Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery
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Arch Orthop Trauma Surg · Dec 2004
Complications following the treatment of trochanteric fractures with the gamma nail.
The treatment of trochanteric fractures with the use of gamma nails has become an established method. Despite the good and reliable results, some typical failures and complications may occur. It was our purpose to analyse the most common complications and their treatment options. ⋯ Most complications after gamma nail fixation can be prevented by following certain rules. The other inevitable problems can be dealt with either through a conversion to a total hip replacement, a re-osteosynthesis with a long gamma nail or an additional condylar plate. Conversion to total hip replacement may be a demanding operation with a higher than normal complication rate. Removal of the gamma nail should be performed cautiously as re-fractures can occur.
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Arch Orthop Trauma Surg · Dec 2004
The influence of preclinical anaemia on outcome following total hip replacement.
Preoperative anaemia confers a higher intraoperative and postoperative risk of complications on a patient. Preclinical anaemia is defined as a patient with laboratory indices of anaemia but without any of the symptoms. The patient population who undergo total hip replacement (THR) are elderly and are more likely to fall into this category. Our aim was to assess the effect of preclinical anaemia on a patient's postoperative course. ⋯ Identification and treatment of patients with preclinical anaemia preoperatively may reduce postoperative infection and transfusion needs and result in a shorter inpatient stay.
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Arch Orthop Trauma Surg · Dec 2004
Clinical outcomes in the revision of unicondylar arthoplasties to bicondylar arthroplasties. A matched-pair study.
The aim of the following study was to find out how much a previously implanted unicondylar prosthesis affects the clinical and functional outcome of a total knee arthroplasty in case of revision surgery. ⋯ Revision of an unicondylar to a bicondylar knee replacement showed inferior functional results in comparison to primary bicondylar knee arthroplasty. Patients are satisfied after conversion of an unicondylar to bicondylar prosthesis, but not quite as much as patients who received a primary bicondylar arthroplasty. However, in the small number of patients where revision surgery after failed unicondylar prosthesis is required, the patient had already been successfully treated for many years.
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Arch Orthop Trauma Surg · Dec 2004
Low-severity metacarpal and phalangeal fractures treated with miniature plates and screws.
The results reported in the literature of metacarpal and phalangeal fractures treated with miniature plates and screws are scarce and contradictory. The aim of our study was to evaluate the functional results after low-severity metacarpal and phalangeal fractures treated by miniature plates and screws. ⋯ These very favourable results suggest that miniature plates and screws are a possible choice in the treatment of these fractures.