Injury
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The current military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have resulted in the most US casualties since the Vietnam War. Previous research on the association between deployment-related injury and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has yielded mixed results. ⋯ Military personnel with BI have increased odds of positive PTSD screen following combat deployment compared to those with NBI. Post-deployment health questionnaires may benefit from questions that specifically address whether service members experienced an injury during combat.
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Case Reports
A new treatment for avulsion fracture of the calcaneus using an Ilizarov external fixator.
In the treatment of avulsion fractures of the posterior calcaneal tuberosity, open reduction and internal fixation are prone to several complications. We describe a new treatment using an Ilizarov external fixator, which can minimise the complications and achieve sufficient stability of the displaced fragment. ⋯ This new method, involving application of an Ilizarov external fixator, is recommended when the avulsion fragment is large enough to accommodate Ilizarov wires, especially in cases of circulatory problems or bruising.
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Comparative Study
Second to fourth digit ratio confirms aggressive tendencies in patients with boxers fractures.
Upper limb second to fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) has been shown to be dependent on prenatal androgen exposure. A longer relative fourth digit to second digit is indicative of increased intrauterine testosterone exposure prenatally and the converse is also true for oestrogen exposure. The 2D:4D ratio has implications in the sporting, academic, financial and sexual arenas. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between smaller finger length ratios (2D:4D) and boxers fractures, in both men and women, by comparing the 2D:4D ratios in 150 boxers fractures and comparing them to matched controls. Boxers fractures are an injury classically incurred during acts of aggression and we postulated that this cohort of patients would have a smaller 2D:4D ratio in comparison to the normal population mean ratio. ⋯ Boxers fractures are injuries that typically occur from an aggressive act. It is well documented that a low 2D:4D ratio is reflective of an increased prenatal exposure to androgens, particularly testosterone. We have shown that boxers fractures are associated with a smaller 2D:4D ratio than the normal population, thus suggesting that persons exposed to high levels of prenatal androgens are more likely to exhibit aggressive tendencies in adulthood. Our results suggest that smaller digit ratios may predict a predisposition to acts of aggression, and as such result in an increased likelihood of sustaining an injury such as a boxers fracture. This relationship seems to be present independently of gender.
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Paediatric forearm shaft fractures show an increasing incidence. The predictive factors of these fractures are not fully understood. Summer weather is suggested to have an effect on the risk of children's fractures. We studied the effect of rainfall, temperature and wind on paediatric forearm shaft fractures in summer. ⋯ The results give support for the presumption by the general public and professionals that summer weather affects children's fractures. A 1.5-fold increase in the risk is especially significant as the forearm shaft fractures are challenging to manage and prone to complications. Paediatric trauma units should prepare themselves for these severe injuries on dry summer days.