Der Unfallchirurg
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Multicenter Study
[Early complication rate of fractures close to the hip joint : Dependence on treatment in on-call services and comorbidities.]
Guidelines advocate early surgery for proximal femoral fractures so that operations are frequently performed in on-call duty times. Multimorbid patients also suffer more frequently from postoperative complications. Does on-call duty or night shift services correlate with higher postoperative complication rates and what influence do comorbidities have? ⋯ Surgery of proximal femoral fractures in on-call duty and night shift times is justified because postoperative complications are not increased. Comorbidities and higher age correlated with postoperative complications. Postoperative complications should be avoided because they result in prolonged hospital stay.
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Closed tibial shaft fractures are the domain of intramedullary nailing. With the introduction of new nail designs and technologies, even small, dislocated distal fragments can be anatomically aligned and safely fixed. ⋯ The main indications for semi-extended tibial nailing are a short diaphyseal fragment in an isolated tibial shaft fracture, a segmental fracture where the proximal fracture line is metaphyseal and in patients where infrapatellar soft tissues are compromised. The use of the electromagnetic guidance system SureShot® generates reliable and reproducible results, reduces the operating time and is independent from radiation for distal locking.
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Case Reports
[Treatment of tibial pseudoarthrosis : Complications after intramedullary, allogeneic fibular grafting.]
A 24-year-old woman underwent cosmetic bilateral tibial lengthening with severe complications. In all, 15 operations, including allogeneic fibular grafting of both tibia, were required to treat unstable bilateral non-union, malalignment, and osteomyelitis of the right tibia. The present article describes the surgical strategy of revision to achieve good recovery with full consolidation and proper alignment of the lower leg. ⋯ For surgical revision, a T-external fixator was used on the right leg, while a customized tibial nail was used on the left leg. Using these techniques, full consolidation and proper alignment was achieved. Allogeneic bone grafts in upper extremity defects cannot be recommended.
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Tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis is indicated in severe combined arthritis of the upper and lower ankle joints and otherwise untreatable malpositioning of the hindfoot. ⋯ Currently available arthrodesis nails have a hindfoot valgus bend which allows the anatomy to be more faithfully reproduced and respected. Anatomical investigations show the endangered structures during retrograde arthrodesis nailing. The valgus bend of the arthrodesis nail necessitates a corresponding correctly placed opening in the calcaneus and talus as the entry point for the nail. A locking screw in the calcaneus running from posterior to anterior increases the stability and is now taken into consideration for nearly all designs of arthrodesis medullary nails. The compression mechanism can be used for apposition and pressing the arthrodesis surfaces together and locking in the hindfoot should be carried out in an angle stable fashion. Augmentation of the locking screws in the calcaneus with bone cement can be an option as a salvage procedure in revision cases.
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Intramedullary nailing is the gold standard for the treatment of femoral shaft fractures; however, rotational malalignment remains a common complication. The patient can be positioned on the fracture table in a supine position or alternatively in the lateral decubitus position without any traction. ⋯ The surgical technique of anterograde intramedullary nailing using the lateral decubitus position without any traction device and free draping of the injured leg represents a safe and reliable treatment concept and offers logistical advantages compared to the supine position of the patient on a fracture table. Together with other described methods of intraoperative torsional control of femoral fractures, the radiological technique described in this study is an easily applicable and safe method, which needs to be confirmed in clinical studies.