Injury
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For AO/OTA 31-A2 fractures (A2 fractures) treated with dynamic hip screw (DHS), postoperative lateral wall fracture (PLWF) is thought to be a major cause of femoral medialisation and reoperation. Though trochanter stabilising plate (TSP) had been reported to have a good effect in preventing femoral medialization, its effects and indication in A2 fractures remain controversial. We hypothesized that TSP may improve treatment outcomes in patients with high risk of postoperative lateral femoral wall fractures. The purpose of this study was to investigate (1) the main risk factors predictive of PLWF in A2 fractures and, (2) whether TSP can improve treatment outcomes in patients with high risk of PLWF. ⋯ Lateral wall thickness is the main risk factor for PLWF in A2 fractures treated with DHS. Use of TSP in A2 fractures with critical thin lateral wall thickness <2.24 cm can significantly decrease the lag screw sliding distances, PLWF rate and reoperation rate.
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Traumatic hemipelvectomy is a lethal catastrophic injury. The reported average age of individuals surviving this trauma is 21 years old, suggesting the necessity of good physiological reserves to survive this type of injury. ⋯ There are only several reported cases involving children and none of the paediatric cases suffered from comorbidities prior to their traumatic injury. The present report describes the successful management of a 16-month-old child with a medical history of a rare bleeding disorder a severe coagulation Factor VII deficiency who underwent right-sided traumatic hemipelvectomy.
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Patients suffering traumatic brain and chest wall injuries are often difficult to liberate from the ventilator yet best timing of tracheostomy remains ill-defined. While prior studies have addressed early versus late tracheostomy, they generally suffer from the use of historical controls, which cannot account for variations in management over time. Propensity scoring can be utilized to identify controls from the same patient population, minimizing impact of confounding variables. The purpose of this study was to determine outcomes associated with early versus late tracheostomy by application of propensity scoring. ⋯ In the current era of increased health-care costs, early tracheostomy significantly decreased both pulmonary morbidity and critical care resource utilization. This translates to an appreciable cost savings, at minimum $52,173 per patient and a potential total savings of $2.8million/year for the entire LT cohort. For trauma patients requiring prolonged ventilator support, early tracheostomy should be performed.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Total hip arthroplasty with minimal invasive surgery in elderly patients with neck of femur fractures: our institutional experience.
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether minimal invasive surgery (MIS) in elderly patients with neck of femur fractures would reduce the peri-operative complications and improve the post-operative ambulation and length of hospital stay in his cohort of patients. Forty elderly patients were treated with either total hip arthroplasty (THA) or bipolar prosthesis using MIS transgluteal approach. A matched reference group treated with a conventional surgical approach formed the control group. ⋯ Radiographic implants positioning was similar amongst the two groups. No skin complication, no primary infection, no death within ninety days and no dislocations were observed. MIS approach for implanting THA after a femoral neck fracture in the elderly appears to be a reliable procedure.
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Review Multicenter Study
Outcomes following combined intramedullary nail and plate fixation for complex tibia fractures: A multi-centre study.
Concomitant plate fixation as an adjunct to intramedullary nailing (IMN) of proximal third tibia fractures is a proven technique. Benefits include its role as a minimally invasive reduction aid, allowing for minimal soft tissue disruption. Expanding its indications as adjunct fixation to IMN throughout the tibia, we aimed to study outcomes in a multi-centre initiative. ⋯ Combined IMN and plate fixation is a reliable tool not only in the treatment of fractures of the proximal tibia, but also for those fractures in the diaphysis and segmental fractures with proximal and/or distal metadiaphyseal extension with consistent ability to maintain high union rates and maintained alignment. However, longer-term follow-up and prospective trials will be necessary before coming to a definitive conclusion.