Injury
-
Two cases of ulnar artery aneurysm, with concomitant ulnar nerve compression in the palm are presented. Both followed acute injury and presented with an increasingly painful, warm swelling within 2 weeks of injury. An initial diagnosis of infection was made by experienced clinicians in each case. ⋯ It is suggested that simple excision of the aneurysm and ligation of the ulnar artery is the treatment of choice. Angiography should be reserved for those cases where there is doubt about the diagnosis or adequacy of the collateral circulation. Ulnar nerve deficit may be a result of direct injury rather than a neuropraxia from compression by the aneurysm.
-
Details of 473 aircrashes throughout the world for the period 1977-1986 were obtained from the Civil Aviation Authority. 114 occurred on or near and 359 away from airfields. In 188 there were survivors and in 285 none. ⋯ Acted out disaster exercises with mock casualties should not have more than 50 injured casualties, of whom not more than 20 should have serious injuries (i.e. need admission to hospital). The problems of crashes with much larger casualty figures should be worked through in table-top exercises.
-
Chylothorax is an uncommon occurrence seen most frequently in patients with malignancy. We report a case of chylothorax following fracture-dislocation of the thoracolumbar spine, the ninth reported case in the English literature. ⋯ We have reviewed the literature, and recommend conservative management utilizing closed thoracotomy drainage and total parenteral nutrition for at least 2 weeks. If chyle flow has not diminished by that time then thoracic duct ligation should be considered.
-
Recent evidence has shown that there may be leakage of anaesthetic drugs into the systemic circulation during the tourniquet inflation phase of intravenous regional anaesthesia. This, together with increased pressure in forearm vessels during manipulation of fractures, prompted the measurement of arterial levels of local anaesthetic to assess potential toxicity. ⋯ Eleven patients had measurable concentrations of prilocaine in the arterial circulation during the time the tourniquet was inflated, the maximum levels being measured in those patients having fractures manipulated. Considerable vigilance should be ensured during the time of tourniquet inflation in intravenous regional anaesthesia, particularly for fracture manipulation.
-
Comparative Study
External fixation and recovery of function following fractures of the distal radius in young adults.
The functional recovery from Colles' fracture was studied prospectively over a 1-year period in 106 patients randomized to treatment by plaster or external fixation. Although external fixation allows immediate mobilization of the wrist and leads to a much better anatomical result, these factors did not permit any improvement in the wrist's early functional recovery. One year following injury the grip strength of the fixator-treated group was significantly superior to that of the plaster-treated patients.