Clinical orthopaedics and related research
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Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. · Sep 1979
Effect of tourniquet time on postoperative quadriceps function.
Postoperative weakness of quadriceps function following knee arthrotomy has often been attributed to pain inhibition or lack of motivation. However, the delayed recovery may be the result of a slowly resolving axonal compression syndrome caused by the pneumatic tourniquet. Forty-eight patients who underwent knee arthrotomy were evaluated including postoperative electromyographic testing and clinical follow-up. ⋯ An effort was made in 20 patients to substantially decrease the duration of tourniquet compression by limiting tourniquet inflation to intracapsular portions of the procedures. Fewer EMG changes and more rapid clinical recovery were noted in patients with decreased tourniquet times, suggesting that it is beneficial to minimize the duration of tourniquet compression. In all patients who returned for serial testing, the EMG abnormalities eventually resolved.
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Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. · Jul 1979
The treatment of fracture dislocations of the thoracolumbar spine with halofemoral traction and Harrington rod instrumentation.
Although function does not return after complete spinal cord injuries, partial recovery is possible after incomplete lesions Halofemoral traction may produce early decompression of injured neural elements in the spinal canal by anatomic realignment of the spinal column. It also acts to stabilize the very unstable thoracolumbar fracture dislocation and prevent displacement as well as further neurologic trauma. The body jacket is easy to make and apply. It allows early mobilization of patients when utilized in conjunction with the posterior spinal fusion and Harrington rod fixation.
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Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. · Jun 1979
Case ReportsIntertrochanteric fractures of the hip treated with the hip compression screw: analysis of problems.
Seventy-five patients were treated for intertrochanteric hip fractures with the hip compression screw. There were 4 cases in which the lag screw was inserted twice into the femoral head. Three of these patients had a poor result due to superolateral migration and extrusion of the lag screw. ⋯ Satisfactory guide wire placement is essential for a one time, precise insertion of the lag screw into the femoral head. The use of a threaded tip guide wire minimizes the chance of it falling out when withdrawing the reamer or tap. If the position of a lag screw is unacceptable, it seems better to insert a flanged nail rather than a second screw in a second track.
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Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. · Jun 1979
The mechanisms of severe arterial injury in surgery of the hip joint.
Vascular accidents occurring in the course of hip surgery may reach potentially catastrophic dimensions by posing an immediate and sudden threat to life and limb. This is a report of 15 cases with severe arterial injury representing 0.2--0.3% of all reconstructive hip operations performed during an 8 year period. In 6 cases perforation of either the external iliac artery, the common femoral artery of main branches of the lateral and medial circumflex femoral artery were caused by the tip of a narrow-pointed Hohmann retractor used to expose the hip joint. ⋯ For hemorrhage resulting during replacement of firmly embedded hip prosthesis it might become necessary to ligate the internal iliac artery. Reconstruction of obliterated arteries should call for the cooperation of the vascular surgeon for eventual angioplasty. Angiologic examination of the lower extremities is mandatory whenever severe arterial trauma has occurred in the course of hip surgery and is best performed by measuring the ankle blood pressure with a Doppler ultrasound probe.
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The management of snake bites once the patient reaches the hospital should be to obtain the necessary blood parameters (type and cross-matched blood, complete blood count, platelets, PT, PTT, fibrinogen and fibrin split products, electrolytes and calcium), to evaluate the fang marks and the neurovascular status of the involved extremity and to monitor systemic signs and symptoms. These steps are extensively described in the literature, and are commonly agreed upon. ⋯ If intracompartment pressures are less than 30 mm Hg, surgical intervention is not necessary; antivenom is continued as necessary and the wick catheter measurements are repeated if indicated. If pressures are greater than 30 mm Hg,immediate surgical decompression is advisable.