Der Unfallchirurg
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Penetrating chest trauma involving the heart is usually known with a high mortality rate. Neither the absence of hemodynamic depression nor ECG changes exclude a potential fatal injury to the heart. We report on the diagnosis and definitive treatment of a stab wound injury with transected coronary artery, concomittant ventricular penetration, and pulmonary injury. ⋯ Transthoracic echocardiography in the emergency room is the diagnostic tool of choice to exclude/confirm a potential cardiac injury. In the case of pericardial effusion, paracentesis sometimes followed by thoracotomy should be performed. The importance of rapid diagnosis and intervention should be emphasized to reduce mortality due to cardiac tamponade or acute myocardial infarction as illustrated by this case.
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These injuries are extremely rare and severe. The literature describes only individual cases of such injuries. We report a case of a displaced fracture of the talar neck with a complete posterior dislocation and rotation of the body of the talus (Hawkins type III) associated with medial malleolus fracture, treated with the method of urgent open reduction and internal fixation of the talar neck and medial malleolus as well as with the method of distraction external fixation. ⋯ Three years postinjury, movements in the ankle joint were satisfactory (plantar flexion 35 degrees , dorsal flexion up to 10 degrees , moderately limited movements in the subtalar joint). There were no signs of avascular necrosis; the patient walked normally and went back to physical work 2 years postinjury. Urgent open reduction and internal fixation of the Hawkins type III fracture with dislocation of the talus and distraction external fixation can play an important role in the prevention of avascular necrosis of the talus and other complications which follow this injury.
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Whereas the Scottish guidelines are audited annually, nobody evaluates guideline compliance in Germany. Thus, can external quality assurance data pursuant to section 137 of the German Social Code Book V be suitable for auditing guideline compliance? ⋯ Guideline compliance is similar in German and Scotland. The external quality assurance data are suitable for evaluating guideline compliance. The literature recommends a short time to surgery. Given the short observation period, it was not possible to demonstrate any improvement in outcomes.
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We report the case of a 17-year-old boy who was hit by a high velocity train. The polytraumatized patient suffered a 3 degrees open femur defect fracture with a substantial loss of the lateral femoral muscles and significant disruption of the soft tissue of the lower leg. The enormous wound areas on the thigh and the lower leg were infected by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter cloacae, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. ⋯ A. C. Instill seems to offer great possibilities in critically infected wound situations.
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We report on a 16-year-old boy with deformity of the forearm with painful functional limitation after a fracture of the distal radius associated with an unapparent lesion of the distal physis of the ulna suffered 4 years earlier. The lesion caused premature growth arrest in the ulna and a bowing of the distal radius with a carpal slip. It was treated with a corrective osteotomy in the radius together with a lengthening of the ulna, with excellent functional results.