Background: Orthopedic trauma care encounters challenges in follow-up treatment due to limited patient information provision, treatment variation, and the chaotic settings in which it is provided. Additionally, pressure on health care resources is rising worldwide. In response, digital follow-up treatment pathways were implemented for patients with orthopedic trauma, aiming to optimize health care resource use and enhance patient experiences.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe necessity of maintaining sterility during minor surgical procedures is a debated topic due to concerns over the cost, environmental impact of sterile supplies, and the unclear benefits of sterility in minor surgical procedures. This review aims to evaluate the available evidence on this topic. A systematic review of studies comparing sterile and non-sterile techniques in minor surgical procedures was conducted.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate whether retained hardware after surgical treatment for a pelvic fracture prior to pregnancy affects the choice of delivery method. The study aims to provide insights into the rates of vaginal delivery and caesarean sections, understanding whether the mode of delivery was influenced by patient preference or the recommendations of obstetricians or surgeons, and examining the rate of complications during delivery and postpartum.
Methods: All women of childbearing age who underwent surgical fixation for a pelvic ring fracture between 1994 and 2021 were identified.
Purpose: To study trends in incidence and outcome of patients with traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) in the Netherlands before, during and after implementation of the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) and Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS)- Spinal Motion Restriction(SMR) protocol.
Methods: In an observational database we studied national hospital admission and emergency department databases to analyse incidence rates and outcome of traumatic spinal cord injury and spinal fractures in the emergency department and in admittances in The Netherlands between 1986 and 2021.
Results: A significant increase of 39% in TSCI in admitted patients with spinal fractures over the past 35 years (p < 0.
Although widely used in follow-up treatment protocols, the added value of routine radiographs to clinical decision-making in nonoperative treatment of patients with metatarsal fractures is unclear. This retrospective cohort study aimed to determine whether routine follow-up radiographs contributed to changes in treatment strategies in nonoperative treatment of patients with a metatarsal fracture. Adult (aged ≥ 18 years) patients who received nonoperative follow-up treatment for a metatarsal fracture between May first, 2020 and May second, 2022 were included.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: The demand for trauma care in the Netherlands is increasing due to a rising incidence of injuries. To provide adequate trauma care amidst this increasing pressure, a Virtual Fracture Care (VFC) review protocol was introduced for treatment of musculoskeletal injuries to the extremities (MIE). This study aimed to assess the influence of the Dutch VFC review protocol on secondary healthcare utilization (i.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Direct Discharge protocols (DD) can alleviate strain on healthcare systems by reducing routine outpatient follow-up. These protocols include low-complex musculoskeletal injuries, such as isolated greenstick fractures or torus fractures of the wrist in children. While there is consensus on the effectiveness of DD, there is a lack of injury-specific powered studies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImportance: Hip fractures in older adults are serious injuries that result in disability, higher rates of illness and death, and a substantial strain on health care resources. High-quality evidence to improve hip fracture care regarding the surgical approach of hemiarthroplasty is lacking.
Objective: To compare 6-month outcomes of the posterolateral approach (PLA) and direct lateral approach (DLA) for hemiarthroplasty in patients with acute femoral neck fracture.
Objectives: There is debate about when to start exercises in the nonoperative treatment of a proximal humerus fracture. This randomized trial compared immediate and one-month delayed shoulder exercises in the nonoperative treatment of fractures of the proximal humerus.
Methods: Twenty-six patients with a fracture of the proximal humerus who chose nonoperative treatment were randomized to start pendulum exercises within a few days and 24 were randomized to delayed exercises and started with active self-assisted stretching 1 month after fracture.
