overall incidence of penetrating spinal cord injury is the highest in the military, the ubiquity of guns in our society continues to make penetrating spinal cord injury prevalent in the civilian population. These types of injuries are particularly complicated because, be...

INTRODUCTION Penetrating oesophageal injuries are extremely rare. Their timely recognition can be difficult and optimal treatment remains controversial. Early recognition of injury is possible with the help of a high index of suspicion and early radiological and endoscopic examinations. Prompt surgical intervention with primary repair of injury, should be the goal. PRESENTATION OF CASES We de...

BACKGROUND We sought to characterize risk factors for failed closure after damage-control laparotomy and to examine the impact of two broad categories of open abdomen-management technique on rates of fascial approximation. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed (January 2006-December 2008) all trauma patients with an open abdomen after damage-control laparotomy. Patients with definitive abdomina...