The Transverse Sigmoid Notch Morphology Unravelled.

Several studies have described pathology in relation to transverse sigmoid notch morphology, using the Tolat transverse sigmoid notch classification. It is believed that the entire shape of a sigmoid notch can be described using Tolat sigmoid types. We hypothesised that the determination of the sigmoid notch shape (SNS) depends on the level of the transverse CT plane on the axial axis of the distal radius.

Relevance of plasma lipoproteins and small metabolites in assessment of nutritional status among patients with severe injuries.

Background: This study aimed to identify plasma lipoproteins and small metabolites associated with high risk of malnutrition during intensive care unit (ICU) stay in patients with severe injuries.

Methods: This observational prospective exploratory study was conducted at two level-1 trauma centers in the Netherlands. Adult patients (aged ≥18 years) who were admitted to the ICU for more than 48 h between July 2018 and April 2022 owing to severe injuries (polytrauma, as defined by Injury Severity Scores of ≥16) caused by blunt trauma were eligible for inclusion.

The correlation of CT-derived muscle density, skeletal muscle index, and visceral adipose tissue with nutritional status in severely injured patients.

Background: This study explored if computerized tomography-derived body composition parameters (CT-BCPs) are related to malnutrition in severely injured patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Methods: This prospective cohort study included severely injured (Injury Severity Score ≥ 16) patients, admitted to the ICU of three level-1 trauma centers between 2018 and 2022. Abdominal CT scans were retrospectively analyzed to assess the CT-BCPs: muscle density (MD), skeletal muscle index (SMI), and visceral adipose tissue (VAT).

Fat-soluble vitamins as biomarkers of nutritional status and their relation with complications in polytrauma patients.

Background And Aims: This exploratory observational prospective study aimed to evaluate fat-soluble vitamin plasma levels during hospital admission and its relation with the development of malnutrition and complications in polytrauma patients, considering the protocolized multivitamin supplementation during intensive care unit (ICU) admission.

Methods: In 49 well-nourished polytrauma (injury severity score ≥ 16) patients admitted to the ICU of two level-1 trauma centers, vitamin A, D, and E levels were assessed weekly during hospital stay. All patients received multivitamin supplementation during ICU stay.

Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty versus Non-Operative Treatment of Three-Part and Four-Part Proximal Humerus Fractures in the Elderly Patient: A Pooled Analysis and Systematic Review.

: The treatment of complex proximal humerus fractures in elderly patients is not yet fully elucidated. Of all treatment options, reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) and non-operative treatment (NOT) appear to provide the best results. Evidence to guide the choice between the two is sparse.

Two big bones, one big decision: When to fix bilateral femur fractures.

Purpose: For polytrauma patients with bilateral femoral shaft fractures (BFSF), there is currently no consensus on the optimal timing of surgery. This study assesses the impact of early (≤ 24 h) versus delayed (>24 h) definitive fixation on clinical outcomes, especially focusing on concomitant versus staged repair. We hypothesized that early definitive fixation leads to lower mortality and morbidity rates.

The dynamic locking blade plate: seven-year follow-up results of 389 patients with a femoral neck fracture.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the long-term outcomes of patients with a femoral neck fracture (FNF), treated with the Dynamic Locking Blade Plate (DLBP).

Methods: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of a multicentre cohort of patients with FNFs was conducted, regarding the long-term incidence of revision surgery after DLBP. Implant failure was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analysis.

Arterial angioembolisation versus pre-peritoneal pelvic packing in haemodynamically unstable patients with complex pelvic fractures: a meta-analysis.

Introduction: Angioembolisation (AE) and/or pre-peritoneal pelvic packing (PPP) may be necessary for patients with complex pelvic fractures who are haemodynamically unstable. However, it remains unclear whether AE or PPP should be performed as an initial intervention and ongoing debates exist. This meta-analysis aimed to compare AE versus PPP in haemodynamically unstable patients with acute pelvic fractures.

Development of trauma systems in Europe-reports from England, Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain.

Major trauma systems have evolved in many European countries and have resulted in improved care in terms of mortality and morbidity. Many of the systems have similar history, with reports of either poor services, or a single disaster, driving change of policy and set up. We report on 4 European systems, looking at the background, set up and some of the results.

Maturation of trauma systems in Europe.

Purpose: To provide an overview of trauma system maturation in Europe.

Methods: Maturation was assessed using a self-evaluation survey on prehospital care, facility-based trauma care, education/training, and quality assurance (scoring range 3-9 for each topic), and key infrastructure elements (scoring range 7-14) that was sent to 117 surgeons involved in trauma, orthopedics, and emergency surgery, from 24 European countries. Average scores per topic were summed to create a total score on a scale from 19 to 50 per country.

Clockwise torque results in higher reoperation rates in left-sided femur fractures.

Purpose: Effects of clockwise torque rotation onto proximal femoral fracture fixation have been subject of ongoing debate: fixated right-sided trochanteric fractures seem more rotationally stable than left-sided fractures in the biomechanical setting, but this theoretical advantage has not been demonstrated in the clinical setting to date. The purpose of this study was to identify a difference in early reoperation rate between patients undergoing surgery for left- versus right-sided proximal femur fractures using cephalomedullary nailing (CMN).

