Der Unfallchirurg
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There are approximately 500,000 hospital acquired infections per year in Germany of which about 20-30% (100,000-150,000) could be prevented. Hospital acquired infections are associated with increased mortality and prolonged hospital stay. Based on approximately 4 additional days of hospital stay, nosocomial infections cause additional 2 million hospital days per year. ⋯ Experts agree that careful hand hygiene is the single most effective measure to prevent transmission of pathogens. The rate of nosocomial infections can be reduced by improved compliance of hand hygiene as demonstrated in the literature. The ''AKTION Saubere Hände'' (Clean Hands Campaign) is a national campaign by the National Reference Centre for the Surveillance of Nosocomial Infections, the Society for Quality Management in the Health System and the Action Alliance Patient Safety aimed at the sustained improvement of hand hygiene behaviour in German hospitals.
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The femur is the largest, longest and strongest bone in the human skeleton. Fractures of the shaft of the femur can result from high energy as well as low energy trauma and 30% of patients have multiple injuries. In the clinical diagnostic special attention must be paid to the peripheral neurovascular status as well as the possibility of a compartment syndrome. ⋯ Full weight bearing is possible immediately following the operation depending on the type of fracture and method of treatment. Uncomplicated fracture healing does not result in a reduction in the ability to work. Despite the generally good prognosis and improvement in design and technology of implants, fractures of the femur shaft still represent a special challenge for the treating casualty surgeon.
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In the coming years, our approach to the bleeding patient will have to change radically. The inevitable knowledge from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan permits the prediction that conventional crystalloids will sooner or later disappear from volume replacement therapy. The dogma that fluids must always be given will be abandoned, to be replaced by the practice of careful and goal-directed resuscitation. In the near future, we would rely on designer fluids and sophisticated pharmacological agents to deliver personalized resuscitation based upon the specific needs of the individual patient.
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When operating unstable spine fractures by an open dorsal approach, detachment of paravertebral muscles results in bleeding and later functional disturbances. Long incisions over spinous processes cause pain and later cosmetic issues. With the sextant of Medtronic a system is at our disposal which permits a percutaneous approach with pedicle screws and longitudinal supports by a target device via six small incisions. ⋯ Percutaneous instrumentation with cannulation of pedicles with a guide wire under X-ray control permits a safe application while preserving soft tissues without relevant blood loss. Operating times can be drastically reduced compared with the open technique. The implants are more expensive but pay for themselves by shorter stays in the OR and hospital.
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Chondrosarcoma is the second most frequent mesenchymal malignant tumour of the bone. Classification of this kind of tumour is made by clinical, radiological und pathological means. ⋯ Due to the primary assumption of bone metastasis of the oropharynx tumour, marginal extralesional tumour resection was performed followed by composite osteosynthesis. Considerations on differential diagnosis and their implications for further therapy are discussed.