Der Unfallchirurg
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In the management of multiply injured patients the question of the optimal time point for surgical treatment of individual injuries still remains open. Especially in severely injured patients with pelvic fractures, this decision differs between rapid surgical interventions in life-threatening situations or time-consuming reconstructive surgery. Besides the "early" operative treatment, i.e., within the first 24 h after trauma, the "late," i.e., definitive or secondary surgical fracture stabilization, exists. The following study represents a review of the current recommendations in the literature concerning the optimal time and fracture management of multiply injured patients with pelvic fracture. ⋯ Basically, the principles of trauma management of multiply injured patients with life-threatening hemorrhage from mechanically unstable pelvic fractures are divided into two main time periods. On the one hand, there is the emergency stabilization of the pelvic ring as the most important goal within the acute period to control the bleeding, at least with extraperitoneal tamponade if necessary. On the other hand, once the hemorrhaging has been stopped, the "late" and definitive internal fracture stabilization of the pelvis should be performed depending on the fracture pattern.
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Review Practice Guideline
[Urinary tract injuries in polytraumatized patients].
Within the S3 Guideline Project of the European Association of Urology (EAU) an expert committee was set up to develop guidelines for the appropriate management of genitourinary trauma. These European guidelines were accepted in principle as national guidelines by the German Urological Society. Therefore, they also became the basis of the contribution of the German Urological Society to the S3 Guideline Project "Polytrauma" of the German Society for Trauma Surgery. ⋯ In suspected renal injuries the hemodynamic situation of the patient is the benchmark for the diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm. The diagnostic gold standard for the assessment of haemodynamically stable patients is CT scanning. Uncontrolled haemodynamic instability is an indication for immediate explorative laparotomy. Partial ureteral tears are managed by stenting; complete tears by immediate surgical repair. Pelvic fractures are often associated with bladder ruptures. Extraperitoneal bladder ruptures, identified by retrograde cystography, are in most cases safely managed by simple catheter drainage. Intraperitoneal ruptures require surgical intervention. Blood at the meatus may suggest a urethral lesion-blind urethral catheterization should not be attempted. Suprapubic cystostomy and delayed urethroplasty are recommended.
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In the management of patients with multiple injuries, the concept of damage control orthopedics (DCO) is still a matter of controversy. Thus, the clinical value of DCO remains unclear and should be evaluated on an evidence-based level by a review of the current literature. ⋯ The advocates of DCO claim that patients with multiple injuries including severe brain and chest injuries as well as those with an unstable cardiopulmonary or circulatory condition are at high risk of developing a severe systemic immuno-inflammatory reaction during early total fracture care. Therefore, they recommend primary minimally invasive external fracture stabilization in these patients to avoid additional surgical trauma and that definitive secondary fracture care should be performed after medical stabilization of the patient in intensive care.
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Alterations in the immune response after multiple trauma, posttraumatic sepsis and surgery are recognized as physiological reactions of the organism to restore homeostasis. The level of these immunological changes correlates with the degree of tissue damage as well as with the severity of haemorrhage and ischaemia. Cytokines are known to be integral components of this immune response. ⋯ Therefore, in several clinical studies, cytokine levels during the posttraumatic course have been determined with the aim of finding predictive markers of patient outcome. The purpose of this review was to highlight our current knowledge on the interaction of posttraumatic immune reactivity and the development of complications. A better understanding of these mechanisms might lead to the introduction of preventive and therapeutic strategies into clinical practice.
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At last, flexor tendon injuries of the hand and digit are no longer nearly impossible to treat. Many recent studies have reported a more than 75% success with excellent results, in particular in zone 2, in some cases reaching 98% satisfactory outcomes. The challenge inherent in treating and rehabilitating the zone 2 flexor tendon injury remains, however, even for the skilled hand surgeon. We must remain diligent, obeying principles outlined earlier by the first surgeons willing to attempt these repairs, while carefully gleaning the helpful and critical recommendations of the now sophisticated researchers in the subject of flexor tendon repair and rehabilitation.