The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Feb 2010
Meta AnalysisThe prevalence of and specific risk factors for venous thromboembolic disease following elective spine surgery.
Venous thromboembolic disease, including deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, is a serious and potentially life-threatening complication following orthopaedic surgical procedures. We sought to investigate the prevalence of thromboembolism as well as the efficacy and complications of various prophylactic measures in a population of patients who had undergone elective spine surgery. ⋯ The risk of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism is relatively low following elective spine surgery, particularly for patients who receive pharmacologic prophylaxis. Unfortunately, pharmacologic prophylaxis exposes patients to a greater risk of epidural hematoma. More evidence is needed prior to establishing a protocol for prophylaxis against venous thromboembolic disease in patients undergoing elective spine surgery. Future prospective studies should seek to define the safety of various prophylactic modalities and to identify specific subpopulations of patients who are at greater risk for venous thromboembolism.
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Feb 2010
Physicians' ability to manually detect isolated elevations in leg intracompartmental pressure.
Serial physical examination is recommended for patients for whom there is a high index of suspicion for compartment syndrome. This examination is more difficult when performed on an obtunded patient and relies on the sensitivity of manual palpation to detect compartment firmness-a direct manifestation of increased intracompartmental pressure. This study was performed to establish the sensitivity of manual palpation for detecting critical pressure elevations in the leg compartments most frequently involved in clinical compartment syndrome. ⋯ Manual detection of compartment firmness associated with critical elevations in intracompartmental pressure is poor.
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Feb 2010
Comparative StudySpinal anesthesia mediates improved early function and pain relief following surgical repair of ankle fractures.
To our knowledge, no study to date has compared the use of spinal and general anesthesia in patients undergoing operative fixation of an unstable ankle fracture. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of anesthesia type on postoperative pain and function in a large cohort of patients. ⋯ Patients who undergo fixation of an ankle fracture under spinal anesthesia seem to experience less pain and have better function in the early postoperative period. We recommend that, unless there is a specific contraindication, patients should be offered spinal anesthesia when undergoing operative fixation of an ankle fracture.
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Feb 2010
Intraobserver and interobserver agreement in the measurement of displaced humeral medial epicondyle fractures in children.
Fractures of the humeral medial epicondyle occur frequently in children. The decision to pursue operative or nonoperative treatment often hinges on the amount of perceived fracture displacement. This study was performed to assess both intraobserver and interobserver agreement in the measurements of displacement of these fractures on radiographs by orthopaedic surgeons with various levels of training. ⋯ Intraobserver agreement with regard to measurement of displacement of medial epicondyle fractures of the humerus varied among the reviewers but was low overall. Interobserver agreement was best for the measurements on the anteroposterior radiographs, but this was also low overall. These findings cast doubt on whether the amount of perceived displacement should be used as a criterion for choosing operative or nonoperative management of fractures of the humeral medial epicondyle. Agreement may be improved to acceptable levels by adopting a standard set of measurement guidelines, which include use of the anteroposterior radiograph when possible and consistently measuring at the point of maximal displacement.
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Feb 2010
Outcome following open reduction and internal fixation of open pilon fractures.
A variety of treatment options exist for open pilon fractures of the distal end of the tibia. In this study, we evaluated the use of a staged protocol designed to minimize the risk of soft-tissue complications and to allow for optimal reduction of the fracture. ⋯ Open reduction and internal fixation of open pilon fractures was accomplished with an acceptable outcome and a low prevalence of soft-tissue complications. We believe these results can be reproduced through routine use of an individualized treatment algorithm including the use of staged procedures, meticulous soft-tissue management, liberal use of temporizing external fixation, and a patient-specific approach to fixation and soft-tissue coverage.