Injury
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Current evidence indicates that fracture healing assessment is limited to the use of one or two domains (such as pain, range of motion or mobility) in any single study. Functional outcome measures, which include physician-rated or observer-based impairment ratings and patient self-reported or observer-based activity limitation measures, better position the effectiveness of a given intervention towards patient-important outcomes. ⋯ We recommend outcome measures with established and verified reliability and validity. Policy-makers and other stakeholders need to have an accurate assessment of treatment outcome that includes changes in function over time-adequate measures, should be re-applied at periodic intervals.
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Angiogenesis is a vital component of bone healing. The formation of the new blood vessels at the fracture site restores the hypoxia and nutrient deprivation found at the early stages after fracture whilst at a later stage facilitates osteogenesis by the activity of the osteoprogenitor cells. Emerging evidence suggests that there are certain molecules and gene therapies that could promote new blood vessel formation and as a consequence enhance the local bone healing response. This article summarizes the current in vivo evidence on therapeutic approaches aiming at the augmentation of the angiogenic signalling during bone repair.
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Surgery is a posttraumatic immune stimulus which contributes to the systemic inflammatory response syndrome and multiple organ failure (MOF). Serum markers may facilitate post-injury immune monitoring, predict complications and guide the timing of surgery. ⋯ An increase in posttraumatic serum cytokines has been demonstrated after surgery, but without consistent clinical associations. The timing of surgery may modulate this increase. Future research directions include confirmation of findings in larger populations, clarifying clinical associations, and evaluation of other surgical interventions.
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Comparative Study
Outcome of delayed primary internal fixation of distal radius fractures: A comparative study.
Operative fixation of distal radius fractures using fixed-angle devices has become increasingly common. Although good to excellent results have been reported in acute fractures, little is currently known regarding the fixation of healing displaced distal radius fractures that were presented late. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of internal fixation of distal radius fractures presented late (>21 days) as compared with an acute-care control group. ⋯ Delayed primary operative fixation of displaced unstable distal radial fractures is a viable option for cases that were presented late, with predictable, favourable results. Neither extensile approaches nor formal osteotomies are required.
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This study describes a new surgical strategy for lumbosacral plexus avulsion by transfer of the unaffected contralateral S1 nerve root. ⋯ The extradural S1 nerve root in the unaffected side can be considered as a suitable donor nerve for transfer in patients with root avulsion of the lumbar or sacral nerve plexus.