Injury
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Hip fractures are a major cause of trauma related death, usually occurring in vulnerable elderly patients. There are an estimated 70,000 hip fractures in the UK per year with numbers set to rise. The estimated annual cost to the healthcare economy is in the region of £2 billion. ⋯ This study highlights the main causes of litigation in patients sustaining hip fractures, with diagnosis in the emergency department and ward presenting a significant problem. In addition, the data identifies a range of care related issues, as well as several surgical factors and highlights the importance of pressure area care. We discuss these and make suggestions on how to improve practice in this area with the aim of improving patient care and reducing litigation.
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Traumatic esophageal injuries occur less than 10% of the time in the setting of blunt or penetrating trauma. The purpose of this literature review is to provide an update on the most recent changes involving the diagnosis and treatment of esophageal injuries. ⋯ Fifty pertinent articles in English language from 1947 to 2015 were selected for review. Based on the review of all articles, we designed a diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm to facilitate the diagnosis and management of the traumatic esophageal injury.
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Stress fractures occur as a result of microscopic injuries sustained when bone is subjected to repeated submaximal stresses. Overtime, with repeated cycles of loading, accumulation of such injuries can lead to macro-structural failure and frank fracture. There are numerous stress fractures about the foot and ankle of which a trauma and orthopaedic surgeon should be aware. ⋯ Awareness of these fractures is important as the diagnosis is frequently missed and appropriate treatment delayed. Late identification can be associated with protracted pain and disability, and may predispose to non-union and therefore necessitate operative intervention. This article outlines the epidemiology and risk factors, aetiology, presentation and management of the range of stress fractures in the foot and ankle.
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Comparative Study
Augmentation of intramedullary nailing in unstable intertrochanteric fractures using cerclage wire and lag screws: a comparative study.
Unstable intertrochanteric fractures present a challenge to orthopaedic surgeons, with varied geometry of the fractures and a wide choice of implants and techniques. The patients are usually osteoporotic, with multiple co-morbidities and poor tolerance for complications and re-operations. Lateral wall reconstruction and stability of the trochanteric fragments are considered important in providing a better outcome of these difficult injuries. We present a technique of lateral wall and trochanteric reconstruction using Cerclage wires and lag screws in the greater trochanter in addition to intramedullary nailing, and the radiological and functional outcome of this technique of augmentation. ⋯ This new technique of augmentation of fixation of intramedullary nail in unstable trochanteric fractures using cerclage wires and lag screws for lateral wall reconstruction is useful in reducing complications of the procedure and provides good radiological and functional outcome. It requires little additional operating time with minimal blood loss and soft tissue injury.
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Non-union following interlocking nailing is a troubling complication in treatment of shaft femur fractures. There is no clear consensus on the treatment of this problem. This research was undertaken to study the role of augmentation plating combined with exchange nailing in such cases. ⋯ Augmentation plating combined with exchange nailing in non-unions following intramedullary nailing of femur shaft fractures is a reasonably good and effective procedure with a very high success rate.