[Importance of lumbar vertebra transverse process fractures in multitrauma patients who had undergone emergent laparotomy].
BACKGROUND
To evaluate the incidence and importance of lumbar vertebra transverse process fractures in polytraumatized patients who had undergone emergent laparatomy, and to find out the relevant risk factors.


METHODS
The medical records of 312 laparotomized trauma patients who referred to our emergency department between January 2001 and January 2002 were retrospectively assessed. Hundred and six cases who met inclusion criteria were investigated. Data relevant to the trauma, demographics, hemoglobine levels, additional system traumas, complications were recorded. Correlations between collected data and the fractures were investigated. Results were evaluated statistically using SPSS 11,0 software package program.


RESULTS
Lumbar vertebra transverse process fractures were detected in 58,5 % of the cases. They were more frequently encountered in women, elderly and after falls or traffic accidents.. Abdominal organ injuries were more common in these cases. These fractures are associated with hepatic and splenic injuries. Their presence also increases the risk of vertebra corpus fractures seven fold.


CONCLUSIONS
Lumbar vertebra transverse process fractures usually occur after higher energy traumas They must be evaluated as serious findings which might lead to potential organ injuries. Once these fractures were detected in trauma patients, every attempt should be made to exclude probably fatal and more serious additional organ injuries.
Dağlar
Bülent
B
Ankara Numune Eğitim ve Araştirma Hastanesi 4. Ortopedi ve Travmatoloji Kliniği, Ankara, Turkey. budugul@yahoo.com
Bayrakçi
Kenan
K
Taşbaş
Bülent A
BA
Dağlar
Gül
G
Ozdemir
Güzelali
G
Delialioğlu
Onder M
OM
Günel
Uğur
U
D000328:Adult; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007813:Laparotomy; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology