Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery
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Thirty-three cases of acute septic arthritis of the hip in children were treated at our hospital from 1986 to 1997. The average follow-up period was 6 years (range 2-11 years). In 17 cases the right hip was affected, and in 16 the left hip. ⋯ Satisfactory results can also be expected with arthrocentesis and medical treatment if the diagnosis is made early, and antibiotic treatment affords a good clinical response. Four out of 7 cases with an unsatisfactory result were associated with osteomyelitis of the proximal femur. The two most important factors associated with poor results included a delay of definite treatment lasting longer than 5 days and the presence of osteomyelitis of the proximal femur.
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Arch Orthop Trauma Surg · Oct 2001
Risk factors for long-term treatment of whiplash injury in Japan: analysis of 400 cases.
We studied the risk factors for long-term treatment of 400 patients with whiplash injury in Japan. Most of the patients were injured in rear-end car collisions, but none had cervical bone lesions or spinal cord or root lesions. We evaluated the following risk factors: sex, age, degree of vehicle damage, and admission or non-admission to the hospital. ⋯ Damage to more than half of the car was associated with a longer treatment. Patients who were admitted to the hospital need treatment longer than the non-admission group. Thus, age over 30 years, a large amount of damage to the vehicle, and admission to the hospital are predictors of long-term treatment for whiplash injury in Japan.
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Arch Orthop Trauma Surg · Oct 2001
Complications of K-wire fixation of fractures and dislocations in the hand and wrist.
Kirschner wire (K-wire) fixation of fractures and dislocations of the hand and wrist is a common procedure. Of the 590 K-wire fixations performed on 236 patients, 36 (15.2%) experienced complications which included osteomyelitis, tendon rupture, nerve lesion, pin tract infection, pin loosening or migration. ⋯ K-wire fixation is a simple but demanding procedure that cannot be left to an inexperienced resident. Elimination of technical failure, supervision in the operating room, close monitoring, prompt treatment upon discovery of a complication, and improvement of patient compliance can reduce the rate of complications.