Der Unfallchirurg
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Analgesia is one of the physician's genuine challenges. Pain makes the patient suffering and leads to unfavourable somatic effects as well, which may have negative outcome effects. Sufficient perioperative analgesia depends on well defined organizational conditions. ⋯ Special syringe pumps allow a patient controlled analgesia (PCA) under fixed conditions. Regional anaesthesia via catheter is powerful as well and avoids systemic opioid side effects. In these cases as well, a continuous or patient controlled analgesia is possible.
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Unstable pelvic ring injuries AO type C ("vertical shear") with a fractured sacrum are treated operatively in less than 50% of the cases (DGU pelvis study group). Furthermore, only 12% of these ORIF involve the sacrum bone itself. No specific technique has gained wide acceptance in treating transsacral instability. ⋯ This allowed immediate mobilization in all cases. The radiologic follow-up examination ( n=20) revealed a solid union in all patients. Complications focused on management of the soft tissue degloving injury (Morel-Lavalleé lesion), which needs special attention.
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After occupational exposure to HBV, HCV, and HIV, the patient from whom the potentially infectious material originates (index patient) as well as the exposed person should undergo serological and, if needed, molecular screening. Active and passive immunoprophylaxis after exposure to HBV is an effective tool against infection with hepatitis B virus in unvaccinated persons. The post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) should be given within 24 h after exposure of an unprotected person to HBV-positive material. ⋯ After exposure with an increased risk for transmission of HIV (percutaneous needle stick injury, cut), PEP should be recommended and can also be offered for further indications. PEP should be started as early as possible and carried out for 28 days. The recommended PEP consists of two inhibitors of the reverse transcriptase and one inhibitor of the protease.
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Comparative Study
[Changes in stability after cryosurgical treatment of long tubular bones. An animal experiment study].
The incidence of spontaneous fractures after cryosurgical treatment is described in the literature. The purpose of this study in the sheep model was to analyze the possibility of minimizing the potential risk of bone failure using a new miniature cryoprobe with minimal tissue traumatism and exact control of the ablation. In each of 24 sheep ablations at the right femur and left tibia were performed by drilling. ⋯ Spontaneous fractures were not observed during the whole experimental period. The good controllability of the freezing procedure and the low iatrogenic weakening of the bone using a modern miniature cryoprobe minimizes the risk of pathological postoperative fractures. After ablation of larger bone sections, the treated extremity should be partially unloaded or managed by osteosynthesis for at least 3 months.
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The goal of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of CT-based computer-assisted pedicle screw insertion in the thoracic spine in patients with fractures, metastases, and spondylodiscitis compared to a conventional technique. A total of 324 pedicle screws were inserted in the thoracic spines of 85 patients: 211 screws were placed using a CT-based optoelectronic navigation system assisted by an image intensifier and 113 screws were placed with a conventional technique. ⋯ Despite use of the navigation system, 1.9% of the computer-assisted screws perforated the pedicle wall by more than 4 mm. The additional use of the image intensifier helped to identify the correct vertebral body and avoided cranial or caudal pedicle wall perforations.