Der Unfallchirurg
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The treatment of the medial femoral neck fracture remains controversial until today. The goal of this paper is therefore, based on the literature, to show guidelines for optimal treatment: conservative treatment vs. operation, osteosynthesis vs. prosthesis, timing for osteosynthesis, open vs. closed reduction, choice of implant for osteosynthesis, postoperative treatment (weight bearing vs. non weight bearing), Pauwels-Osteotomy vs. prosthesis in cases op pseudarthrosis, femoral head prosthesis vs. total hip arthroplasty, bipolar vs. monopolar femoral head prosthesis, choice of classification. Further we want to point out which statements are evidence based and where we need further investigation.
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We report an unusual case of incarceration of small bowel between the 4th and 5th lumbar vertebrae in a patient with rheumatoid spondylitis. Incarceration of the loop of jejunum within the fracture or between dislocated lumbar vertebrae is an uncommon entity. The cases of traumatic jejunal entrapment have been previously reported in the literature [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11]: 2 cases occurred in adults and 8 in children. There has been no report on this injury in patients with rheumatoid spondylitis (Bechterew arthritis).
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This article reviews the current body of knowledge on the adverse effects of smoking on soft-tissue and bone healing, with emphasis on tibial fractures in combination with severe soft-tissue injury. The pathophysiological effects are multidimensional, including arteriolar vasoconstriction, cellular hypoxia, demineralisation of bone, and delayed revascularisation. Several animal and clinical studies have been published about the negative effects of smoking on bone metabolism and fracture healing. ⋯ Nowadays, there is strong evidence to be very insistent that patients presenting with a (open) tibial fracture should refrain from smoking immediately to promote bone healing and to lower the complication rate. In case of elective reconstructive procedures, patients should refrain from smoking at least 4 weeks before surgery. In both situations, cessation should continue during the full rehabilitation period.
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Comparative Study
[Primary strength of conventional and alternative suture techniques of the rotator cuff. A biomechanical study].
The aim of this biomechanical study was to evaluate rotator cuff repair strength using different suture anchor techniques compared to conventional repair, taking into consideration the native strength of the supraspinatus tendon. Therefore, a defined defect of the supraspinatus was created in 50 freshly frozen cadaver specimen (group size n = 10; median age at death: 56 years). Five methods were employed for cuff repair: standard transosseous suture, modified transosseous suture with patch augmentation and three suture anchors (Acufex Wedge TAG, Acufex Rod TAG und Mitek GII). ⋯ Compared to conventional transosseous suture techniques, the use of the suture anchors tested in this series does not significantly increase the primary fixation strength of rotator cuff repair. The metallic implant with two barbs (Mitek GII) seems to be superior to the polyacetal anchors when inserted into the spongiform bone of the greater tubercle. The considerably weaker repair strength needs to be taken into consideration in postoperative patient rehabilitation, especially after the use of suture anchors.