Injury
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Proximal femur fractures account for increased healthcare costs whenever patients are unable to return to their previous state of residence. Studies suggest that patients benefit from early weight-bearing, yet compliance to weight-bearing regimes is poorly investigated. Aim of the study was thus to show the clinical feasibility of a new measurement tool able to determine continuous weight-bearing behavior after intramedullary nail osteosynthesis of intertrochanteric femur fractures, assess the influence of weight-bearing on clinical outcome and determine rehabilitation demand based on early postoperative gait performance. ⋯ Their postoperative use showed, that the continuous compliance to permissive weight-bearing after intertrochanteric fractures is low. The presented measurement technique has the potential to identify patients at risk for reduced outcome and impending loss of previous residence status. Further studies will have to investigate the effects of technology assisted "patient at risk" identification and adapted therapy on clinical outcome.
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Acute compartment syndrome (ACS) is characterised by abnormal pressure inside a compartment, resulting in ischemia of muscles and nerves. Most orthopaedic surgeons, especially those who work in major trauma centres, have been or will be facing a case of ACS in their clinical activity. Fortunately, complications related to untreated compartment syndrome have become less frequent thanks to a better understanding of pathogenesis and to early recognition and prompt surgical treatment. The aim of this study is to identify the existing evidence regarding aetiology of trauma-related ACS of the leg. ⋯ Although traditionally ACS has been associated mainly with fractures of tibial diaphysis, literature demonstrates that other localisations, in particular in the proximal tibia, are associated with an increased incidence of this serious condition. The forms of ACS secondary to soft tissues injuries represent an extremely variable spectrum of lesions with an insidious tendency for late diagnosis and consequently negative outcomes. In the case of vascular injury, ACS should always be carefully considered as a priority, given the high incidence reported in the literature, as a result of primitive vascular damage or as a result of revascularisation of the limb. Knowledge of aetiology of this serious condition allows us to stratify the risk by identifying a population of patients most at risk, together with the most frequently associated traumatic injuries.
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By linking health and census data, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of a femoral neck fracture on the household income of non-elderly patients. ⋯ Over a quarter of the femoral neck fracture patients in this study sustained a decline of ≥2 deciles in their household income following their injury. The income decline was disproportionately absorbed by patients with baseline incomes in the 6th decile or higher. This suggests that the available incapacity programs are limited in providing income protection to patients with higher incomes.
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'Best Practice Tariff' (BPT) criteria have been developed to improve peri-operative care for hip fracture patients. This paper aims to explore the impact of BPT criteria on 1-year outcomes. ⋯ Few studies describe the effect of BPT criteria on 1-year outcomes; therefore the results presented here help to vindicate the investments made in the scheme. Furthermore, these results may help steer subsequent revisions to BPT requirements by encouraging greater focus on peri-operative assessment and interventions.
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In the last two decades bisphosphonates (BP) has become the mainstream therapy for osteoporosis and the benefit in reducing the incidence of fractures has been well demonstrated in several studies, together with the drug long term (5-10 years) efficacy and safety. A complication of the long-term use of bisphosphonates is a low-energy stress fractures located in the sub-trochanteric region and the femoral shaft called atypical femur fracture (AFF). These stress fractures can be seen on plain radiographs as simple transverse patterns, with unicortical beaking and hypertrophy of the diaphyseal lateral cortex. ⋯ Iatrogenic fractures, deformities, medial gap opening, eccentric position of the distal nail tip with anterior cortex perforation, delayed or non-union are frequent complications of this procedure and healing rate of AFFs. The average healing time of almost 8 months for AFFs appeared to be longer than that for typical femoral fractures, which heal at an average of 3-6 months. The purpose of this study is to analyze the different surgical devices and techniques and to advance some considerations that can be useful to diminish the rate of failure and/or complications in the treatment of AFFs in both oncologic and osteoporotic patients.