J Trauma
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The purpose of this article was to compare clinical and functional outcomes of surgically treated trimalleolar fractures with bimalleolar and unimalleolar ankle fractures. ⋯ Most patients after unstable ankle fractures treated surgically do well; however, some patients continue to have some pain and dysfunction at 1 year. There was a significant difference in outcomes comparing patients with unstable ankle fractures associated with and without posterior malleolus fractures. The presence of a posterior malleolus fracture may indicate higher energy of injury, and it does seem to result in worse outcomes at 1 year, but this seems to even out over time as was seen at 2-year follow-up in a smaller group of patients.
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Basic science research suggests that sex hormones affect survival after traumatic shock. This study sought to determine the independent effect of gender on mortality among trauma patients in different hormone-related age groups. ⋯ Females aged between 13 and 64 years exhibit significantly lower mortality than males after trauma-associated shock. This outcome difference is lost at the extremes of age (preadolescent children and individuals aged ≥ 65 years) where the effects of sex hormones are absent or diminished. These findings suggest that hormonal differences play a role in the gender-based outcome disparities after traumatic shock.
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Although the benefits of acute stabilization of long bone fractures are recognized, the role of early fixation of unstable pelvis and acetabular fractures is not well-defined. The purpose of this study was to review complications and hospital course of patients treated surgically for pelvis and acetabulum fractures. We hypothesized that early definitive fixation would reduce morbidity and decrease length of stay. ⋯ Early fixation of unstable pelvis and acetabular fractures in multiply injured patients reduces morbidity and length of intensive care unit stay, which may decrease treatment costs. Further study to ascertain the effects of associated systemic injuries and the utility of physiologic and laboratory parameters during resuscitation may delineate recommendations for optimal surgical timing in specific patient groups.
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Mobile medical teams (MMTs) provide specialized care on-scene with the purpose to improve outcome. However, this additional care could prolong the on-scene time (OST), which is related to mortality. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of MMT involvement on the mortality rate and on the OST, in a Dutch consecutive cohort of Level I trauma patients. ⋯ In this study, OSTs were long compared with PHTLS recommendations. MMT involvement slightly prolonged the OST. Trauma patients with MMT involvement had a high mortality, but after correction for patient and injury characteristics, the mortality rate did not significantly differ from patients without MMT involvement.