Der Unfallchirurg
-
The treatment of severely injured patients in the trauma resuscitation unit (TRU) requires an interdisciplinary and highly professional trauma team approach. The complete team needs to be waiting for the patient in the TRU on arrival. Treating severely injured patients in the TRU, the trauma team connects the initial preclinical emergency stabilization with the subsequent sophisticated treatment. Thus, the trauma team depends on concise information from the emergency personnel at the scene to provide its leader with further information as well as an accurate alarm including all departments necessary to stabilize the patient in the TRU. ⋯ The implementation of an accurate and patient status-based alarm system to mobilize the trauma team can improve the quality of treatment while the duration of treatment of the severely injured patients in the TRU can be decreased. It also provides a most efficient mobilization of personnel resources while sustaining patient safety.
-
Limb lengthening and deformity correction with motorized intramedullary lengthening nails is a more comfortable and equally safe procedure than the use of external fixators. While this treatment is a well-established method in adults, intramedullary nailing for skeletally immature patients remains a challenge and is the focus of current clinical investigations. ⋯ Different approaches for intramedullary lengthening nails can be used in children and adolescents to correct leg length discrepancy with or without concomitant deformities. The treatment is limited by the size of the available nails, the residual growth and extent of the deformity. Larger trials will be needed to further validate the application of lengthening nails in skeletally immature patients.
-
The new technology of motorized intramedullary telescopic nails has simplified the treatment for upper limb lengthening surgery. Improved patient comfort, low infection rates and absence of fractures in the regenerated bone are contrasted by the limitations of the methods, such as a current maximum distraction of 5cm and the fact that they cannot be used when the growth plates are still open.
-
Distraction osteogenesis represents an effective procedure for treatment of bone defects from various causes (e.g. trauma, malignancy, congenital and infection). In the past the available procedures were practically exclusively external. ⋯ The presented method is a valuable addition to the armamentarium for treatment of bone defects. The main advantages are the avoidance of external fixation (fixation wires, Schanz screws) and the creation of physiological bone substitute. Vital soft tissues are essential for a good outcome. With appropriate management (systematic debridement, local and systemic administration of antibiotics and free soft tissue flaps), this method can be a solution to even complex reconstructive problems.
-
Segmental bone transport is an effective method of treatment for segmental defects but the previous need for external fixation constructs during the transport phase is a great disadvantage, especially in the femur. In order to avoid external fixation, a new cylindrical combitube segmental transport (CKTST, MagicTube) module for combination with a commercially available motorized lengthening nail was developed by the author. This MagicTube module enables completely internal segmental bone transport and also enables optional lengthening if needed. The concept and surgical technique of MagicTube are described, illustrated, discussed and exemplified by clinical cases involving the tibia and femur.