Injury
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Balloon kyphoplasty (BKP) is an effective method for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. However osteoporotic spinal fractures with middle column compromise are mentioned as a relative contraindication to BKP. Thus we investigated the safety and efficacy of BKP in the treatment of osteoporotic spinal fractures with middle column compromise but without neurological deficit. ⋯ BKP is a safe and effective method for osteoporotic spinal fractures with middle column compromise but without neurological deficit. Spontaneous remodelling of the spinal canal also occurs after BKP.
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The present paper is a description and summary of methods used in non-randomised cohort data where the comparability of the study groups usually is not granted. Such study groups are formed by a diagnostic or therapeutic intervention, or by other characteristics of the patient or the treatment environment. This is a typical situation in the analysis of registry data. ⋯ However, any method used for the reduction of bias depends on the quality and completeness of recorded confounders. Factors which are difficult or even impossible to be measured could thus not be adjusted for. This is a general limitation of retrospective analyses of cohort data.
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Observational Study
20years of trauma documentation in Germany-Actual trends and developments.
The TraumaRegister DGU(®) has been founded 20 years ago. Although initially supported by larger hospitals and universities, it has recently become a representative registry for the care of severely injured patients in Germany. Based on the registry data some important trends and developments of the recent decades are presented. ⋯ Standardised prospective registration of severely injured patients over 20years allows to empirically monitor trends and developments in acute trauma care.
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To determine the usage, indication, duration, and cost associated with external fixation usage. Additionally, to show the significant cost associated with external fixator use and reinvigorate discussions on external fixator reuse. ⋯ Level II.
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Muscle injuries account for between 10% and 55% of all sporting injuries. Although the skeletal muscle is a plastic organ capable of responding efficiently to environmental changes, the appropriate treatment of muscle injuries remains a daunting clinical challenge in sports medicine. There is considerable evidence to indicate that growth factors, such as transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) or insulin-like growth factor (IGF), and fibrin matrix are key in cellular events required for muscle repair and regeneration, namely myogenesis, angiogenesis and fibrogenesis. ⋯ PRGF delivers growth factors, cytokines and adhesive proteins present in platelets and plasma, as well as other biologically-active proteins conveyed by the plasma, such as fibrinogen, prothrombin and fibronectin. This autologous, mimetic biomaterial embedded with a pool of growth factors acts as a smart dynamic scaffold, and should be applied taking into account a biological approach. A clinical trial is required to assess the functional repair outcome of PRGF infiltrations in muscle injuries.