Injury
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Trauma centers are seeing an increasing number of geriatric patients that are more susceptible to injuries even from relatively minor insults such as a ground level fall (GLF). As life expectancy increases, people are living in the geriatric age bracket for decades and often use anticoagulation agents for various comorbidities. We hypothesize that this patient population is not homogenous and we investigated the injury patterns and outcomes after GLF as a function of age and anticoagulation use. We also sought to identify injury patterns and patient characteristics of GLF patients. ⋯ Epidemiological/prognostic study level IV.
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Case Reports
Novel use of a Sengstaken-Blakemore tube during a neck exploration of a carotid injury: A case report.
Penetrating neck trauma can injure the major blood vessels, airway, gastrointestinal system, and neurological system. We present a case where a Sengstaken-Blakemore tube was emergently placed during surgical exploration of a stab wound to the neck to tamponade bleeding until surgical control was obtained and the vascular injuries were managed.
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Comparative Study
Comminuted fractures of the radial head: resection or prosthesis?
At present, surgical treatment of comminuted radial head fractures without associated instability continues to be controversial. When anatomical reconstruction is not possible, radial head excision is performed. However, the appearance of long-term complications with this technique, along with the development of new radial head implants situates arthroplasty as a promising surgical alternative. The purpose of the present study was to compare the mid-term functional outcomes of both techniques. ⋯ Although this is a retrospective study, the high complication rate occurring after radial head replacement in comparison with radial head resection, as well as good functional results obtained with this last technique, leads us to recommend it for comminuted radial head fractures without associated instability.
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The objectives of this study were to describe the surgical technique of fixation of 3-4 part proximal humeral fractures with polyaxial locking plates utilising a minimally invasive approach and to evaluate the accuracy of reduction and stability of fixation. ⋯ Reliable and stable fixation can be expected with the use of polyaxial locking plate through a minimally invasive approach for the treatment of 3-4 part proximal humeral fractures. Satisfactory functional results for this procedure can be obtained.