Eur J Trauma Emerg S
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Volkmann's ischaemic contracture is a devastating condition with serious motor and sensory functional implications for the affected limb. This clinical review outlines acute compartment syndrome and Volkmann's ischaemic contracture, their presentation, evolution and current management. ⋯ Prevention is essential regarding Volkmann's ischaemic contracture. This can be achieved through careful observation of patients sustaining high-risk extremity injuries, notably, children with supracondylar fractures of the humerus, and immediate decompression if signs and symptoms of a compartment syndrome are present. Increased awareness amongst doctors of compartment syndrome is fundamental and will allow early recognition, clinical diagnosis and subsequent fasciotomy.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg S · Apr 2012
Do stable multiply injured patients with bilateral femur fractures have higher complication rates? An investigation by the EPOFF study group.
Polytrauma patients with bilateral femur shaft fractures are known to have a higher rate of complications when compared with those who have sustained unilateral fractures. The current study tests the hypothesis that the high incidence of posttraumatic complications in patients who do not have a severe head or chest injury is caused by accompanying injuries rather than by the additional femur fracture. ⋯ In the absence of major head or chest injuries, patients with multiple injuries and bilateral femur shaft fractures have a similar complication rate to polytrauma patients with unilateral fractures. Moreover, an uncertain condition preoperatively was associated with an increased stay in the intensive care unit. The results support the idea that associated injuries rather than the additional femur fracture are responsible for complications during the clinical stay.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg S · Apr 2012
Results of the femur fractures treated with the new selfdynamisable internal fixator (SIF).
As axial dynamisation is a recognised method, many authors using interlocking femoral nail perform an additional small operation two months after the primary operation in order to remove one screw so as to provide axial dynamisation. According to the literature, dynamisation happens in about 15-25% of cases, but it cannot be predicted which patient or fracture will need dynamisation. The aim of this study is to present a new selfdynamisable implant and a minimally invasive method for the internal fixation of different femoral fractures. ⋯ The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00068-011-0157-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg S · Apr 2012
Causes of inpatient death for patients with warfare-related limb trauma and logistic regression analysis of the risk factors.
To explore the causes and risk factors of inpatient death for patients with warfare-related limb trauma. ⋯ The primary cause of death from warfare-related limb trauma is ARF. The appropriate and prompt management of shock patients, the correct timing of amputation, and the prevention and correct handling of infection are important in reducing mortality.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg S · Apr 2012
Emergency thoracotomies in the largest trauma center in Denmark: 10 years' experience.
The aim of our study was to investigate the outcome in terms of 30-day survival and to determine whether preoperative factors could predict the outcome. ⋯ The probability of survival and ISS are good predictors of survival in these patients and should be included in the future in order to make upcoming studies easier to compare. Patients with very high ISS or low probability of survival survived, justifying the procedure in our center.