European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society
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Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg · Aug 2021
ReviewCurrent treatment and outcomes of traumatic sternovertebral fractures: a systematic review.
Combined sternal and spinal fractures are rare traumatic injuries with significant risk of spinal and thoracic wall instability. Controversy remains with regard to treatment strategies and the biomechanical need for sternal fixation to achieve spinal healing. The present study aimed to assess outcomes of sternovertebral fracture treatment. ⋯ Literature on traumatic sternovertebral fracture treatment is sparse. Findings indicate that in most patients, sternal fixation is not required to achieve sternal and spinal stability. However, results of the current review should be cautiously interpreted, since most included studies were of poor quality.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg · Aug 2021
ReviewCurrent treatment and outcomes of traumatic sternovertebral fractures: a systematic review.
Combined sternal and spinal fractures are rare traumatic injuries with significant risk of spinal and thoracic wall instability. Controversy remains with regard to treatment strategies and the biomechanical need for sternal fixation to achieve spinal healing. The present study aimed to assess outcomes of sternovertebral fracture treatment. ⋯ Literature on traumatic sternovertebral fracture treatment is sparse. Findings indicate that in most patients, sternal fixation is not required to achieve sternal and spinal stability. However, results of the current review should be cautiously interpreted, since most included studies were of poor quality.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg · Aug 2021
ReviewProne ventilation as treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome related to COVID-19.
Prone ventilation refers to the delivery of mechanical ventilation with the patient lying in the prone position. The improvement of oxygenation during prone ventilation is multifactorial, but occurs mainly by reducing lung compression and improving lung perfusion. ⋯ In view of different roles, we surgeons had to take during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is of importance to learn how to implement this therapeutic measure, especially in a surgical critical care unit setting. As such, this article aims to review the physiological principles and effects of the prone ventilation, positioning, as well as its contraindications and complications.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg · Aug 2021
ReviewTargeted prevention of road traffic deaths in Greece: a multifactorial 5-year census-based study.
Between 2012 and 2016, Greece suffered yearly more than 800 deaths from road traffic incidents (RTIs), holding one of the worst performances in the European Union for RTI-related deaths per population. Our primary aim is to identify risk factors associated with mortality to set a targeted policy framework on road safety. ⋯ Human-related factors were the parameters with the strongest impact on mortality after an RTI in Greece. These findings demonstrate an educational gap that must be primarily addressed with the introduction of missing road safety education in schools and an intensified and innovative population awareness campaign.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg · Aug 2021
The evaluation of pulmonary function after rib fixation for multiple rib fractures and flail chest: a retrospective study and systematic review of the current evidence.
The primary aim of this retrospective cohort study was to evaluate the pulmonary function after rib fixation for patients with multiple rib fractures and flail chest. Secondary, a systematic review was performed to give an overview of the current literature and to allow comparison with our results. ⋯ The present study demonstrates that rib fixation for multiple rib fractures or flail chest results in adequate recovery of the pulmonary function within 3 months after surgery. In addition, based on the current literature, further gradual improvement to maximum pulmonary values appears to occur during the first 12 months after rib fixation.