Der Chirurg; Zeitschrift für alle Gebiete der operativen Medizen
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The indications for the surgical treatment of fractures in elderly patients should consider the individual's general health status, the specific pattern of injury, and the ability of the patient to actively participate in the rehabilitation process. Intramedullary systems are the gold standard for shaft and metaphyseal fractures due to the decreased operative trauma and the possibility of early weight bearing and functional treatment. ⋯ The possible reasons for falls should be diagnosed in order to allow their prevention. An exact assessment of the severity of osteoporosis in important in allowing adequate treatment for associated pain and for decreasing the risk of future osteoporosis related fractures.
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As life expectancy and modern surgical and intensive care techniques develop, the number of old patients in surgery is rising. Associated are problems with the indication for surgical intervention and rising incidence of "typical" peri- and postoperative complications such as postoperative delirium. ⋯ The most important instruments of geriatric assessment are described. Postoperative delirium, the most prevalent complication in surgical geriatric patients, is discussed in detail with regard to risk factors, prevalence, diagnosis, and therapeutic options.
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Aortic intraluminal mass lesions of the thoracic aorta are rare disorders with a wide range of differential diagnoses. Generalized hypercoagulation or vascular endothelial disorders have been proposed as the main etiological factor. The risk of catheter-related thrombus development or embolization after interventional procedures is as high as 17%. ⋯ Mainly, intraluminal tumors of the thoracic aorta become evident through peripheral embolization. Modern diagnostic tools are able to identify the structure and location of intravascular formations. Therapy options are influenced, due to the heterogenic entity, by the individual risk to the patient and the pathology of the thrombus.
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Injuries of the elbow joint increase along with increased athletic activity and life expectancy. Knowledge of anatomy and biomechanics is important for understanding injury patterns, specific diagnosis, and therapy. Here we classify the most frequent elbow injuries such as dislocation, ligamentous instability, and fracture of the radial head, processus coronoideus, olecranon, and distal humerus based on joint anatomy, biomechanics, clinical examination, and imaging. Specific therapies are described.
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Computed tomography (CT) scanning is the gold standard for displaying and visualizing complex anatomic structures such as the calcaneus, pelvis, and spine, etc. In orthopedic surgery CT scanning is unfortunately not available in the OR where it would be highly effective if scans could be done prior to wound closure. The reasons are high costs, need for constructional changes in the OR, and additional staff (radiologic technologist), etc. ⋯ Since February 2001 we have been able to use the ISO C(3D) in our hospital and meanwhile we have scanned 442 surgical sites including the calcaneus, cervical spine, and acetabulum, etc. The intraoperative scans revealed fracture gaps and steps, unsatisfactory fragment alignment, or incorrectly positioned implants, leading to an overall revision rate of 7.3%The ISO C(3D) is a first step towards a new future for bone visualization. The next steps will bring an increase in scan area and resolution, and the high-contrast pictures will be replaced by ones very similar to modern CT slices showing certain soft tissue structures.