J Trauma
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The surgical treatment for displaced humeral head fractures overlooks a broad variety of surgical techniques and implant systems. A standard operative procedure has not yet been established. In this article, we report our experience with a second-generation locking plate for the humeral head fracture that is applied in a standardized nine-step minimally invasive surgical technique (MIS). ⋯ MIS surgery of displaced humeral head fractures can be performed in all types of humeral head fractures leading to low complication rates and good clinical outcome. A standardized stepwise procedure in fracture reduction and fixation is recommended to achieve reliable good results.
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Percutaneous tracheostomy is a routine procedure in the intensive care unit (ICU). Some surgeons perform percutaneous tracheostomies using bronchoscopy believing that it increases safety. The purpose of this study was to evaluate percutaneous tracheostomy in the trauma population and to determine whether the use of a bronchoscope decreases the complication rate and improves safety. ⋯ Percutaneous tracheostomy was safely and effectively performed by an experienced surgical team both with and without bronchoscopic guidance with no difference in the complication rates. This study suggests that the use of bronchoscopic guidance during tracheostomy is not routinely required but may be used as an important adjunct in selected patients, such as those with HALO cervical fixation, obesity, or difficult anatomy.
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Comparative Study
Racial odds for amputation ratio in traumatic lower extremity fractures.
Recent studies have demonstrated that black patients receive substandard care compared with white patients across healthcare settings. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of race on the management (salvage vs. amputation) of traumatic lower extremity open fractures. ⋯ There exists a racial disparity in the management of lower extremity open fractures. Older blacks have greater odds of amputation that is not explained by mechanism. In contrast, younger blacks have lower odds for amputation that is only partially explained by mechanism of injury.
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The purpose of this study was to identify which age-related groups of hemodynamically stable blunt trauma patients will present a positive cost-to-benefit ratio, in regard to the screening of incidental findings on Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST). ⋯ A systematic examination of the liver and biliary tree and both kidneys of specific age groups during FAST screening of hemodynamically stable blunt trauma patients may disclose a potentially unknown pathology with a positive cost-to-benefit ratio.