Growth factors and cytokines in patients with long bone fractures and associated spinal cord injury.

Background: The aim of the study was to test the effect of acute traumatic spinal cord injury of quadriplegia or paraplegia on bone healing in patients with associated long bone fractures and to investigate the molecular and cellular events of the underlying mechanism for a possible acceleration.

Methods: Healing indicators of long bone fractures and growth factors, IGF-II, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Activin-A, and cytokine I-L-1, in the patients' blood were calculated and measured for 21 patients with spinal cord injuries and associated long bone fractures in prospective controlled study and compared to 20 patients with only spinal cord injuries, 30 patients with only long bone fractures, and 30 healthy volunteers.

Results: The study results showed that long bone fractures in patients with associated acute traumatic spinal cord injury of quadriplegia or paraplegia heal more expectedly, faster, and with exuberant florid union callus (P > 0.

Bone Healing and Hormonal Bioassay in Patients with Long-Bone Fractures and Concomitant Head Injury.

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate healing of fractures in patients with concomitant head injuries and to measure blood hormone levels to elucidate the mechanism of a possible accelerated osteogenesis.

Materials And Methods: One hundred and sixty-two patients were included in this study and divided into 3 cohorts: group A with head injuries only (n = 52); group B with head injuries as well as long-bone fractures (n = 50); group C with long-bone fractures only (n = 60). Fracture-healing parameters including time of appearance and thickness of the bridging callus, and blood hormonal assays were measured and compared using Student's t test.

Histopathological examination of bone debris from reaming of interlocking intra-medullary nail fixation of long bone fractures with concomitant head injury.

Backgroud/aim: The aim of study was to test, for the presence of osteoblasts in the reaming debris of intramedullary nailing of femoral and tibial fracture in patients with and without severe head injury.

Methods: Two groups of patients were studied. Group A (n = 32) had long bone fractures in addition to having head injuries.

The use of surgery in displaced scapular neck fractures.

Objectives: To evaluate the use of surgical management in displaced scapular neck fractures.

Subjects And Methods: 14 adult male patients (average age 34 years, range 19-44) with displaced scapular neck fractures were treated by open reduction and internal fixation in Al-Jahra Hospital, Kuwait from April 2000 to January 2004. Patients' clinical and radiological results were analyzed retrospectively.

Surgical treatment for ipsilateral fractures of femoral neck and shaft.

Objectives: To review the primary and the final results of surgical management of ipsilateral femoral neck and shaft fractures.

Subjects And Methods: Seventeen patients (2 female, 15 male, average age 37 years, range 20-60) with ipsilateral femoral neck and shaft fractures were treated by compression plate fixation for the femoral shaft fractures and dynamic hip screw or cannulated cancellous screw fixation for the neck fractures in Al-Razi and Al-Jahra Hospitals, Kuwait, from March 1996 to June 2002. The clinical and radiological primary and final results were analyzed retrospectively.