Injury
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Comparative Study
A retrospective study of antibiotic prophylaxis value in surgical treatment of lower limb fracture.
Surgical site infections (SSI) are nosocomial infections that cause considerable problems in orthopaedic surgery. Antibiotic prophylaxis can be used to reduce the risk for SSI. There is no universal antibiotic that can be recommended for prophylaxis in terms of coverage of all possible pathogens because of antibiotic resistance, and there are no universal recommendations for different types of patients in terms of injury type, selected operation and risk factors for development of SSI. The aim of this study was to analyse the effectiveness of antibiotic prophylaxis in surgical treatment (ORIF) of closed lower limb fractures in young, healthy patients. ⋯ Antibiotic prophylaxis was ineffective in preventing SSI in patients with no risk factors for SSI who were undergoing ORIF for closed lower limb fractures.
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Grade III open fractures of the tibia represent a serious injury. It is recognised that combined management of these cases by experienced orthopaedic and plastic surgeons improves outcomes. Previous studies have not considered the timing of definitive soft tissue cover in relation to the definitive orthopaedic management. This paper reviews the outcomes in patients treated in an orthoplastic unit where the emphasis was on undertaking the definitive orthopaedic and plastic surgical procedures in a single stage, following initial debridement and temporary stabilisation as necessary. ⋯ Joint orthoplastic operating lists facilitate simultaneous definitive fixation and cover that greatly reduces infection rates. Based on our experience presented in this paper, we believe that emphasis should be placed on timely transfer to a specialist centre, aiming for a single-stage combined orthoplastic procedure to achieve definitive fixation and soft tissue coverage and optimal outcomes.
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Comparative Study
Operative treatment of intraarticular calcaneal fractures: Anatomical and functional outcome of three different operative techniques.
Management of the intraarticular calcaneal fracture is a challenge. The optimal method of treatment remains controversial. This study evaluates the anatomical and functional postoperative outcomes of displaced intraarticular calcaneal fractures that have been treated using three different techniques of ORIF. ⋯ In the representative sample of 103 operatively treated intraarticular calcaneal fractures, anatomical and functional postoperative efficacy outcomes appeared to be similar in all three treatment groups. High-grade displaced intraarticular calcaneal fractures (Sanders IV) had worse functional results irrespective of the type of operation. The optimal method for management of intraarticular calcaneal fracture is operative, using the standard anatomic calcaneal plate. Autologous bone grafting is not required. Large sample comparative studies are still needed.
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We have used the principles of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in the treatment of nonunion of fractures in 44 patients (49 bones). There were 35 males and 9 females with a mean age of 34 years(range14-70). Clinical and radiological assessment was performed at regular time intervals with a minimum follow up of 18 months. ⋯ Failure in the remaining cases was due to more than 5mm gap, instability, compromised vascularity (type of bone) and deep low grade infection; which was discovered at the time of surgical intervention when no signs of radiological healing occurred after 6 months from treatment. Failing sites were shaft of femur, scaphoid, neck of humerus and neck of femur. No local complications were observed.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Establishing a definitive airway in the trauma patient by novice intubators: A randomised crossover simulation study.
Establishing a definitive airway, defined as a tube placed in the trachea with cuff inflated below the vocal cords, is standard of care in pre-hospital airway management of the trauma patient. However, in this setting, and using manual in-line stabilisation of the neck, success rate of intubation by inexperience providers is suboptimal. The use of supraglottic airway devices that allow blind tracheal intubation has been suggested as an alternative method by the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) programme of the American College of Surgeons. We aimed to compare intubation with the standard intubation technique (direct laryngoscopy [DL]) with blind intubation through an intubating-laryngeal mask airway (I-LMA) during manual in-line stabilisation of the neck. ⋯ Novice intubators had a higher success rate of intubation with I-LMA than with DL, but duration of intubation was longer with I-LMA. Time to achieve correct placement of I-LMA within the airway was shorter than duration of tracheal intubation with DL. Findings of this simulation study suggest that in the presence of manual in-line stabilisation of the neck, I-LMA-guided intubation is the preferred technique for novice intubators.