Injury
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Although most tibial shaft fractures are expected to heal within 24 weeks, the long-term effects of these injuries on patients in terms of self-reported health status, disability, and pain are largely unknown. ⋯ These results indicate that long-term physical disability remains a problem for many patients following tibial shaft fracture, and they should be considered when providing prognostic information to patients. Further research is required to identify the specific health problems experienced as well as the factors contributing to disability in order to inform post-fracture rehabilitation planning.
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Failure of a dynamic hip screw (DHS) fixation leads to decreased mobility of the patient and frequently to a decrease in general health. The most common mode of failure of a DHS is cut out of the lag screw from the femoral head. The second most common mode of failure is lift-off of the plate from the femur. The aim of this laboratory-based experimental study was to determine whether a DHS secured to an osteoporotic femur with a locking screw plate would provide a stronger construct than the standard DHS plate. ⋯ A dynamic hip screw with fixed angle locking screws would reduce the risk of DHS failure. A locking screw DHS would be particularly useful in patients with osteoporotic bone, and in patients with less stable fracture configurations.
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Outcome measures following hip fracture usually consider morbidity and mortality following injury.(5) Few studies have looked at post injury discharge location as an outcome measure following hip fracture. Discharging patients to a different location frequently delays discharge whilst the necessary social arrangements are made. Early identification of these patients could reduce these delays. The aim of this study was to determine factors influencing discharge location following hip fracture. ⋯ The following risk factors are associated with increased risk of requiring discharge to an alternative location: (1) pre-injury dependence, (2) increasing age, (3) male sex, (4) injury sustained whilst in hospital. Early identification of patients requiring DAL could reduce inpatient delays.
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The nonagenarian population is increasing yet there is little known about their survival and mortality rates following hip fractures. The aim was to review and evaluate all the nonagenarians who underwent surgery for intra- or extracapsular hip fracture at the Trauma Unit of the Department of Surgery at the Academic Medical Center (AMC) in Amsterdam in the past 20 years. In this retrospective study, 155 nonagenarians sustaining hip fractures between 1982 and 2001 were included and reviewed. ⋯ Mean survival for the whole population, men and women was 756, 544 and 787 days, respectively. This study shows that ASA-II nonagenarians with hip fractures have comparable life expectancy compared to nonagenarians without a hip fracture. Shortening of hospital stay after hip fracture surgery reduces the costs and will benefit the patient.