J Trauma
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To examine a subgroup of severely injured patients spending > or = 3 weeks in the intensive care unit (ICU) and to determine their disposition and eventual functional outcome. ⋯ Despite tremendous resource utilization, the majority of trauma patients with prolonged ICU stays can eventually return to varying degrees of functional daily living and independence, but not to preinjury levels. A subgroup of severely injured elderly patients had a significantly higher mortality rate. However, elderly survivors that entered our rehabilitation facility fared as well as the younger patients.
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The submental route for endotracheal intubation has been proposed as an alternative to tracheotomy in the surgical management of patients with maxillofacial trauma. The purpose of this study was to review our experience with this procedure. ⋯ Submental intubation is a simple technique associated with a low morbidity. It is an attractive alternative to tracheotomy in the surgical management of selected cases of maxillofacial trauma.
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We present a retrospective analysis of a case series to evaluate closed intramedullary Kirschner wire (K-wire) fixation as a surgical technique in the treatment of femoral shaft fractures in children. ⋯ Closed intramedullary K-wire fixation for femoral shaft fractures in children is a simple surgical technique that has excellent clinical and functional results.