Long-term results and patient-reported outcomes after vascularized fibular graft use in the treatment of post-traumatic bone defects of femur shaft and tibia: A retrospective cohort and cross-sectional survey study.

Objectives: Post-traumatic critical-sized bone defects pose a reconstructive challenge for reconstructive surgeons. The vascularized fibula graft is a well-described treatment for osseous defects of the femur and tibia. This study aimed to assess long-term patient-reported quality of life, the success-, and complication rates in lower extremity reconstruction with vascularized fibula grafts.

The economic impact of open lower limb fractures in the Netherlands: a cost-of-illness study.

Purpose: To estimate the one-year sum of direct costs related to open lower limb fracture treatment in an academic setting in the Netherlands. The secondary objective was to estimate the impact of deep infection and nonunion on one-year total direct costs.

Methods: A multi-center, retrospective cost analysis of open lower limb fractures treated in an academic setting in the Netherlands, between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2018, was conducted.

Burn injuries and acute burn management in the rural areas in northern Bangladesh - A household survey.

Introduction: Burn injuries pose a significant public health challenge, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In Bangladesh, burn injuries are prevalent and often result in severe disability or death. However, knowledge regarding the causes of burn injuries, acute burn management, and barriers to seeking burn care in the riverine areas of northern Bangladesh is limited.

Nationwide study on open tibial fractures in the Netherlands: Incidence, demographics and level of hospital care.

Objectives: Open tibial fractures are relatively common injuries following traffic accidents. The vulnerability of the soft tissues surrounding the tibia increases the susceptibility to complications, including infection and nonunion. To minimize complications, a multidisciplinary, timely approach is crucial.

The Pedicled Fibula Flap for Lower Limb Reconstruction.

Unlabelled: The pedicled fibula flap is a reliable technique to treat large defects in the tibia. Despite increasing evidence of its efficacy and good long-term outcomes, a knowledge gap exists in its indications and technique. This instructional article presents a comprehensive overview of the indications, pre-operative planning, step-by-step surgery, and subsequent post-operative management.

Improving patient care by virtual case discussion between plastic surgeons and residents of Uganda and the Netherlands.

Introduction: Traditional on-site missions of plastic surgeons from "high-income countries" in "low- and middle-income countries" are often limited in time and lack proper follow-up. Regular digital collaboration could lead to a more impactful and durable exchange of knowledge for plastic surgeons and residents in both settings.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the satisfaction of the first twelve months of weekly digital meetings, explore advantages/disadvantages, and to provide tools for similar initiatives.

Effectiveness of prevention programmes on the rate of burn injuries in children: a systematic review.

Introduction: Burns are a frequent injury in children and can cause great physical and psychological impairment. Studies have identified positive effects of prevention measures based on increase in knowledge or reduction in hazards. The main goal of burn prevention campaigns, however, is to prevent burns.

Comparing outcomes following direct admission and early transfer to specialized trauma centers in open tibial fracture treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Guidelines on the management of open tibia fractures recommend timely treatment in a limb reconstruction center which offer joint orthopedic-trauma and plastic surgery services. However, patient's transfer between centers remains inevitable. This review aims to evaluate the clinical outcomes and hospital factors for patients directly admitted and transferred patients to a limb-reconstruction center.

Strategies Following Free Flap Failure in Lower Extremity Trauma: A Systematic Review.

Background: Free flap reconstructions are an important reconstructive option for soft tissue defects in mangled lower extremities. Microsurgery facilitates soft tissue coverage of defects that otherwise would result in amputation. However, the success rates of traumatic lower extremity free flap reconstructions remain lower than those in other locations.

Acute burn care in resource-limited settings: A cohort study on treatment and outcomes in a rural regional referral hospital in Tanzania.

Background: Only a few papers are published on the safety and effectiveness of acute burn care in low-income countries. A cohort study was therefore carried out to determine such outcomes.

Methods: The study was conducted in a rural Tanzanian hospital in 2017-2018.

The development of burn scar contractures and impact on joint function, disability and quality of life in low- and middle-income countries: A prospective cohort study with one-year follow-up.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the development of burn scar contractures and their impact on joint function, disability and quality of life in a low-income country.

Methods: Patients with severe burns were eligible. Passive range of motion (ROM) was assessed using lateral goniometry.

