Injury
-
Observational Study
Re-admission to Level 2 unit after hip-fracture surgery - Risk factors, reasons and outcome.
Hip fractures are common geriatric fractures with increasing incidence. Treatment of these fractures is still associated with high rates of complications and poor outcome. Data concerning unexpected re-admission to a Level 2 unit after an initial inconspicuous postoperative course are limited. We aimed to identify causes and associated risk factors for admission as well as impact of re-admission on acute care and short-term outcome. ⋯ Unexpected admission to the Level 2 unit in the post-surgical period is a frequent phenomenon in geriatric hip-fracture patients. Males and femoral neck fracture patients seem to be especially endangered. Although the majority of reasons for admissions were not immediately life-threatening illnesses, they had a substantial negative impact on patients' outcome. This emphasises the importance of careful handling of this frail patient population.
-
The repair of annular ligament after open reduction and internal fixation of radial head fracture could produce the irritation or crepitation during range of motion exercise. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the significance of unrepaired annular ligament during fixation of isolated radial head fractures. ⋯ The isolated role of the annular ligament seems overestimated. We scrutinize that the annular ligament repair is not essential in the operative treatment of isolated radial head fractures if the lateral collateral ligament is intact.
-
Soccer is the world's most popular sport and one that is physically demanding and highly competitive. Consequently, the rate of injuries resulting from this sport is only increasing. It is estimated that 2-20% of all such injuries are fractures, one-third of which are located in the lower extremities. The aim of this epidemiological study was to investigate the incidence of lower-leg fractures (LLFs) in Belgian soccer players and determine the possible risk factors that lead to them. ⋯ Ankle fractures and foot fractures represented two-thirds of all fractures noted in this analysis. Male gender, recreational level and adult age were important risk factors for LLFs. After 10 years, the incidence of LLFs did not decrease. Given the socioeconomic impact of these injuries, improved prevention techniques are required to reduce their incidence, particularly with regard to the frequently occurring ankle and foot fractures in this population.
-
Comparative Study Observational Study
Epidemiology of paediatric minor head injury: Comparison of injury characteristics with Indices of Multiple Deprivation.
Head injury (HI) is a common presentation to Child Emergency Departments (CEDs), but the actual number of children attending with minor HI is unclear. Most research has focussed on admitted patients, often relying on hospital-coded admission data. We studied the incidence of minor HI presenting to the CED of a major teaching hospital in Coventry and Warwickshire. HI attendances were compared with population data to identify injury patterns relating to deprivation. ⋯ Young children are particularly at risk of HI and parents should be offered information on injury prevention. More children from deprived areas attended with HI and these families may benefit most from targeted interventions.
-
The Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Road Safety Programme in India focuses on reduction of drink driving and increase in helmet usage in the city of Hyderabad. During the early stages of implementation, perceptions of stakeholders on road safety were explored as part of the monitoring and evaluation process for a better understanding of areas for improving road safety in Hyderabad. Fifteen in-depth interviews with government officials, subject experts, and road traffic injury victims, and four focus group discussions with trauma surgeons, medical interns, nurses, and taxi drivers were conducted, analysed manually, and presented as themes. ⋯ Factors such as inadequate traffic laws, gaps in enforcement, lack of awareness, lack of political will, poor road engineering, and high-risk road users were identified as threats to road safety. The responsibility for road safety was assigned to both individual road-users and the government, with the former bearing the responsibility for safe traffic behaviour, and the latter for infrastructure provision and enforcement of regulations. The establishment of a lead agency to co-ordinate awareness generation, better road engineering, and stricter enforcement of traffic laws with economic and non-economic penalties for suboptimal traffic behaviour, could facilitate improved road safety in Hyderabad.