Materials And Methods: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program was queried from 2016-2019 to identify patients aged 50 years and older undergoing CMN for a proximal femoral fracture.

Clinical implications of additional posterior fractures in combined anterior-posterior pelvic ring fractures in elderly patients.

Objectives: Historically, pelvic ring fractures (PRF) are considered to occur predominantly in the anterior ring and therfore to be mechanically stable. Combined anterior and posterior (A + P) PRF are expected to be less mechanically stable and therefore to be associated with higher levels of pain and reduced mobility compared to isolated anterior fractures. The current study investigates the clinical relevance of combined A + P PRF in elderly patients.

Managing patient expectations about recovery after a distal radius fracture based on patient reported outcomes.

Introduction: PROMs are increasingly used by clinicians to evaluate recovery after distal radius fractures, but can also be used as benchmark data to help patients managing their expectations about recovery after DRF.

Purpose Of The Study: The study aimed to determine the general course of patient-reported functional recovery and complaints during 1 year after a DRF, depending on fracture type and age. The study aimed to determine the general course of patient-reported functional recovery and complaints during one year after a DRF, depending on fracture type and age.

Pediatric Trauma in The Netherlands: Incidence, Mechanism of Injury and In-Hospital Mortality.

Background: In the Netherlands, there are no specialized or certified pediatric trauma centers, especially for severely injured children. National and regional agreements on centralization of pediatric trauma care are scarce. This study aims to describe the incidence, injury mechanism and in-hospital mortality of pediatric trauma in the Netherlands, as a prelude to the further organization of pediatric trauma care.

The influence of lower-leg injury and knee arthroscopy on natural anticoagulants and fibrinolysis.

Background: Patients with lower-leg injuries and those undergoing knee arthroscopy are at increased risk of developing venous thromboembolism. The mechanism is unknown, including the influence of lower-leg injury and knee arthroscopy on natural anticoagulant factors and fibrinolysis.

Objectives: To study the effect of lower-leg injury and knee arthroscopy on plasma levels of anticoagulant and fibrinolytic factors.

Is hospital volume related to quality of hip fracture care? Analysis of 43,538 patients and 68 hospitals from the Dutch Hip Fracture Audit.

Purpose: Evidence for a hospital volume-outcome relationship in hip fracture surgery is inconclusive. This study aimed to analyze the association between hospital volume as a continuous parameter and several processes and outcomes of hip fracture care.

Methods: Adult patients registered in the nationwide Dutch Hip Fracture Audit (DHFA) between 2018 and 2020 were included.

Data-driven development of the nationwide hip fracture registry in the Netherlands.

Unlabelled: Additional variables for a nationwide hip fracture registry must be carefully chosen to prevent unnecessary registry load. A registry pilot in seven hospitals resulted in recommending polypharmacy, serum hemoglobin at admittance, and questions screening for risk of delirium to be used in case-mix correction and for development of quality indicators.

Purpose: Clinical registries help improve the quality of care but come at the cost of registration load.

What makes fixation of femoral neck fractures fail? A systematic review and meta-analysis of risk factors.

Introduction: This systematic review aims to provide an overview of predictors for failure of treatment of displaced femoral neck fracture (dFNF) with internal fixation and quantify their risk of fixation failure in a meta-analysis.

Patients And Methods: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and EMCare were searched for original studies published from January 2000, including adult patients with an internally fixated dFNF, that reported data on predictors for fixation failure defined as revision surgery due to non-union, avascular femoral head necrosis or cut-out of implant. RevMan version 5 software was used to pool univariable Odds Ratio's (OR) for predictors of fixation failure by means of a random effects model.

The relation between surgical approaches for pelvic ring and acetabular fractures and postoperative complications: a systematic review.

Introduction: Although many articles report complications after pelvic ring and acetabular fracture surgery, a general overview of complication rates and potential risk factors is lacking. The current review provides a comprehensive summary of the complications after pelvic ring and acetabular fracture surgery in relation to the surgical approach.

Material And Methods: Pubmed and Embase databases were systematically searched using the key words: pelvic fracture, acetabular fracture, fixation, surgical approaches, complications, and their synonyms.

Systematic Review of the Association Between Trauma Severity and Postinjury Symptoms of Depression.

Background: Greater symptoms of depression are associated with greater symptom intensity during recovery from musculoskeletal injury. It is not clear that more severe trauma is associated with greater symptoms of depression as one might expect. The goal of this study was to systematically review the existing evidence regarding the association of Injury Severity Score (ISS) with symptoms of depression during recovery from musculoskeletal injury.

Rates and risk factors of complications associated with operative treatment of pelvic fractures.

Purpose: Post-operative complications following fixation of pelvic fractures can lead to mortality and increased morbidity. Available literature regarding complications is heterogeneous and knowledge on risk factors is limited. This study aims to identify the most common post-operative complications and their possible risk factors following pelvic fracture surgery.

Variation in posterior fragment fixation in the Netherlands: a nationwide study.

Purpose: The treatment of the posterior fragment in trimalleolar fractures differs from hospital to hospital in the Netherlands. A nationwide survey was performed to evaluate the fixation criteria and practice variation.

Methods: An online cross-sectional survey amongst (orthopaedic) trauma surgeons was performed in the Netherlands.