Injury
-
On November 13th, 2015, terrorist bomb explosions and gunshots occurred in Paris, France, with 129 people immediately killed, and more than 300 being injured. This article describes the staff organization, surgical management, and patterns of injuries in casualties who were referred to the Teaching European Hospital Georges Pompidou. ⋯ Rapid staff and logistical response, immediate access to operating rooms, and multidisciplinary surgical care delivery led to excellent short-term outcomes, with no in-hospital death and only one patient being still hospitalized 45days after the initial event.
-
Non-unions and malunions are recognised to be complications of the treatment of long bone fractures. No previous work has looked at the implications of these complications from a medicolegal perspective. ⋯ The cosmetic appearances of rotational malalignment and amputation results in higher compensation; this reinforces an outward perception of outcome as being more important than harmful effects. Notwithstanding the limitations of this database, there are clinical lessons to be gained from these litigation claims.
-
Comparative Study
Allograft-prosthetic composite versus megaprosthesis in the proximal tibia-What works best?
Modular megaprosthesis (MP) and allograft-prosthetic composite (APC) are the most commonly used reconstructions for large bone defects of the proximal tibia. The primary objective of this study was to compare the two different techniques in terms of failures and functional results. A total of 42 consecutive patients with a mean age of 39.6 years (range 15-81 years) who underwent a reconstruction of the proximal tibia between 2001 and 2012 were included. ⋯ There were no relevant differences between the two groups in functional results. Both MP and APC are valid and satisfactory reconstructive options for massive bone defects in the proximal tibia. In high-demanding patients with no further risk factors, an APC should be considered to provide the best possible functional result for the extensor mechanism.
-
The aim of this study was to assess whether surgery delay and other variables are associated with an increased mortality rate after surgical treatment of hip fractures in the elderly. Patients treated for a proximal femoral fracture at our Orthopaedic Department between 2005 and 2012 were included in this study. A logistic regression was performed to evaluate the relationship between mortality rate at different follow-up times (30 days, six months and one year) and different patient or treatment variables. ⋯ This study showed that age, sex and number of co-morbidities influenced both early and late mortality in patients affected by proximal hip fractures. Early surgery influenced late mortality, with a decreased risk in patients operated on within 48hours. The option of operating within day 3 is not a valid alternative.