Der Unfallchirurg
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Concomitant traumatic brain injury (TBI) increases mortality and reduces quality of life of polytrauma patients. These facts demand effective treatment strategies while the growing specialization of medicine is questioning the role of the trauma surgeon in the management of these patients. ⋯ In an age of standardization and a high degree of specialization in the field of medicine, the trauma surgeon still seems to be able to ensure an optimal treatment of polytrauma and concomitant TBI by focusing on priority-based diagnostic and therapeutic strategies and adhering to principles of damage control surgery.
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In Austria approximately 2000 people suffer from severe brain injury per year. Brain trauma is the most common cause of death under the age of 45 years. In polytrauma patients the treatment and management of severe brain injury is particularly challenging because the life-threatening injuries of other organ systems significantly influence the timing of surgery and the outcome. The sequence of the necessary surgery is an interdisciplinary decision already made in the emergency room. The evacuation of space-occupying intracranial hemorrhage can be of secondary importance. ⋯ Interdisciplinary cooperation and communication and well-trained trauma surgeons with experience in brain trauma are key factors in the treatment of severe brain injury in polytrauma patients.
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The new treatment procedures of the German Statutory Accident Insurance (DGUV) have ramifications for the injury type procedure clinics (VAV) from medical, economic and structural aspects. Whereas the latter can be assessed as positive, the medical and economical aspects are perceived as being negative. ⋯ From the perspective of the author, the relinquence of medical competence imposed by the regulations of the new VAV catalogue is "throwing the baby out with the bathwater" because many VAV clinics nationwide also partially have competence in the severe injury type procedure (SAV). A concrete "competence-based approval" for the individual areas of the VAV procedure would be sensible and would maintain the comprehensive care of insured persons and also increase or strengthen the willingness of participating VAV hospitals for unconditional implementation of the new VAV procedure.
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Observational Study
[Plate osteosynthesis after patellar fracture - the technique and initial results of a prospective study].
Tension band wiring after patellar fractures is related to a high number of implant-related complications (22-53 %). Revision surgery is necessary in 10-55 % of patients mostly with unsatisfactory results. The patella plate is an alternative treatment with the advantages of locked plating. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the first clinical prospective results and complications of this new implant. ⋯ Locked plating of patella fractures is a reliable alternative treatment with good functional outcomes and low complication rates.
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Bipolar dislocation of the clavicle is rare. In the literature, every reported bipolar dislocation of the clavicle is caused by a traumatic injury with loss of function of the affected shoulder. Currently, there is no recommendation to treat. ⋯ At follow-up after six months, the postoperative shoulder function was restored. The ACJ and the SCJ were stable in clinical and radiographic examination. This case report shows the first surgical treatment using two tendon grafts for combined stabilization of the ACJ and SCJ.