Clinical orthopaedics and related research
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Thirty-nine patients with tibial plateau fractures and concomitant ligament injury were evaluated at least one year after injury. Ligamentous injury was determined by stress roentgenograms, plain roentgenograms, operative findings, and Pelle-grini-Stieda's ossification. There were 22 isolated medial collateral, eight lateral collateral, one isolated anterior cruciate, and eight combined ligament injuries. ⋯ This study confirms the view that instability is a major cause of unacceptable results in tibial plateau fractures. Operative repair of medial and lateral collateral ligaments, with appropriate treatment of the bony plateau fracture, may reduce late instability and may improve overall morbidity in these concomitant injuries. Cruciate ligament injury associated with a tibial plateau fracture carries a poor prognosis.
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Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. · Dec 1989
Efficacy of intermittent epidural morphine following posterior spinal fusion in children and adolescents.
Postoperative pain is a distressing and disabling feature of scoliosis surgery. Epidural morphine has recently been advocated to reduce the frequency and severity of postoperative pain in adults. A retrospective study of 35 patients was conducted to determine whether epidural administration of morphine is useful in the management of postoperative pain in children and adolescents following posterior spinal fusion. ⋯ On the first postoperative day, the total morphine given averaged only 16.4 mg in patients receiving epidural morphine compared to 27 mg in those receiving only conventional parenteral morphine. Similar significant differences persisted through the second postoperative day. Intermittent epidural injection of small doses of morphine can give satisfactory and prolonged analgesia for early postoperative pain management.
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There are few reports in the literature that deal with the results of total knee arthroplasty in the younger patient. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the results of total knee arthroplasty in patients under the age of 55 years. Ninety-three knee arthroplasties in 62 patients were performed between 1974 and 1982. ⋯ Survivorship analysis resulted in a cumulative survivorship rate of 96% at ten years for the entire group. These results are comparable to the long-term results of total knee arthroplasty in the older patient and better than the results of total hip arthroplasty in the younger patient. Total knee arthroplasty in the younger patient is a reliable and durable procedure but should be used with caution despite the excellent results reported here.
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Digits that were formerly assessed as nonreplantable may now be replanted with the help of the leech Hirudo medicinalis. The early experience with a series of patients who had relative contraindications for replantation is reported. In each case, venous repair was either marginal or technically impossible. ⋯ Patient acceptance was high, and no infections developed. No patient required transfusion. The authors conclude that the use of medicinal leeches shows promise as a safe and effective method of providing temporary venous drainage in replanted digits.