Der Orthopäde
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Comparative Study
[Respiratory failure in thoracic spine injuries. Does the timing of dorsal stabilization have any effect on the clinical course in multiply injured patients?].
Proper timing of stabilization for spinal injuries is discussed controversially. Whereas early repair of long bone fractures is known to reduce complications, few studies exist that investigate this issue in acute spinal trauma. In particular, the importance of coexisting lung injuries has to be determined, as it might influence clinical course and outcome. ⋯ Our data provide further evidence that early stabilization of spinal injuries is safe in severely injured patients, does not impair perioperative lung function, and results in a reduced overall ICU and hospital stay. Further prospective randomized investigations are warranted to prove these results.