Reconstruction with vascularized medial femoral condyle flaps in hindfoot and ankle defects: a report of two cases.

In this article, we report using free vascularized medial femoral condyle (MFC) flaps for reconstruction of bone defects and nonunion of the hindfoot and ankle in two patients. One patient had an open calcaneal fracture and hindfoot bone defect with impaired gait due to Achilles tendon functional loss. The second patient had nonunion with a chondral defect of the talus after a fall.

Delta III reverse shoulder arthroplasty in the treatment of complex 3- and 4-part fractures of the proximal humerus: 6 to 42 months of follow up.

Background: There is a growing tendency for complex proximal humerus fractures (PHF) in osteoporotic patients to be treated with reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA). It has been proposed that RSA has more benefits than other treatment options. The aim of our study was to investigate preoperative characteristics as well as clinical and radiological outcomes in patients with complex 3- or 4-part PHF who had undergone primary RSA.

Urine toxicology screening in Austrian trauma patients: a prospective study.

Introduction: The question as to whether the patient consumed drugs prior to the trauma and which drugs were consumed, is of prime importance for the anesthesia required during surgery. However, many patients are unwilling or unable (including those with multiple trauma or impaired consciousness, or unconscious patients) to answer this question. The purpose of our prospective multicenter study was to collect data about drug consumption in Austria to determine whether drugs are identifiable in the urine of recently injured individuals and to establish the types of drugs consumed.

Assessment of bone union/nonunion in an experimental model using microcomputed technology.

Background: High-resolution microcomputed tomography (microCT) is one of the most recent technical developments to visualize and quantify primarily cancellous bone. Regarding bone formation, microCT is becoming increasingly important, although its reliability has not yet been evaluated. Our study had two goals: to develop a reproducible nonunion model and to determine the efficacy of microCT for the assessment of bone healing in this model.

Bilateral lower leg replantation versus prosthetic replacement: long-term outcome of amputation after an occupational railroad accident.

Background: This retrospective study investigated three very similar cases of bilateral lower leg amputation. The aim was to determine which of two therapeutical procedures is associated with better long-term outcome: replantation or primary treatment of the stumps and subsequent prosthetic replacement.

Methods: Evaluation included clinical examination, gait analysis, and a workup of the psychosocial background.

Alleviated tension at the repair site enhances functional regeneration: the effect of full range of motion mobilization on the regeneration of peripheral nerves--histologic, electrophysiologic, and functional results in a rat model.

Background: In the clinical management of combined tendon and nerve injuries, competing treatment strategies are well known. The effect of mobilization on the functional regeneration of peripheral nerves remains controversial. This study sought to determine the effect of full range of motion mobilization on nerve repair by using tubular segmental nerve splinting to block movement, and thereby variable tension, at the nerve repair site.