Injury
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When treating a hip fracture with a total hip replacement (THR) the surgical technique may differ in a number of aspects in comparison to elective arthroplasty. The hip fracture patient is more likely to have poor bone stock secondary to osteoporosis, be older, have a greater number of co-morbidities, and have had limited peri-operative work-up. ⋯ Consideration should be made to performing the THR in a laminar flow theatre, by a surgeon experienced in total hip arthroplasty, using an anterolateral approach, cementing the implant in place, using a large head size and with repair of the joint capsule. Combined Ortho-geriatric care is recommended with similar post-operative rehabilitation to elective THR patients but with less expectation of short length of stay and consideration for fracture prevention measures.
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Review Multicenter Study
Minimally-invasive treatment of calcaneal fractures: A review of the literature and our experience.
The optimal treatment of calcaneal fractures (CF) is currently controversial and is still under debate. It is well established that conservative treatment of these fractures is associated with poor results. ⋯ ORIF is the most popular technique for these fractures, but it is associated with high rates of wound complications, hardware failure and infections. Several minimally-invasive techniques have been developed recently for the treatment of CF, with the common aim to be as simple, effective and inexpensive as possible and to reduce surgical times, complications and length of hospital stay.
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Defects of the Achilles tendon region represent a challenge for reconstructive surgeons. Several options are available but there is still no reconstructive ladder for this specific and tricky area. An up-to-date reconstructive ladder according to local and general conditions is proposed based on our multicentre experience and an extensive review of the English literature on PubMed. ⋯ The reconstructive ladder is a concept that is still a mainstay in plastic surgery and guides decisions in the repair strategy for soft tissue defects. The optimal solution, according to the experience of the surgeon and the wishes of the patient, is the one that implies less sacrifice of the donor site. Perforator flaps should be the first-line option for small-to-moderate defects; the distally-based sural flap is the most reported for moderate-to-large defects of the Achilles region, and free flaps should be reserved mainly for complex and wide reconstructions.
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Technological advances and improved understanding of functional anatomy about the elbow have lead an evolution regarding operative reconstruction of complex proximal ulnar and coronoid fractures. When treating these complex and challenging fractures, goals of anatomic articular restoration along with balanced soft tissue stability can lead to early range of motion and thus, desired functional outcome. The purpose of this review is to outline and provide tips and pearls to achieve desired results, with a comprehensive update on the most recent literature to support the latest fixation methods and techniques.
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Extensor mechanism rupture is a serious event requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment. Patella fractures are reportedly six times more frequent than soft tissue injuries such as quadriceps or patella tendon ruptures. ⋯ Diagnosis can be deemed easy to make by demonstrating inability to actively extend the knee, this however can be easily overlooked and missed in a busy emergency department leading to a late diagnosis and necessitating more complex surgery. Earlier surgical intervention and rehabilitation tend to produce improved outcomes.