Der Unfallchirurg
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Malunited fractures of the metatarsals seldom need correction because the adjacent joints proximally and distally are not axially loaded but they may cause significant pain when a subcapital fracture is malunited too far in a plantar direction. ⋯ The importance of these small foot joints is illustrated by reopening the iatrogenically fused metatarso-cuboidal joint and making a new joint by interposition of crural fascia being crucial for a pain-free and fully functioning foot. The special biomechanics of the first ray is stressed by the secondary reconstruction of the first metatarsal showing a huge bony defect and poor surrounding soft tissues by performing callus distraction.
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Calcaneal malunions lead to a considerable loss of global foot function through the loss of the physiological hindfoot lever arm, bony and soft tissue impingement, and involvement of the subtalar joint. In the majority of cases correction of the malunion has to be combined with subtalar fusion because of a rapid development of posttraumatic subtalar arthritis. ⋯ In carefully selected cases of malunited intra-articular calcaneal fractures, joint-preserving osteotomy is an alternative to corrective subtalar fusion.
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Injuries to the mid-tarsal (Chopart) joint are frequently overlooked or misinterpreted and therefore, not adequately treated at initial presentation. Malunion results in a loss of essential joint function and a three-dimensional malalignment leading to considerable impairment of global foot function and a rapid development of painful posttraumatic arthritis. ⋯ Joint-preserving corrections are generally possible for all four bony components of the Chopart joint in carefully selected cases of malunited fractures and fracture dislocations.
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Trauma represents one of the leading causes of death in children. Beside an injury pattern that differs from adult trauma patients, children seem to develop multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) less frequently. Compared to adult MODS, pediatric MODS has also been described to occur earlier in the posttraumatic course. ⋯ Therefore, the purpose of this review is to summarize current knowledge on this topic in order to investigate the prognostic significance of different parameters.