Treatment of intertrochanteric fractures in geriatric patients with a modified external fixator

Forty-two geriatric patients who had an intertrochanteric fracture were treated with a semicircular modification of the Ilizarov frame designed by Cattaneo and Catagni between January 1997 and September 2001. Twenty-five of the patients were female, 17 male. The average age of the patients was 77.5 years (range, 63-99). No intraoperative complication occurred. Deep pin-track infection was found in four patients and varus deformity was observed in two patients and shortening of less than 2 cm in 10 patients. Fixator removal was achieved in a mean time of 12 weeks (range, 10-18). No implant failure, refracture or stiffness of knee and hip joint movements was recorded. We concluded that the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures of the elderly patients with our modification provides significant advantages such as minimal operative and anaesthetic risks, no blood loss, early weight-bearing, short hospitalisation time and rapid union time.     

Predictive validity of driving-simulator assessments following traumatic brain injury: a preliminary study

Objective: To evaluate whether driving simulator and road test evaluations can predict long-term driving performance, we conducted a prospective study on 11 patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury. Sixteen healthy subjects were also tested to provide normative values on the simulator at baseline.

Method: At their initial evaluation (time-1), subjects' driving skills were measured during a 30-minute simulator trial using an automated 12-measure Simulator Performance Index (SPI), while a trained observer also rated their performance using a Driving Performance Inventory (DPI). In addition, patients were evaluated on the road by a certified driving evaluator. Ten months later (time-2), family members observed patients driving for at least 3 hours over 4 weeks and rated their driving performance using the DPI.

Results: At time-1, patients were significantly impaired on automated SPI measures of driving skill, including: speed and steering control, accidents, and vigilance to a divided-attention task. These simulator indices significantly predicted the following aspects of observed driving performance at time-2: handling of automobile controls, regulation of vehicle speed and direction, higher-order judgment and self-control, as well as a trend-level association with car accidents. Automated measures of simulator skill (SPI) were more sensitive and accurate than observational measures of simulator skill (DPI) in predicting actual driving performance. To our surprise, the road test results at time-1 showed no significant relation to driving performance at time-2.

Conclusion: Simulator-based assessment of patients with brain injuries can provide ecologically valid measures that, in some cases, may be more sensitive than a traditional road test as predictors of long-term driving performance in the community.     

Fixation of tibial pilon fractures with percutaneous cannulated screws

Closed reduction and internal fixation with percutaneous cannulated screws was performed on seven patients with closed pilon fractures. The mean follow-up was 30.6 months. They were assessed using a subjective scoring system. The average score was 90.8/100. This method of fixation avoids extensive soft tissue dissection and gives excellent results. To our knowledge, this method of closed reduction and stabilisation of pilon fractures solely by percutaneously inserted cannulated screws has not been previously reported.     

Hemispheric cerebrovascular venous thrombosis due to closed head injury

Case report We present the case of an 8-month-old infant who was admitted to our Neurosurgery Department with venous infarction related to sagittal sinus thrombosis. The infarction was radiologically detected 5 days after the baby had undergone surgery for acute subdural hematoma due to a closed head injury.Results and conclusions Cerebrovascular venous thrombosis is a rare clinical entity that has multiple causes and variable presenting symptoms. There is no consensus on overall strategy concerning surgical, radiosurgical, or medical therapy (anti-coagulation, thrombolytic, and anti-edema treatment), and exactly how, when, or in which cases these should be applied. The treatment planning should be based on clinical findings, and should be modified according to the clinical course. In this case, the clinical and radiological findings regressed with symptomatic treatment alone.     

Clinical study of biocompatibility between open and closed heparin-coated cardiopulmonary bypass circuits

The objective of this study was to investigate the difference between the closed circuit system and the open circuit system in clinical heparin-coated cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuits with a centrifugal pump. We evaluated the coagulation, fibrinolysis, and inflammatory response in valvular heart surgery. Nineteen patients were assigned at random to a group for the closed circuit system or the open circuit system. This is the first report on the effect of a closed circuit in valvular surgery. We measured the platelet count, white blood cell count, plasma fibrinogen concentration, thrombin–antithrombin III complex, plasmin-2 plasmin inhibitor complex, D-dimer, interleukin-6, polymorphic neutrophil-elastase, and the plasma free hemoglobin. Blood samples were collected before the start of perfusion, 15 and 60min after the start of perfusion, 60min after the administration of protamine, and 1 day after the operation. During the perfusion, coagulation, fibrinolysis, and inflammatory responses were activated; however, no significant differences between the two groups were noted. In this clinical investigation with suction and the cell saving system, the closed circuit was not found to be superior to the open circuit with regard to biocompatibility.     