This study aimed to determine the effects of virtual fracture care (VFC) on secondary healthcare utilization in non-operative treatment of adult patients with a distal radial fracture. A retrospective cohort study was performed, including those who received non-operative treatment without VFC (pre-VFC) and with VFC (VFC). Outcomes included secondary healthcare utilization, calculated treatment costs, emergency department (ED) reattendances and complication rates.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA) and peripheral nerve blocks (NBs) are techniques to manage pain and facilitate reduction of dislocated joints or fractures. However, it is unclear if either approach provides any distinct advantage in the emergency department (ED). The aim of this systematic review is to compare these 2 techniques on pain scores, adverse events, patient satisfaction, and length of stay (LOS) in the ED.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Anemia is one of the most common complications after hip fracture surgery. Tranexamic acid (TXA) has been considered effective in preventing anemia in total hip arthroplasty, but its role in hemiarthroplasty is debated. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the efficacy and safety of perioperative TXA for hip hemiarthroplasty.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Syndesmotic screw removal following acute syndesmotic injury is a commonly performed procedure. However, recent studies suggest that the removal does not result in improved patient reported outcome, while the procedure has proved not to be without complications. The aim of this study was to present a health-economic evaluation of on-demand removal (ODR) compared to routine removal (RR) of the syndesmotic screw.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Traumatic injuries of the shoulder or chest wall are commonly treated in the Emergency Department (ED). A complementary treatment is kinesiotaping, an elastic tape often used to treat musculoskeletal dysfunction and pain. However, the added pain-reducing effect of kinesiotape in comparison to standard conservative treatment is unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Current literature is inconclusive about the optimal treatment of elderly patients with displaced intra-articular distal radius fractures. Cast treatment is less invasive and less expensive than surgical treatment. Nevertheless, surgery is often the preferred treatment for this common type of distal radius fracture.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTrauma Surg Acute Care Open
March 2022
Objectives: Trauma-induced hemorrhagic shock is characterized by increased endothelial permeability and coagulopathy. Vasopressin analog ddAVP (desmopressin) acts by reorganizing and redistributing adhesive and tight junction molecules, enhancing endothelial barrier function. Furthermore, ddAVP increases von Willebrand factor (vWF) plasma levels and thereby potentially enhances platelet-based coagulation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To evaluate healthcare utilization and satisfaction with treatment before and after implementing direct discharge (DD) from the Emergency Department (ED) of patients with simple, stable musculoskeletal injuries.
Methods: Patients with simple, stable musculoskeletal injuries were included in two Dutch hospitals, both level-2 trauma centers: OLVG and Sint Antonius (SA), before (pre-DD-cohort) and after implementing DD (DD-cohort). With DD, no routine follow-up appointments are scheduled after the ED visit, supported by information leaflets, a smartphone application and a telephone helpline.
Background: Approximately one-third of musculoskeletal injuries are simple stable injuries (SSIs). Direct discharge (DD) from the emergency department (ED) of patients with SSIs reduces healthcare utilization, without compromising patient outcome and experience, when compared with "traditional" care with routine follow-up. This study aimed to determine the cost-effectiveness of DD compared with traditional care from a societal perspective.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims: The aim of this study was to investigate whether on-demand removal (ODR) is noninferior to routine removal (RR) of syndesmotic screws regarding functional outcome.
Methods: Adult patients (aged above 17 years) with traumatic syndesmotic injury, surgically treated within 14 days of trauma using one or two syndesmotic screws, were eligible (n = 490) for inclusion in this randomized controlled noninferiority trial. A total of 197 patients were randomized for either ODR (retaining the syndesmotic screw unless there were complaints warranting removal) or RR (screw removed at eight to 12 weeks after syndesmotic fixation), of whom 152 completed the study.
Background: Guidelines concerning outpatient management of patients during the coronavirus pandemic required minimized face-to-face follow-up and increased remote care. In response, we established a virtual fracture clinic (VFC) review for emergency department (ED) patients with musculoskeletal injuries, meaning patients are reviewed 'virtually' the next workday by a multidisciplinary team, instead of routine referral for face-to-face fracture clinic review. Patients wait at home and are contacted afterwards to discuss treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: There is growing evidence that patients with certain simple stable musculoskeletal injuries can be discharged directly from the Emergency Department (ED), without compromising patient outcome and experience. This study aims to review the literature on the effects of direct discharge (DD) of simple stable musculoskeletal injuries, regarding healthcare utilization, costs, patient outcome and experience.
Methods: A systematic review was performed in Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library and Web of Science using PRISMA guidelines.
Background: The evidence for the treatment of acceptably reduced intra-articular distal radial fractures remains inconclusive. We therefore compared the functional outcomes of cast immobilization (nonoperative) and volar plate fixation (operative) for patients with these fractures.
Methods: This multicenter randomized controlled trial enrolled patients between 18 and 75 years old with an acceptably reduced intra-articular distal radial fracture.