Injury
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3D-navigation for percutaneous sacroiliac (SI) screw fixation is becoming increasingly common and several studies report great advantages of this technology. However, there is still limited clinical evidence on the efficacy regarding radiation exposure for patient and personnel. ⋯ Our data clearly suggests that the use of 3D-navigation for percutaneous SI screw fixation decreases radiation exposure for medical personnel, while increasing radiation exposure for patients. Furthermore, intraoperative precision is improved, even in more challenging operations.
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Telephone consult has become the accepted discharge method for virtual fracture clinic (VFC) within the United Kingdom. Telephone consultations are time consuming; many orthopaedic units lack the resources and staff to deliver large numbers of daily telephone consultations which may block the development of an effective VFC. Our study aim was to validate a letter only VFC discharge process for safety and efficacy. ⋯ Discharging letters detailed rehabilitation and symptom resolution timeframes. Our approach did not result in high return rates or adverse events (unexpected operations) in comparison to published traditional telephone discharge VFC. Units with limited staffing resources wishing to implement a VFC could safely adopt this approach as an alternative to telephone discharge.
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To investigate the fusion construct properties, construct length, intervertebral prosthesis (IVP) selection, bone grafting methods, complications management, and follow-up outcomes of spondylodiscitis fusion. ⋯ The introduced neurosurgical protocol could effectively achieve acceptable SD treatment, spine stabilization, and fusion with low long-term surgical complications. Autologous bone graft mixture in comparison to titanium cages showed a higher fusion rate with a lower mortality rate. Patients with older age, neurological symptoms, and comorbidities are expected to experience less favorable clinical outcomes.
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Compound fractures of the distal femur with large defects pose a significant challenge in management, with several options available, including external fixators, bone grafting, the Masquelet-induced membrane technique, and free vascularized fibular grafts. The Masquelet-induced membrane technique involves placing a cement spacer in the defect to create a biologically active membrane. In the second stage, the gold standard for filling the defect is an autologous cancellous bone graft of 1-2 mm in size. This study aims to examine the effects of using a non-vascularized fibula as a support combined with a cancellous graft in the Masquelet technique for treating compound fractures of the distal femur. ⋯ The Masquelet Technique combined with a fibular strut graft is a feasible solution for complex distal femur fractures with bone loss. The non-vascularized fibula graft provides both structural support and reduces the amount of cancellous bone graft needed, which results in earlier weight bearing and improved functional outcomes.
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Fractures pose serious health and socioeconomic consequences for individuals, their families, and societies more broadly. In many low-resource settings, case fatality and long-term sequelae after a fracture remain high due to individual- and system-level barriers affecting timely access to care. This scoping review explored the burden of fractures in Malawi using long bone fracture (LBF) as a case study by examining the epidemiology of these injuries, their consequences, and the accessibility of quality healthcare. Our aim is to not only describe the scale of the issue but to identify specific interventions that can help address the challenges faced in settings with limited resources and healthcare budgets. ⋯ To the best of our knowledge, this review represents the first comprehensive examination of the state of LBF and the health system's response in Malawi. The findings underscore the pressing need for a national trauma registry to accurately determine the actual burden of injuries and support a tailored approach to fracture care in Malawi. It is further evident that the health system in Malawi must be strengthen across all six building blocks to address obstacles to equitable access to high-quality fracture care.