Der Unfallchirurg
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Comparative Study
[A bipolar radial head prosthesis after comminuted radial head fractures: indications, treatment and outcome after 5 years].
The treatment of comminuted fractures of the radial head with concomitant injuries of the ulnar complex by resection of the radial head usually does not provide satisfactory long-term results. Other than joint instability in the elbow and a limited range of motion, radius proximalisation in the sense of ulnocarpal impingement, osteoarthritis and pain in the elbow have been described. Between 1995 and 1997, 11 radial head prostheses were implanted in ten patients who had sustained a comminuted fracture of the radial head with concomitant injury to the ulnar complex. ⋯ According to the Morrey score, two of the results were found to be very good, five to be good, one to be fair and one to be poor. Despite the severe injuries sustained by the elbow, neither joint instability in the elbow nor proximalisation of the radius, cubitus valgus, ulnar nerve syndrome, nor loosening of the prosthesis were found in any of the patients. In the event of comminuted fractures of the radial head which are impossible to reconstruct by osteosynthesis and which occur with concomitant ulnar ligamentous or osseous injury, the implantation of a prosthesis is preferred over the resection of the head of the radius.
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Pneumonia is the most common infectious complication in multiple trauma patients. In a prospective clinical cohort study, 266 multiply injured patients were examined for the development of pneumonia. Various risk factors were tested in uni- and multivariate analyses. ⋯ Although the primary analysis revealed a higher pneumonia risk in male patients (adjusted relative risk: 2.23; 95% CI: 1.43-3.05), this result could not be consistently reproduced when using other definitions of pneumonia. Trunk and head injuries and age are proven risk factors for developing posttraumatic pneumonia. The association between male gender and an increased rate of infectious complications remained questionable.
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The purpose of the present biomechanical investigation was to check the functional importance of the syndesmosis ligaments and of the deltoid ligament for ankle fracture type B according to the AO-Weber classification. We constructed a special fixation clamp, with 12 fresh and unembalmed lower legs being tested for lateral shift (mm) and ten for tibiotalar rotation. All specimens were exposed in the same neutral position. ⋯ Our data support the proposition that the deltoid ligaments and the posterior syndesmosis play a key role in the stability of ankle fractures for supination-eversion injuries. If these structures remain intact, conservative and early functional treatment are recommended in patients with minimal (<2 mm) or no fracture displacement. This concept is confirmed by the literature dealing with clinical mid- and long-term follow-up studies.
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Elbow dislocations are associated with osseus lesions in 30-50%. Integrity of the coronoid process is essential for stability of the elbow joint. ⋯ Results of operative treatment of fracture dislocation of the elbow are essentially determined by the extent of associated osseus lesions of the radial head and the olecranon. To achieve acceptable functional results early reconstruction and fixation of the coronoid process as well as early mobilisation of the joint is necessary.