Der Orthopäde
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The orthopedist can choose from three classes of drugs to relieve pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) possess sufficient analgetic efficacy, but they are hampered by often causing gastrointestinal pain and bleeding. Opioids are strong analgetics that can be successfully used against strong pain. ⋯ Because of the risk of damage to white blood cells leading to agranulocytosis with foudroyant infections their use should be strictly limited to conditions that justify such a risk like tumor or colic pain. The aniline derivative acetaminophen (= paracetamol) is well tolerated and is the drug of choice in usual common pain. Large doses are to be avoided because of liver damage, especially in children.
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Organized orthopaedic pain management is a major part of successful patient treatment. Therefore pain management should start before surgery. Patients need to be informed about the operation and the subsequent procedures. ⋯ Supportive treatment approaches such as cryotherapy or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) are useful in the post-operative period. Physiotherapy after surgery should be extended stepwise regarding the operative device and it is of particular importance to respect pain intensities. The post-hospital regimen for a continuous pain medication should be given to the orthopaedic specialist.
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Unstable fractures of the posterior pelvic ring are frequently combined with severe hemorrhage. In 80% of cases the bleeding originates in the ruptured presacral venous plexus or the fracture itself. Arterial bleeding is less common. The pelvic clamp introduced by Ganz can make it possible to stabilise the pelvis, with subsequent compression of the fracture planes and reduction of the intrapelvic volume in such cases, so improving the prognosis. Use of the pelvic clamp can be integrated into the management in the emergency room with no problem. ⋯ In the hands of an experienced and practised user application of the pelvic clamp is a safe method for emergency stabilisation of the posterior pelvic ring in polytraumatised patients, even without blood volume control. Problems can be solved and do not generally mean the pelvic clamp cannot be used. The immediate radiological check (e.g. during the emergency CT -scan performed for primary diagnosis) is a must, however.
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Limping and groin pain can issue diagnostic problems during late pregnancy. Differential diagnosis of two idiopathic syndromes, transient osteoporosis and osteonecrosis of the femoral head, is made possible by MRI in the early stages. This case is reported to demonstrate the need to distinguish between those syndromes early so as to prevent further joint damage.
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Case Reports
[A complication during kyphoplasty. Cement penetration through the azygos vein into the superior vena cava].
A 59-year-old woman had a nontraumatic osteoporotic fracture of the seventh thoracic vertebral body. Despite correct operative technique, in the course of kyphoplasty cement was dislocated through the segment vein into the azygos vein and from there into the superior vena cava. The patient was free of cardiopulmonary symptoms throughout. Oral anticoagulation was administered for 3 months to prevent thromboembolism, and regular clinical and echocardiographic follow-up examinations were also performed during this period.