Der Unfallchirurg
-
Operative treatment of the calcaneus is still in discussion. For a better management of soft tissue problems an optimized fixator frame for primary treatment of calcaneus fractures was developed in the Dept. of trauma surgery University of Kiel. A one-plane bilateral construction with one insertion point in the tibia and two in the tuberosity of calcaneus is used. ⋯ In 25 cases the fixator was definite and later plate or screw fixation was performed 20 times. 35 patients with 40 fractures were examined by means of the "Kiel score for calcaneus fractures". Patients who were treated definite reached better longterm-results on average than patients who underwent a secondary open osteosynthesis. Concrete guidelines for the therapy of intraarticular calcaneus fractures are presented.
-
Case Reports
[Late sequelae and treatment strategies of distal radio-ulnar dissociation after undetected Essex-Lopresti lesion].
The Essex-Lopresti lesion, a combination of radial head fracture and distal radioulnar dislocation, rarely occurs but nevertheless represents a frequently unknown result after forearm fracture. The responsible physician soon has to initiate surgical treatment to prevent his patient from permanent pain of the wrist. ⋯ Since rupture of the membrana interossea nearly ever occurs, resection of the radial head is followed by radial shifting and seems to be obsolete under these circumstances. An exemplary case is presented and surgical management in this situation is discussed.
-
The effects of kinetic therapy on the oxygenation in the injured lung of 111 polytrauma patients were analysed in an open prospective study. The patient collective comprised 82 men and 29 women. For the total group, the average age was 38.3 years (+/- 16.1). ⋯ No patient of the prophylaxis group developed an ALI or ARDS. The mortality rate in the total group of 10.8% was relatively low in comparison with other published data. Consistent kinetic therapy integrated in a standardised treatment regimen contributes towards improving the negative outcome to date of patients with severe respiratory failure after major trauma.
-
Humeral head fractures are commonly found in elderly patients. A high rate of spontaneous rotator cuff tears in this patient group may endanger good results following surgical treatment. 70 patients > 65 years with dislocated humeral head fractures were prospectively studied and treated surgically following a standardised treatment protocol. ⋯ The prevalence of rotator cuff tears in elderly patients with dislocated humeral head fractures is significantly smaller than expected referring to magnetic resonance-, sonographic and cadaveric studies of same-age patients without fracture. Therefore the rotator cuff may serve as retention anchor for the surgical treatment of dislocated humeral head fractures in elderly patients.