Eur J Trauma Emerg S
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Eur J Trauma Emerg S · Oct 2013
Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomies in a newly established trauma center: a report from Qatar.
Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) is a routine surgical procedure for critically ill patients who require prolonged ventilatory support. ⋯ PDT is safe and can be performed with minimal complications even in a newly established trauma center.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg S · Oct 2013
Do cervical spine X-rays for trauma have clinically significant incidental findings?
About 800,000 cervical X-rays for trauma are taken every year in the USA. Those X-rays are reviewed by orthopedic specialists in the emergency room (ER) for traumatic findings. The quantity of incidental atraumatic findings in this very prevalent examination is unknown. We sought to determine the incidence of those findings. ⋯ Incidental findings in the cervical spine were associated with older age. Awareness of the prevalence of incidental findings is important in order to ensure that they are detected and managed appropriately.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg S · Oct 2013
Reduced loosening rate and loss of correction following posterior stabilization with or without PMMA augmentation of pedicle screws in vertebral fractures in the elderly.
Therapy of vertebral fractures in the elderly is a growing challenge for surgeons. Within the last two decades, the use of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral fractures has been widely established. Besides vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty, the augmentation of pedicle screws with PMMA found widespread use to strengthen the implant-bone interface. Several studies showed an enhanced pullout strength of augmented screws compared to standard pedicle screws in osteoporotic bone models. To validate the clinical relevance, we analyzed postoperative radiologic follow-up data in regard to secondary loss of correction and loosening of pedicle screws in elderly patients. ⋯ The reinforcement of pedicle screws using PMMA augmentation may be a viable option in the surgical treatment of spinal fractures in the elderly.