Comparison of effectiveness of two urinary drainage systems in intensive care unit: a prospective,randomized clinical trial

Objective In a previous nonrandomized study we observed no difference in the rate of acquisition of bacteriuria between a complex closed drainage system (CCDS) and a two-chamber drainage system (TCDS) in ICU patients. To confirm this result we performed a statistically powerful study assessing the effectiveness of the CCDS and the TCDS in ICU patients.Design and setting Randomized, prospective, and controlled study in the medicosurgical intensive care unit (16 beds) in a teaching hospital.Patients and interventions We assigned 311 patients requiring indwelling urinary catheter for longer than 48 h to TCDS or CCDS to compare the rate of acquisition of bacteriuria.Measurements and results Patients did not receive prophylactic antibiotics during placement management or catheter withdrawal. Urine samples were obtained weekly for the duration of catheterization and within 24 h after catheter removal, and each time symptoms of urinary infection were suspected. There was no statistical difference in the rate of bacteriuria between the two groups: 8% with TCDS and 8.5% with CCDS. Rates of urinary tract infection were 12.1 episodes with TCDS and 12.8 episodes with CCDS per 1000 days of catheter.Conclusions This randomized study on the effectiveness of TCDS and CCDS in ICU patients confirms the findings of our previous study. No differences were noted between the two systems. The higher cost of CCDS is not justified for ICU patients.An erratum to this article can be found at     

Five-Year Experience on Ultrasonic Treatment of Breast Contractures

The authors report their experience in five years of treating breast implant capsular contractures with an external ultrasonic device that facilitates the closed capsulotomy technique. A set of 52 patients have been treated with a 82.6% of improvement at a year follow up. Methods of application and results are discussed.     

闭合性胰腺损伤26例临床分析

胰腺因其位置深居腹膜后，闭合性胰腺损伤早期症状和体征轻微，且无特征性，易误诊；近几年在胰腺损伤的诊治方法上，已有了很大的进步，但保守治疗和手术治疗上仍存在着争议。为探讨闭合性胰腺损伤的临床诊断方法和治疗措施，减少病死率，现总结大连中山区人民医院收治的闭合性胰腺损伤26例，报道如下。     

撬拨复位克氏针内固定治疗Sanders Ⅱ型跟骨舌形骨折

目的:探讨采用闭合撬拨复位,克氏针内固定治疗Sanders Ⅱ型跟骨舌形骨折的方法和疗效.方法:在术中透视及CT监测下,采用闭合撬拨复位,克氏针内固定治疗Sanders Ⅱ型跟骨舌形骨折22例,复位后经术中影像学检查,要求后跟距关节面解剖复位,恢复跟骨的长度、宽度、高度和B hler角、Gissane角,克氏针内固定结合石膏外固定.术后6周去除石膏,8周拔除克氏针,逐步负重.术后6月内每月进行随访1次.结果:22例均获得随访,时间18～24月,平均16.8月.骨折全部愈合,术前Bhler角平均8.1度,术后平均35.4度;术前Gissane角平均108.4度,术后平均114.5度.术后1年的AOFAS评分平均83.5分.结论:采用闭合撬拨复位,克氏针内固定的方法治疗Sanders Ⅱ型跟骨舌形骨折,能有效保证跟距关节后关节面的解剖复位,恢复跟骨的解剖形态,手术损伤小,术后外观、功能恢复满意.     

手法整复石膏外固定治疗经舟状骨骨折月骨周围脱位

目的:探讨手法整复石膏外固定治疗经舟状骨骨折月骨周围脱位的疗效及并发症。方法 :回顾性分析自2009年1月至2013年1月期间经舟状骨骨折月骨周围脱位患者43例,其中17例(男10例,女7例)采取手法整复、石膏外固定治疗,为保守组;26例(男15例,女11例)采取手术治疗,为手术组。通过腕关节功能评分、影像学评价、并发症分析等方式评价疗效。结果:43例患者获随访,时间36~60(45.00±8.72)个月。末次随访Cooney腕关节功能评分:保守组88.53±4.24,手术组89.58±4.59(t=0.455,P0.05)。随访期内保守组4例患者出现舟状骨缺血性坏死的影像学表现(χ~2=4.32,P0.05)。两组并发症发生率比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论 :对于经舟状骨骨折月骨周围脱位患者,若能够在伤后尽早进行手法整复、石膏外固定,并维持满意的复位与可靠的固定,则治疗效果与手术治疗相比没有劣势,但有增加并发症的危险。保守治疗的关键在于尽可能早期诊断并维持复位,可靠的固定,以及适时、恰当的功能锻炼。