Eur J Trauma Emerg S
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Eur J Trauma Emerg S · Dec 2012
Predictors of early outcome after acute appendicitis: is delaying surgery for acute appendicitis an option? A retrospective study.
This study analysed the clinical and para-clinical criteria that may allow surgeons and emergency physicians to take a decision regarding the surgery of acute appendicitis. ⋯ Patient delay is a determining factor for the grade of appendicitis. It has an influence on the complications, length of hospital stay and duration of antibiotic treatment, unlike hospital delay.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg S · Dec 2012
Treatment of radial head and neck fractures: in favor of anatomical reconstruction.
Radial head fractures represent the most common elbow fractures. Undisplaced fractures usually occur in isolation and can be treated nonsurgically. Displaced fractures should be treated surgically. ⋯ With the development of new locking plates especially designed for the maintenance of radial head fractures, the indications for osteosynthesis may be extended. As radial head fractures are complicated by a high percentage of ligamentous injuries and concomitant elbow fractures such as the coronoid, capitellum, and proximal ulna, these additional injuries have to be taken into account. The current treatment concepts are discussed within this paper.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg S · Dec 2012
The epidemiology of amputation injuries in the Austrian helicopter emergency medical service: a retrospective, nationwide cohort study.
Data on the epidemiological characteristics of traumatic amputations in prehospital emergency care, especially in the context of air rescue, are scarce. Therefore, we aimed to describe the epidemiology of total and subtotal amputation injuries encountered by the OEAMTC helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) in Austria, based on an almost nationwide sample. ⋯ In the HEMS, amputation injuries are infrequent and mostly not life-threatening. However, HEMS crews need to maintain their focus on providing sufficient and fast primary care while facilitating rapid transport to a specialized hospital. The knowledge of the epidemiological characteristics of amputation injuries encountered in the HEMS gained in this study may be useful for educational and operational purposes.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg S · Dec 2012
Fascia iliaca compartment block reduces morphine requirement pre-operatively for patients with fractured neck of femur.
Fascia iliaca compartment block, performed in the emergency department (A&E) in patients presenting with femoral neck fracture, has gained increasing recognition as an adjunctive analgesic. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether fascia iliaca block (FIB) significantly reduced the requirement for systemic opiates in the pre-operative setting. ⋯ Fascia iliaca compartment block is a safe and effective method of providing analgesia to patients with fractured neck of femur and reduces morphine requirement.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg S · Dec 2012
Clinical outcomes following invasive versus noninvasive preoperative stabilization of closed diaphyseal femur fractures.
The use of invasive traction (INV-T) to stabilize femur fractures prior to fixation (open reduction and internal fixation, ORIF) remains controversial. Some centers have utilized noninvasive traction (NINV-T) or splinting preoperatively. It is possible that INV-T decreases hemorrhage. However, the use of INV-T in pediatric patients and for femoral neck fractures in adults is associated with worsened outcomes. We hypothesized that there is no difference in the need for transfusion between those who receive INV-T and NINV-T. ⋯ INV-T is not associated with improved outcomes in adult patients with closed mid-shaft femoral fractures who are operated upon within 48 h of arrival.