Der Unfallchirurg
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The management of anesthesia plays a central role in the treatment of thoracic trauma, both in the initial phase when safeguarding the difficult airway and in the intensive care unit. A rapid transfer to a trauma center should be considered in order to recognize and treat organ dysfunction in time. Development of atelectasis, pneumonia and acute lung failure are common pulmonary complications. ⋯ Pain therapy is ideally carried out patient-adapted with epidural anesthesia. In addition, intraoperatively inserted catheters in the sense of a continuous intercostal block or serratus plane block are good alternatives. The aim of these therapies should be early mobilization and transfer of the patient to rehabilitation.
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Review
[Injuries of the posterior and lateral chest wall-importance of an additional clavicular fracture].
Flail chest wall injuries (FCI) are common in younger patients due to high-speed trauma and in older patients due to low-energy trauma or falls from a low height. They show a high incidence of concomitant injuries and are therefore associated with high morbidity and mortality. If there is also an ipsilateral clavicular fracture (CF), the outcome is significantly poorer. The skeleton of the shoulder and chest loses stability and can lead to a loss of function of the shoulder and a pronounced deformation of the chest wall. ⋯ This study presents therapeutic options for the reconstruction of the chest wall based on the established literature and clinical examples. An ipsilateral CF combined with fractures of the 2nd-4th ribs can be treated through an innovative clavipectoral approach. For the other fractures, standard approaches to the anterolateral and posterolateral chest wall are performed, which are associated with a good outcome in clinical practice. An operative stabilization should be performed at the latest when FCI or CCI together with a dislocating fracture and a marked deformation of the thoracic wall are present. Remaining misalignments are associated with a simultaneous loss of function of the chest wall and shoulder.
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Fractures of the anterior chest wall are rare among the total number of fractures. They include sternal fractures (SF) and the adjacent cartilaginous structures of the ribs. The accident mechanism can allow conclusions to be drawn about which further accompanying injuries may be present, e.g. rib and spinal fractures. ⋯ In the case of injuries of the thoracic trunk, this must always be regarded as a unit and must therefore be clarified in the context of the clinical examination and diagnostic apparatus. The possible accident mechanism can allow conclusions to be drawn about possible injury patterns, e.g. in the sense of SVIs.
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Over the last decade, the percentage of people >65 years has increased from 16.6% to 20.7%. In industrialized countries, the annual incidence in people >65 years with a proximal femur fracture is about 600-900 per 100,000 population. The incidence will increase by 3-5% per year. Guidelines advocate early surgery as soon as possible but within 24 h. External quality control requires surgical treatment within 48 h. In this study, the changes in the patient population with proximal femur fractures and their treatment during the last decade were investigated. ⋯ The increase in the number of patients, as well as the requirements of the guidelines and external quality control are relevant challenges for the hospitals. More human and material resources (e. g., surgical capacity) are needed. The increase in the age of the patients, their comorbidities, and medication must be taken into account, e. g., in the context of geriatric orthopedic trauma centers.