The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Jan 2007
Internal oblique radiographs for diagnosis of nondisplaced or minimally displaced lateral condylar fractures of the humerus in children.
Several radiographic criteria based on only standard anteroposterior and lateral radiographs have been suggested for predicting the stability of lateral condylar fractures of the humerus in children. Despite adherence to these guidelines, further displacement often occurs after the initial diagnosis and stability assessment. The purpose of this study was to define the usefulness of an internal oblique radiograph in the assessment of these fractures. ⋯ It is not optimal to evaluate the amount of displacement and the stability of a lateral condylar fracture of the humerus in children on the basis of just anteroposterior and lateral elbow radiographs. Classifications should be based on the greatest displacement seen on at least three radiographic views, especially the internal oblique view.
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Jan 2007
Factors associated with prolonged wound drainage after primary total hip and knee arthroplasty.
Prolonged wound drainage following total hip or total knee arthroplasty has been associated with an increased risk of postoperative morbidity. The purpose of this study was to determine the pharmacologic, surgical, and patient-specific factors that are associated with prolonged wound drainage and the relationship of this complication to the length of hospital stay and the rate of wound infections. ⋯ Morbid obesity, the use of low-molecular-weight heparin, and a higher drain output were associated with a prolonged time until the postoperative wound was dry following a primary total hip arthroplasty, whereas a higher drain output was the only risk factor associated with prolonged drainage following a primary total knee arthroplasty. Prolonged drainage was associated with a higher rate of infection following a primary total hip arthroplasty, whereas obesity was the only identified independent risk factor for postoperative infection following a primary total knee arthroplasty.
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Dec 2006
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyPhysical therapy alone compared with core decompression and physical therapy for femoral head osteonecrosis in sickle cell disease. Results of a multicenter study at a mean of three years after treatment.
Osteonecrosis of the femoral head is a common complication in patients with sickle cell disease, and collapse of the femoral head occurs in 90% of patients within five years after the diagnosis of the osteonecrosis. However, the efficacy of hip core decompression to prevent the progression of osteonecrosis in these patients is still controversial. ⋯ In this randomized prospective study, physical therapy alone appeared to be as effective as hip core decompression followed by physical therapy in improving hip function and postponing the need for additional surgical intervention at a mean of three years after treatment.
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National data documenting the impact of pediatric trauma in general and of pediatric orthopaedic trauma in particular on the rates of hospital admissions and emergency-room visits have been reported. This study documents the frequency of and work involved in the care of pediatric orthopaedic trauma by a single urban pediatric orthopaedic group practice. ⋯ This study documents the frequency and work relative value of the care of musculoskeletal injuries in an urban pediatric orthopaedic practice in the outpatient and inpatient settings. It is a snapshot in time of current trends in pediatric orthopaedic practice, but these data may have implications for future resource allocation of the pediatric orthopaedic manpower in North America.
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Dec 2006
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyOpen reduction and internal fixation compared with circular fixator application for bicondylar tibial plateau fractures. Results of a multicenter, prospective, randomized clinical trial.
Standard open reduction and internal fixation techniques have been successful in restoring osseous alignment for bicondylar tibial plateau fractures; however, surgical morbidity, especially soft-tissue infection and wound necrosis, has been reported frequently. For this reason, several investigators have proposed minimally invasive methods of fracture reduction followed by circular external fixation as an alternative approach. To our knowledge, there has been no direct comparison of the two operative approaches. ⋯ Both techniques provide a satisfactory quality of fracture reduction. Because percutaneous reduction and application of a circular fixator results in a shorter hospital stay, a marginally faster return of function, and similar clinical outcomes and because the number and severity of complications is much higher with open reduction and internal fixation, we believe that circular external fixation is an attractive option for these difficult-to-treat fractures. Regardless of treatment method, patients with this injury have substantial residual limb-specific and general health deficits at two years of follow-up.