Access to Burn Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: An Assessment of Timeliness, Surgical Capacity, and Affordability in a Regional Referral Hospital in Tanzania.

This study investigates patients' access to surgical care for burns in a low- and middle-income setting by studying timeliness, surgical capacity, and affordability. A survey was conducted in a regional referral hospital in Manyara, Tanzania. In total, 67 patients were included.

Burn scar contracture release surgery effectively improves functional range of motion, disability and quality of life: A pre/post cohort study with long-term follow-up in a Low- and Middle-Income Country.

Objective: Burn scar contractures limit range of motion (ROM) of joints and have substantial impact on disability and the quality of life (QoL) of patients, particularly in a Low- and Middle-Income Country (LMIC) setting. Studies on the long-term outcome are lacking globally; this study describes the long-term impact of contracture release surgery performed in an LMIC.

Methods: This is a pre-post cohort study, conducted in a referral hospital in Tanzania.

Collaboration Around Rare Bone Diseases Leads to the Unique Organizational Incentive of the Amsterdam Bone Center.

In the field of rare bone diseases in particular, a broad care team of specialists embedded in multidisciplinary clinical and research environment is essential to generate new therapeutic solutions and approaches to care. Collaboration among clinical and research departments within a University Medical Center is often difficult to establish, and may be hindered by competition and non-equivalent cooperation inherent in a hierarchical structure. Here we describe the "collaborative organizational model" of the Amsterdam Bone Center (ABC), which emerged from and benefited the rare bone disease team.

The Effectiveness of Burn Scar Contracture Release Surgery in Low- and Middle-income Countries.

Unlabelled: Worldwide, many scar contracture release surgeries are performed to improve range of motion (ROM) after a burn injury. There is a particular need in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) for such procedures. However, well-designed longitudinal studies on this topic are lacking globally.

Impact of short-term reconstructive surgical missions: a systematic review.

Introduction: Short-term missions providing patients in low-income countries with reconstructive surgery are often criticised because evidence of their value is lacking. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of short-term reconstructive surgical missions in low-income and middle-income countries.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines.

Development of a Unifying Target and Consensus Indicators for Global Surgical Systems Strengthening: Proposed by the Global Alliance for Surgery, Obstetric, Trauma, and Anaesthesia Care (The G4 Alliance).

After decades on the margins of primary health care, surgical and anaesthesia care is gaining increasing priority within the global development arena. The 2015 publications of the Disease Control Priorities third edition on Essential Surgery and the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery created a compelling evidenced-based argument for the fundamental role of surgery and anaesthesia within cost-effective health systems strengthening global strategy. The launch of the Global Alliance for Surgical, Obstetric, Trauma, and Anaesthesia Care in 2015 has further coordinated efforts to build priority for surgical care and anaesthesia.

[Worldwide access to surgery: a necessity, not a luxury].

Many people in developing countries lack access to basic surgical care. This lack of access leads to preventable mortality and disability. Mortality due to surgically treatable conditions currently exceeds that due to HIV, TB and malaria combined.

Expression patterns of chondrocyte genes cloned by differential display in tibial dyschondroplasia.

Tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) appears to involve a failure of the growth plate chondrocytes within growing long bones to differentiate fully to the hypertrophic stage, resulting in a mass of prehypertrophic chondrocytes which form the avascular TD lesion. Many biochemical and molecular markers of chondrocyte hypertrophy are absent from the lesion, or show reduced expression, but the cause of the disorder remains to be identified. As differentiation to the hypertrophic state is impaired in TD, we hypothesised that chondrocyte genes that are differentially expressed in the growth plate should show altered expression in TD.

Cloning differentially regulated genes from chondrocytes using agarose gel differential display.

The technique of RNA differential display has been used extensively to clone differentially expressed genes from a wide variety of cells and tissues. Recently, a simplified method of cloning differential display products, separated on agarose gels, was described. Here we report an adaption of this method, using total RNA, to clone differentially expressed genes.

Passive-active immunization in infants of hepatitis Be antigen-positive mothers. Comparison of the efficacy of early and delayed active immunization.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of late active immunization against hepatitis B concomitant with diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, and polio vaccine in high-risk infants receiving hepatitis B immune globulin at birth.

Design: Randomized study of infants born to mothers positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg).

Setting: Three large city hospitals and one rural area providing prenatal care and obstetric services.