Injury
-
Compound fractures of the distal femur with large defects pose a significant challenge in management, with several options available, including external fixators, bone grafting, the Masquelet-induced membrane technique, and free vascularized fibular grafts. The Masquelet-induced membrane technique involves placing a cement spacer in the defect to create a biologically active membrane. In the second stage, the gold standard for filling the defect is an autologous cancellous bone graft of 1-2 mm in size. This study aims to examine the effects of using a non-vascularized fibula as a support combined with a cancellous graft in the Masquelet technique for treating compound fractures of the distal femur. ⋯ The Masquelet Technique combined with a fibular strut graft is a feasible solution for complex distal femur fractures with bone loss. The non-vascularized fibula graft provides both structural support and reduces the amount of cancellous bone graft needed, which results in earlier weight bearing and improved functional outcomes.
-
Fractures pose serious health and socioeconomic consequences for individuals, their families, and societies more broadly. In many low-resource settings, case fatality and long-term sequelae after a fracture remain high due to individual- and system-level barriers affecting timely access to care. This scoping review explored the burden of fractures in Malawi using long bone fracture (LBF) as a case study by examining the epidemiology of these injuries, their consequences, and the accessibility of quality healthcare. Our aim is to not only describe the scale of the issue but to identify specific interventions that can help address the challenges faced in settings with limited resources and healthcare budgets. ⋯ To the best of our knowledge, this review represents the first comprehensive examination of the state of LBF and the health system's response in Malawi. The findings underscore the pressing need for a national trauma registry to accurately determine the actual burden of injuries and support a tailored approach to fracture care in Malawi. It is further evident that the health system in Malawi must be strengthen across all six building blocks to address obstacles to equitable access to high-quality fracture care.
-
It is only in recent years that major trauma systems and networks have been operating in the UK. High-quality data is available from the Trauma Audit and Research Network (TARN) database, enabling regional analysis. Our aim was to analyse Trauma Team Activations within the Cheshire and Merseyside major trauma network and discuss the implications of these data on resource allocation, training and trauma prevention. ⋯ Major trauma in Cheshire and Merseyside did follow distinct patterns according to calendar month, day and time. Major motorsport increased trauma volumes and severity; school holidays did not. Such analysis could enable Major Trauma Centres to tailor the supply of trauma services to meet a predictable local demand for the benefit of our staff and patients.
-
Most major trauma admissions are older adults, many of whom are living with frailty - a recognised risk factor for post-injury mortality. ⋯ Frailty predicts long-term mortality in older trauma. Our findings have implications for clinician-patient discussions of prognosis and therapy goals. Furthermore, our results lend support to the routine provision of geriatrician input in trauma pathways.
-
Distal femur fractures can exhibit extensive comminution, and open fractures may result in bone loss. These injuries are under high mechanical demands when stabilized with a lateral locked plate (LLP), and are at risk of non-union or implant failure. This study investigates the optimal LLP screw configuration for distal femur fractures with a large metadiaphyseal gap of 5 cm. ⋯ Screw configuration based on either normal or osteopenic bone quality plays an important role in determining the risk of construct failure for a major (50 mm) distal femoral metadiaphyseal segmental defect. This study provides valuable information when planning definitive fixation for distal femur fractures with extensive comminution or segmental bone defects, to mitigate the risk of implant failure and subsequent nonunion.