Open-wedge high tibial osteotomy can be performed without significant changes in patellar height or posterior tibial slope if specific intraoperative methods are used to prevent their occurrence. Analysis and control of sagittal changes in valgus open-wedge high tibial osteotomy should reduce the incidence of unwanted changes in patellar height and posterior tibial slope.

Introduction The incidence of patella fracture is statistically low (0.5–1.5%) compared to other fractures of the extremities [Patella fractures 76(10):987–997, 2005]. In the latter research, patella fractures if treated surgically present an overall inferior functional outcome. Little is known about the influence of the postoperative patella height on the clinical outcome. Therefore, the aim of our study was to analyse the influence of the patella height on the patients’ functional outcome after surgery. Methods In this retrospective study the in-house trauma register of our level I University trauma center was screened for patients suffering patella fractures treated surgically. Patella height of the same patients was evaluated on lateral X-rays using the Insall–Salvati Ratio (ISR). The patients’ X-rays were analyzed at two time points for the ISR, whereas group A presents ISR data right after surgery and group B data at the latest follow up (minimum 6 weeks). The change of mean ISR at both time points was tested for significance. The functional outcome was measured by the “Munich Knee Questionaire” (MKQ). These MKQ results of different patella heights and fracture types were compared. Results The screening of our in-house trauma register revealed 375 patients between the years 2003 and 2016. Out of these 54 patients (34f, 20 m) were enrolled. In detail the follow-up time for ISR between group A and B accounted for a mean of 503.8 ± 655.7 days. The MKQ was assessed at a mean of 1367.0 ± 1042.8 days after surgery. According to the AO-classification 10% AO.34 type B and 90% AO.34 type C fractures were found. Group A showed in 9.1% a patella baja and in 27.3% a patella alta compared to group B presenting 20.0% patella baja and 14.5% patella alta. There was no significant difference in functional outcome referring to the MKQ in patella alta (MKQ 69.0% ± 18.2) or baja (MKQ 67.1% ± 17.9) (p = 0.9). No significant functional difference between AO34.type B (MKQ 74.5% ± 11.0) and AO34.type C fractures (MKQ 64.0% ± 15.0) resulted (p = 0.1). Conclusion Our results demonstrate that different postoperative patella heights apparently do not influence the functional outcome in the short follow-up.

In German-speaking countries, most serious thoracic injuries are attributable to the impact of blunt force; they are the second most frequent result of injury after head injury in polytrauma patients with multiple injuries. Almost one in every three polytraumatized patients with significant chest injury develops acute lung failure, and one in every four, acute circulatory failure. The acute circulatory arrest following serious chest injury involves a high mortality rate, and in most cases it reflects a tension pneumothorax, cardiac tamponade, or hemorrhagic shock resulting from injury to the heart or one of the large vessels close to it. Brisk drainage of tension pneumothorax and adequate volume restoration are therefore particularly important in resuscitation of multiply traumatized patients, as are rapid resuscitative thoracotomy to allow direct heart massage, drainage of pericardial tamponade, and control of hemorrhage. However the probability of survival described in the literature is very low for patients sustaining severe chest trauma with acute cardiac arrest. The case report presented here describes a female polytrauma patient who suffered an acute cardiac arrest following cardiac tamponade after admission in the emergency department and who survived without neurological deficits after an emergency thoracotomy. Selections from the topical literature can help the treating physician in the emergency department in making decisions on whether an emergency thoracotomy is indicated after a blunt chest injury and on the procedure itself.

The implementation of clinical pathways has a proven positive effect on the diagnostic workup and initiation of therapy in osteoporotic fracture patients. Unlike in most countries, fracture care in Germany is provided by so-called trauma surgeons. Therefore, it is essential to focus on the trauma surgeon for correct diagnostic workup and therapy initiation after a fragility fracture. A questionnaire was mailed to 409 departments of traumatology inquiring about the existence of a standardized clinical pathway for diagnosis and treatment of patients with fragility fractures. One of the central issues of the survey was whether those pathways comply with national guidelines. Only institutions that stated that they followed a clinical pathway were analyzed. 80% of institutions took part in our survey, 35% of which reported following a defined clinical pathway. Diagnostic workup is in concordance with the national guidelines in 30%, and therapy is guideline-based in 51%, with 12% basing both diagnostic workup and therapy on the guidelines. Thus, the vast majority of German traumatology departments do not follow national guidelines regarding osteoporosis diagnostics and therapy in patients with fragility fractures, leading to a great opportunity to improve fragility fracture care by means of both education and interdisciplinary cooperation.