Biomechanics of flail chest injuries: tidal volume and respiratory work changes in multiple segmental rib fractures.

Background: Flail chest (FC) injuries are segmental osseous injuries of the thorax that typically result from high-energy blunt trauma and regularly occur in multiple trauma (MT) patients. FC injuries are associated with paradoxical chest wall movements and, thus, have a high risk of respiratory insufficiency or even death. An increasing number of studies recommend an early surgical stabilization of FC injuries, but a definite trigger that would indicate surgery has, thus far, not been identified.

Mental Health Needs of Inpatient Psychiatric Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Introduction: The lack of mental health supports and resources for psychiatric nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to stress, burnout, and reduced mental wellness. Simultaneously, the pandemic's safety mitigation measures made significant changes to the inpatient psychiatric population environment making it difficult to maintain a therapeutic milieu and increased mental health challenges among staff and patients.

Aims: This study aimed to identify external and internal resilience factors, mental health support, and resources provided by organizations, and additional mental health support and resources inpatient psychiatric nurses felt would have been beneficial during the pandemic.

Lower-limb internal loading and potential consequences for fracture healing.

Mechanical loading is known to determine the course of bone fracture healing. We hypothesise that lower limb long bone loading differs with knee flexion angle during walking and frontal knee alignment, which affects fracture healing success. Using our musculoskeletal modelling constrained against data from patients with instrumented knee implants allowed us to assess internal loads in femur and tibia.

Is there a Difference in Interfragmentary Compression Strength Between Fully or Partially Threaded Screws? Results of an Experimental Biomechanical Pilot Study.

 This study assessed differences between fully- and partially-threaded screws in the initial interfragmentary compression strength. Our hypothesis was that there would be an increased loss in initial compression strength with the partially-threaded screw.  A 45-degree oblique fracture line was created in artificial bone samples.