Der Unfallchirurg
-
Impalement is an uncommon and spectacular injury, which combines aspects of both blunt and penetrating trauma. With reference to our own seven patients we discuss the initial management and the operative treatment of this rare injury. Further we demonstrate the imminent problems after impalement injuries such as removal of the impaled object, treatment of colon- and other abdominal organ injuries, and management of vascular injuries.
-
Acute compartment syndrome of the leg is to be regarded as a traumatological emergency. Most specialists already agree that only a timely operative decompression of the afflicted compartment can prevent serious tissue damage. What still remains subject to discussion, however, is the precise tissue pressure above which the operation becomes imperative. Experimental human studies focusing on tissue pressure and muscle oxygenation have not yet been carried out. It was thus the aim of the present study to analyze oxygen partial pressure of the anterior tibial muscle and peroneal action potential in a model compartment syndrome in man. ⋯ Even under normal perfusion conditions, already slight increases in pressure of above 30 mmHg lead to reduced tissue oxygenation and neural function. We have to consider that with additionally traumatized muscle the ischemic tolerance is markedly reduced and due to unknown influences such as local vasoreactivity and capacity of autoregulation the nutritive perfusion cannot be determined. In the case of a severely injured muscle, to be on the safe side decompressive fasciotomy should therefore be carried out if pressure values remain above 30 mmHg.
-
Osteofibrous dysplasia Campanacci is a rare tumor-like lesion mostly presented in the meta-epiphyseal region of the tibia. Different options exist about the treatment modalities. The rare case of a 4 1/2-year-old girl suffering from a pathologic fracture of the tibia shaft due to a osteofibrous dysplasia is presented. ⋯ During this procedure a biopsy of the lesion confirmed the radiological suspected diagnosis of an osteofibrous dysplasia. The implant was removed after ten months when fracture and lesion were healed. The treatment options and the differential diagnoses are discussed by review of the literature.