Purpose: Due to recent advances in internal fixation techniques, instrumentation and orthopedic implants there is an increasing number of humeral shaft fracture treated operatively. As a consequence, an increased number nonunion after operative fixation are being referred to our center. The aim of this study is to report the common error during osteosynthesis that may have led to nonunion and present a systematic analytical approach for the management of aseptic humeral shaft nonunion.Methods: In between January 2007 to December 2013, 20 patients with humeral shaft nonunion after operative procedure were treated according to our treatment algorithm. We could analysis x-rays of 12 patients from initial treatment to nonunion. In a subgroup of 12 patients the initial operative procedure were analyzed to determine the error that may have caused nonunion. The following questions were used to examine the cases: 1) Was the fracture biology preserved during the procedure? 2) Does the implant construct have enough stability to allow fracture healing?Results: In 19 out of 20 patients have showed radiographic evidence of union on follow up. One patient has to undergo reoperation because of the technical error with bone graft placement but eventually healed. There were 2 cases wherein the treatment algorithm was not followed. All patients had problems with mechanical stability, and in 13 patients had biologic problems. In the analysis of the initial operative fixation, only one of 12 patients had biologic problems.Conclusion: In our analysis, the common preventable error made during operative fixation of humeral shaft fracture is failure to provide adequate stability for bony union to occur. And with these cases we have demonstrated a systematic analytic management approach that may be used to prevent surgeons from reproducing the same fault and reduce the need for bone grafting. [ J Trauma Inj 2016; 29: 129-138 ]
Fractures at the thoracolumbar region are commonly followed after major traumatic injuries, and up to 20% of these fractures are known to be burst fractures. Making surgical decisions for these patients are of great interest however there is no golden standard so far. Since the introduction of Thoracolumbar Injury Classification and Severity (TLICS) score in 2007, it has been widely used as a referential guideline for making surgical decisions in thoracolumbar fractures. However, there is still limitations in this system. In this clinical case report, we introduce a L1 burst fracture after motor vehicle injury, who was successfully treated conservatively even while she was graded as a TLICS 5 injury. A case report is presented as well as discussion on the limitations of this grading system.
Purpose:The major pelvic trauma results in high mortality with associated fatal other injuries. During early stage of resuscitation, multidisciplinary approach is essential to improve the survival and outcomes. This study aims to report the effect and positive outcome of the trauma team approach on the management of hemodynamically unstable pelvic bone fracture.Methods: This retrospective review included all patients with hemodynamically unstable pelvic bone fracture admitted between March 2007 and December 2015. Patients were divided into group A, which comprised those admitted before the trauma team approach was started, and group B, which comprised those admitted after the approach was started. The advanced trauma life support protocol was followed for all patient. The comparisons between the two groups were based on medical records. Study variables included demographics, initial vital sign, injury severity score, fracture type, and injury mechanism. We analyzed the outcomes in each group with respect to the time interval for doctors' arrival, total length of stay in the emergency department (ED), time interval for computed tomography evaluation, 24-hour mortality, time interval for definitive fixation, and definitive fixation in the time-window of opportunity.Results: Fifty-three patients met the inclusion criteria. No statistically significant differences in demographic data existed between the two groups. The time interval for doctors' arrival (min, 63.09±50.48 vs 21.48±17.75; p=0.038) and total length of stay in the ED (min, 269.33±105.96 vs 115.49±56.24; p=0.023) were significantly improved. The 24-hour mortality was not significantly different between the two groups.(%, 14.3 vs 12.0; p=1.000) However, the time interval for definitive fixation and definitive fixation in the time-window of opportunity showed better results.
Conclusion:The trauma team approach has positive effects, which include initial resuscitation through multidisciplinary approach and shortening the time interval to definitive fixation, on the management of hemodynamically unstable pelvic bone fracture. [ J Trauma Inj 2016; 29: 139-145 ]
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.