Injury
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Operative stabilization of flail chest has been shown to have several benefits over nonoperative management. Often, flail chest injuries will involve the anterior ribs and their associated costal cartilage. In certain cases, operative fixation with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of anterior rib fractures involving the costal cartilage may be warranted. Currently, there is scant literature regarding the surgical approach and clinical outcomes of ORIF involving the costal cartilage. The purpose of this study is to describe the surgical approach and first reported clinical series for patients undergoing anterior rib ORIF involving the costal cartilage. ⋯ Open reduction and internal fixation of anterior rib fractures involving the costal cartilage is a safe procedure with low complication rates and favorable postoperative outcomes including hospital length of stay, intensive care unit length of stay, postoperative pneumonia, need for tracheostomy, and mechanical ventilation time.
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The aim of the research was to determine the smallest amount of loading on the lunate bone obtained by gradually shortening the radius in different ulnar variants as the potential treatment of Kienböck's disease. ⋯ The pressure distribution in the distal radiocarpal joint is vital for healing, and shortening of the radius relieves the pressure on the lunate bone. The exact type of surgery and the amount of radial osteotomy depends on preoperative ulnar variant.
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The standard protocol for exsanguinating trauma patients involves initial evaluation and resuscitation in the emergency department which then sets the stage for subsequent definitive care and disposition. This involves major coordination and mobilisation of resources which may cause a delay in intervention especially when most of these cases present after office hours. Our centre has employed a second-tier activation system (CHOP protocol) that immediately mobilises all respective trauma specialists including interventional radiologists and allows rapid access to the operating room. ⋯ The CHOP protocol, a relatively novel system in the local context, was able to achieve sustained improved outcomes compared to standard protocol. The CUSUM analysis concurred that implementation of CHOP protocol has helped to achieve consistent desired outcomes. It also suggested that the uptake and use of this protocol has integrated well into the existing workflow.
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Critical illness-rlated corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI) is a known sequela of severe injury and illness, yet its diagnosis and management are challenging. We hypothesized that CIRCI has significant variability in its diagnosis and management within surgical intensive care units (SICUs). Our study aimed to assess the state of practice of CIRCI in the American College of Surgery Committee on Trauma (ACS COT) certified level 1 trauma centers. ⋯ This study demonstrates extreme variability in the diagnosis and management of CIRCI. In particular most providers acknowledge a knowledge gap in the diagnosis of CIRCI and the role of corticosteroids in hemorrhagic shock. Few providers are using adjunctive mineralocorticoids in septic shock, although recent level 1 evidence have shown a survival benefit. These responses reflect an opportunity for national improvement in the management of CIRCI.