Eur J Trauma Emerg S
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Eur J Trauma Emerg S · Aug 2007
Postoperative Management after Pneumonectomy for Blunt Thoracic Trauma.
Pneumonectomy for blunt thoracic injury carries a high mortality rate. We present a case of severe bilateral blunt thoracic injury in which left pneumonectomy was done. The immediate postoperative measures were directed to maintain right heart performance by minimizing hypoxia, avoiding fluid overload and limiting pulmonary hypertension. We believe that this approach contributed to the favorable outcome of this patient.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg S · Aug 2007
Early Placement of Optional Vena Cava Filter in High-Risk Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury.
Patients sustaining severe trauma are at high risk for the development of venous thromboembolic events (VTE). Pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis may be contraindicated early after trauma due to potential bleeding complications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate safety and feasibility of early prophylactic vena cava filter (VCF) placement and subsequent retrieval in multiple injured patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). ⋯ Early VCF placement may be of benefit for multiple injured patients with TBI when pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis is contraindicated. VCF retrieval is safe and feasible. Filter placement- and retrieval-related morbidity is low.
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Treating proximal humeral fractures surgically has always been a challenge for the orthopaedic trauma surgeon. The challenge was and is due to numerous factors such as the specific anatomy of the proximal humerus, problems of an adequate approach and exposure of the fracture and different fracture fragments, possible iatrogenic injuries to the rotator cuff on approach and the detrimental effects of the former on the latter's gliding and contracting ability after surgery. Furthermore, the very different fracture patterns that can occur at the proximal humerus, the shear number of fragments which can be of extremely bad bone quality, the necessity for anatomic reduction of these fragments with an implant that will allow for a stable osteosynthesis and at the meantime will not impinge in the subacromial area and lastly, the intention of the physician-in-charge to commence with physical therapy as soon as possible post OP. ⋯ Most of the supposedly applicable surgical techniques and implants had major setbacks such as being limited to only very expert hands, necessitating a long-standing postoperative immobilisation, resulting in secondary loosening of implants, secondary loosening of reduction or impaired bone healing and, despite all efforts, finally led to poor function at the shoulder. With the advent of angular stable implants such as angular stable, anatomically contoured plates designed for proximal humeral fractures only and special angular stable nails for the same or similar indications the treatment options and the quality of treatment in this area was much improved. Our experience with angular stable nails of two different manufacturers in now more than 320 implantations reveals that indications for the surgical treatment of such fractures can be extended constantly, that the number of complications will simultaneously decline, the necessity for primary joint arthroplasty even in multiple fragment fractures is minimal and that long-term results are, comparing the published results in the literature with those of our institution, equal if not superior to other treatment options.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg S · Aug 2007
The Evaluation of Protective Effects of FK-506 on Neural Ischemic-Reperfusion Injury: an Experimental Study.
In this study, we aimed to delineate the mode of neuroprotective action of FK-506, and demonstrated that FK-506 could decrease oxidative stress and apoptotic cell death in an in vivo rat model of neural ischemia-reperfusion after hemorrhagic shock. ⋯ The results suggest that the prophylactic use of FK-506 in an in situ ischemic neural tissue may prevent reperfusion injury.
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Replacement of an almost completely absent medial meniscus with a collagen implant (CMI), reconstruction of form and function of the medial meniscus, delay of the development of arthrosis deformans. ⋯ 60 patients (19-68 years, average 41.6 years) with subtotal loss of the medial meniscus and varus morphotype were treated from January 2001 to May 2004 as part of a prospective, randomized, arthroscopically controlled study. The sample consisted of 30 patients with high tibial valgus osteotomy combined with implantation of a CMI, and 30 patients with valgization correction osteotomy only. The CMI had to be removed from one patient because of a dislocation. Evaluation on the Lysholm Score, IKDC (International Knee Documentation Committee), and subjective pain data revealed only slight, nonsignificant differences for 39 patients after 24 months (CMI and correction n = 23; correction only n = 16). The chondroprotective effect of the CMI in the long term remains to be seen.