Injury
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Intraoperative use of tranexamic acid (TXA) has been proven to reduce the administration of allogenic blood transfusion in total joint arthroplasty (TJA) patients. Data on TXA efficacy in reducing blood loss in trauma patients undergoing hip hemiarthroplasty are sparse, and its use is not yet well-established. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of intraoperative TXA use in patients undergoing hip hemiarthroplasty as treatment for intracapsular femoral neck fracture. ⋯ Similar to the known effect of TXA in TJA patients, the use of TXA treatment in patients undergoing hip hemiarthroplasty led to a significant reduction in 30-day mortality, in postoperative blood loss and in the proportion of patients requiring allogenic blood transfusions.
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Adequate debridement of necrotic bone is of paramount importance for eradication of infection in chronic osteomyelitis. Currently, no tools are available to detect the exact amount of necrotic bone in order to optimize surgical resection. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of an intraoperative illumination method (VELscope®) and the correlation between intraoperative and pathohistological findings in surgically treated chronic fracture related infection patients. ⋯ The fluorescence-assisted, intraoperative detection of necrotic and viable bone using the VELscope® is an easy-to-use procedure that can help surgeons to optimize intraoperative bone resection in chronic fracture related infections by unmasking viable from necrotic bone tissue. This may help to improve resection techniques and eventually treatment outcome in patients in the future.
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To determine patient demographics, associated primary diagnoses, mortality risk, and inpatient mortality of admitted drowning patients in the U.S. ⋯ Younger, male, and white patients accounted for the majority of drowning admissions and deaths. A significantly larger proportion of Medicaid patients died compared to inpatient mortality of those with other insurance. Recognizing those most impacted by drowning could help better tailor prevention efforts.
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Trauma is the leading cause of death for children and adolescents. Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) is a minimally invasive method of hemorrhage control used primarily in adults. We aimed to characterize REBOA use in pediatric patients. ⋯ REBOA is used in patients <18 years old, but all reported patients in this registry were adolescents. No REBOA-related complications were reported. Identifying pediatric patients who may benefit from REBOA and modifying currently existing technology for this group of patients is an area of ongoing research.