Acta orthopaedica Scandinavica
-
In a prospective study, 25 displaced ankle fractures were treated with one or two biodegradable rods (Biofix), sizes 3.2 or 4.5 mm. In 2 cases the medial malleolus fractured during drilling. At the 1-year follow-up of 22 cases, the following complications had occurred: sinus formation in 1 case and osteolysis corresponding to the fracture line and/or drill channels in 9 cases, 2 of whom had symptoms. 2 patients had been reoperated on, one for pseudarthrosis and another for secondary fracture displacement. Because of the high complication rate and the unknown importance of osteolysis formation, we cannot recommend biodegradable fixation with rods of 3.2 or 4.5 mm length as a supplement to the treatment of displaced ankle fractures, particularly of medial fractures.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effects of desmopressin on blood loss in hip arthroplasty. Controlled study in 50 patients.
50 patients undergoing elective total hip replacement under epidural anesthesia and dextran infusion were given two doses of the vasopressin analogue desmopressin 0.3 micrograms/kg BW or placebo in a double-blinded randomized prospective study. Intraoperative blood loss and drainage loss did not differ significantly between groups, but desmopressin reduced the mean total blood loss (calculated from hemoglobin decrease and blood transfusions) by 310 mL (P less than 0.05).
-
Editorial Comment
Autotransfusion. A complement to conventional transfusion.