Der Unfallchirurg
-
The complete blackout of information technology (IT) in a hospital represents a major incident with acute loss of functionality. The immediate consequence is a rapidly progressive loss of treatment capacity. The major priority for the acute management of such an event is to keep patients safe and prevent life-threatening situations. ⋯ These must all be conceived, established, practiced and evaluated in advance with the clinics and departments. Ultimately, all isolated IT blackout concepts must be amalgamated into a compatible and functioning total framework. This structure must be maintained for as long as a partially or totally functioning IT has been reinstated.
-
Emergency exit and escape routes in public buildings, such as schools, hospitals and administrative offices are controlled by legal rules and regulations. Thereby escape from the building is very well organized in cases of internal threats (e.g. fire, active shooter and hostage situations). Complex buildings with numerous rooms are a special challenge to emergency and law enforcement personnel. Without additional means of orientation a targeted localization of the incident is not possible in many cases. ⋯ For targeted localization of an internal incident there only seem to be three German systems worldwide that enable an intuitive and immediate orientation and guidance within buildings. An increasing threat of worldwide terrorism and the fact that hospitals are seen as crucial infrastructures for attacks by terrorists make the implementation of guidance and orientation systems in hospitals urgently necessary. This is the first review dealing with this topic.
-
American football is known for its high risk of injury, especially in the professional field. Although the number of players in the German football league (GFL) has risen in recent years, data concerning the injury rates of German amateur players in American football are scarce. ⋯ American football is a contact sport with high injury rates even in the German amateur field, especially during league games. Regarding body regions, shoulders and knees were predominantly affected while regarding the playing position, wide receivers and cornerbacks were particularly jeopardized. Therefore, a continuous close medical supervision during games and an intensive position-specific training seem to be necessary even in the amateur field in order to reduce the injury rate.
-
Shaft fractures of the tibia and fibula mainly affect younger patients and are therefore of great socioeconomic importance. Due to the high proportion of high-energy direct trauma mechanisms and the thin soft tissue covering layer of the ventromedian tibia, open factures occur in up to 39%. A structured diagnostic and therapeutic approach is essential for successful treatment. ⋯ Furthermore, the indications and the application of minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) and external fixators are described. Every trauma surgeon should be familiar with the etiology and the surgical treatment of compartment syndrome. A firm knowledge of the classifications of open and closed soft tissue injury is mandatory.
-
The global rise of conflicts and catastrophes causes new challenges for western healthcare systems. There are obvious parallels between civilian disaster medicine and military combat care. The integration of disaster and deployment medicine into the medical curriculum thus seems necessary. ⋯ The medical students questioned considered disaster and deployment medicine to be an integral part of the curriculum. Despite some statistical differences between the two groups, the survey showed that medical students possess a great interest in disaster medicine. Both groups were in favor of further integrating e‑learning tools. A regular inclusion of disaster and deployment medicine into the spectrum of medical student teaching is warranted.