Der Unfallchirurg
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Thoracic injury is a relevant and common complication in multiply injured patients. Typical patterns of injury comprise rib fractures, serious lung trauma as well as diaphragmatic and aortic rupture. In contrast, posttraumatic tension pneumopericardium following blunt thoracic trauma is a very rare complication. ⋯ For the development of a pneumopericardium, free air follows the vessel bundles up to the pericardium. Hence, if the number of ruptured alveoli is high, or these alveoli are placed close to the heart, and if additional risk factors, such as high inspiratory ventilation pressure, are present, a tension pneumopericardium can induce cardiac tamponade. The aim of this report is to illuminate diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for posttraumatic pneumopericardium by presentation of a case from our trauma centre and a critical discussion of the present literature.
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Clinical Trial
[Postoperative CT-controlled results of renewed osteosynthesis using screw fixation for acute scaphoid fractures].
Currently screw fixation of the scaphoid is a well-established method to treat unstable scaphoid fractures. ⋯ The results demonstrate the reliability of internal screw fixation as treatment for acute scaphoid fractures. Functional results as well as subjective satisfaction of the patients are very good. Postoperative CT scans help to evaluate exact bony consolidation, position of the screw, and postoperative morphology of the scaphoid.
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Clinical Trial
[Elastic, stable intramedullary nailing in midclavicular fractures--a change in treatment strategies?].
Midshaft fractures of the clavicle are mostly treated conservatively. For the few cases in which stabilisation is needed, open reduction and plate fixation is the standard procedure. We report a minimally invasive technique of intramedullary stabilisation using a titanium nail carried out in 35 markedly displaced midclavicular fractures. ⋯ Patients with an isolated fracture of the clavicle showed a nearly normal range of motion only 1 week after surgery, whereas patients with associated scapular or rib fractures needed up to 3 weeks to reach normal shoulder function. No patient complications requiring interventional procedures occurred. Minimally invasive, elastic, stable intramedullary nailing of midshaft fractures of the clavicle should be recommended as an alternative to conservative treatment because of early pain relief, associated rapid functional recovery and anatomical restoration of the clavicle.