The American journal of orthopedics
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Case Reports
Fat embolism syndrome in an adolescent before surgical treatment of an isolated closed tibial shaft fracture.
Fat embolism syndrome (FES) occurs most commonly in adults with high-energy trauma, especially fractures of the long-bones and pelvis. Because of unique age-related physiologic differences in the immature skeleton, as well as differences in fracture management in pediatric patients, FES is rare in children. ⋯ A high index of suspicion is required to make the diagnosis promptly and institute appropriate treatment. Intramedullary nailing of a long-bone fracture can be done safely and successfully after resolution of the FES.
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We evaluated the stability of locking and nonlocking plate fixation of the pubic symphysis in a cadaveric model of an unstable pelvic injury. Five fresh cadaver pelves--intact and with an unfixed simulated Tile B injury--were tested under compressive load simulating a 2-legged stance. ⋯ Symphysis pubis fixation alone reduced the anterior superior pubic symphysis mean gap displacement by 95% and the anterior inferior pubic symphysis by 78%, compared with the noninstrumented Tile B injury. There is no evidence that anteriorly placed locking constructs confer an advantage, in terms of pubic symphysis stability, over standard anterior compression plates for Tile B injuries.