Injury
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The study aims to examine the severity of initial impairment and recovery rate of return-to-work (RTW) predictors among workers with traumatic limb injury. ⋯ Our study provides researchers and clinicians with evidence to understand the baseline impairment and rate of recovery towards RTW by explaining the predictors of RTW among workers with traumatic limb injuries.
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Controlled Clinical Trial
A novel tool for continuous fracture aftercare - Clinical feasibility and first results of a new telemetric gait analysis insole.
Weight bearing after lower extremity fractures still remains a highly controversial issue. Even in ankle fractures, the most common lower extremity injury no standard aftercare protocol has been established. Average non weight bearing times range from 0 to 7 weeks, with standardised, radiological healing controls at fixed time intervals. ⋯ Highly individual rehabilitation patterns were seen in all patients. Aftercare protocols should be adjusted to real-time patient conditions, rather than fixed intervals and limits. With a real-time measuring device high performers could be identified and influenced towards optimal healing conditions early, while low performers are recognised and missing healing influences could be corrected according to patient condition.
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Salvage repair after complex upper limb traumatic injury is surgically challenging due to underlying major arterial impairment with complicating a large-sized soft tissue defect. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of using a giant-sized (≥100 cm(2)) flow-through venous flap for reconstruction of dual or multiple forearm, metacarpal, or digital arteries after complex upper limb traumatic injury. ⋯ The flow-through venous flap is an effective and safe treatment alternative for salvage therapy of a ≥100-cm(2) complex upper limb traumatic injury with dual or multiple major arterial impairment. This technique allows simultaneous reconstruction of dual or multiple artery injuries and an extensive soft tissue defect. Serious surgical site infection remains a major safety concern and necessitates radical debridement in complicating cases.
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Comparative Study
Expandable proximal femoral nail versus gamma proximal femoral nail for the treatment of AO/OTA 31A1-3 fractures.
The gamma-proximal femoral nail (GPFN) and the expandable proximal femoral nail (EPFN) are two commonly used intramedullary devices for the treatment of AO 31A1-3 proximal femur fractures. The aim of this study was to compare outcomes and complication rates in patients treated by both devices. ⋯ Good clinical outcomes and low complication rates in the GPFN and the EPFN groups indicate essentially equivalent safety and reliability on the part of both devices for the treatment of proximal femoral fractures.
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The optimal management of distal radius fractures remains controversial. The aim of this study was to compare the radiographic and functional outcomes of 318 patients who underwent k-wire fixation or volar plating for fractures of the distal radius. Patients were aged between 20 and 65 years and followed for a mean of 32 months. ⋯ Although volar plate treatment resulted in a superior radiological outcome, there was no evidence that this translated into a superior functional outcome (DASH 13.12 vs. 11.25, p=0.28) (PRWE 17.56 vs. 16.31, p=0.69). The k-wiring procedure remains a suitable inexpensive option for simple fractures. Volar plating should be reserved for complex fractures that cannot be reduced by closed means.