Orthopedic trauma surgeon in Sierra Leone: how to keep one's head over water.

Purpose: Developing a guideline for orthopedic trauma surgeons working in civilian trauma hospitals in low-income countries.

Methods: This is a retrospective data analysis in a non-governmental organizational trauma hospital in Sierra Leone, Africa. Trauma victims (282), with 349 fractures, were admitted to the hospital 10/2015-01/2016.

Alterations in structure of the muscle-tendon unit and gait pattern after percutaneous repair of Achilles tendon rupture with the Dresden instrument.

Background: Functional deficits after Achilles tendon (AT) ruptures are observed. The relationship between musculotendinous structural alterations and functional outcome is not clear.

Methods: Kinematic analyses (level walking, stair climbing), patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), calf atrophy (maximum calf circumference (MCC)), and AT length were evaluated in patients after percutaneous AT repair with the Dresden instrument (n=20min.

Functional outcome and complication rate after percutaneous suture of fresh Achilles tendon ruptures with the Dresden instrument.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of patients with a rupture of the Achilles tendon (ATR) treated percutaneously with the Dresden instrument in the hands of surgeons others than its inventors.

Materials And Methods: 118 patients (FU rate: 77.1%) with an acute ATR treated with the Dresden instrument were retrospectively evaluated.

Fracture heuristics: surgical decision for approaches to distal radius fractures. A surgeon's perspective.

The aim of the present study is to develop a heuristic that could replace the surgeon's analysis for the decision on the operative approach of distal radius fractures based on simple fracture characteristics. Five hundred distal radius fractures operated between 2011 and 2014 were analyzed for the surgeon's decision on the approach used. The 500 distal radius fractures were treated with open reduction and internal fixation through palmar, dorsal, and dorsopalmar approaches with 2.

Heterotopic ossification after total ankle replacement: The role of prosthesis alignment.

Background: The aetiology of heterotopic ossifications (HO) after total ankle arthroplasty (TAR) remains controversial. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence and localisation of HO and the effect of alignment.

Methods: 88 TARs with a series of radiological controls and follow-up of 36 months were evaluated.

Fracture severity of distal radius fractures treated with locking plating correlates with limitations in ulnar abduction and inferior health-related quality of life.

Introduction/background: The operative treatment of distal radius fractures has significantly increased after the introduction of locking plates. The aim of the present study was the evaluation of health-related quality of life, functional and radiological outcome of patients with distal radius fractures treated with the locking compression plate (LCP).

Materials And Methods: In the present study 128 patients (130 fractures) that were operatively treated with the LCP (2.

Diagnosing fractures: pain intensity and subjective functional impairment are unreliable markers for initial assessment of possible extremity fractures.

Objectives: The triage of trauma patients is based on patient-given information. The aim of the study was the accuracy of pain intensity, subjective functional impairment, trauma history, and clinical examination in identifying patients with fractures.

Methods: We prospectively asked 436 patients with an extremity trauma whether they believed they had a fracture.

Long-term functional outcome and quality of life after successful surgical treatment of tibial nonunions.

Purpose: Our aim was to evaluate quality of life (QoL) and functional outcome of patients with tibial nonunions after completion of surgical treatment with an average follow-up of five years.

Methods: The following data of 64 patients were retrospectively evaluated: fracture type, type and duration of surgical therapy, range of motion of the knee and ankle and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score. QoL was evaluated with the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire; pain intensity, patient satisfaction and impairments of daily, professional and sport activities with a ten point visual analogue scale.

Anabolic androgenic steroids reverse the beneficial effect of exercise on tendon biomechanics: an experimental study.

Background: The effect of anabolic androgenic steroids on tendons has not yet been fully elucidated. Aim of the present study was the evaluation of the impact of anabolic androgenic steroids on the biomechanical and histological characteristics of Achilles tendons.

Methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomized into four groups with exercise and anabolic steroids (nandrolone decanoate) serving as variables.

Biomechanical behavior of MRI-signal-inducing bone cements after vertebroplasty in osteoporotic vertebral bodies: An experimental cadaver study.

Background: Conventional water-free polymethylmethacrylate cements are not MRI visible due to the lack of free protons. A new MRI-visible bone cement was developed through the addition of a contrast agent and either a saline solution or a hydroxyapatite (Wichlas et al., 2010).

Closed reduction of distal radius fractures: does instability mean irreducibility?

Introduction: The belief that not all distal radius fractures can be initially anatomically reduced with conservative means is rising. The aim of this study was to examine whether adequate reduction with a closed reduction technique is possible and to assess the importance of each step.

Materials And Methods: We prospectively enrolled 63 distal radius fractures (62 patients).

Periprosthetic fractures in total ankle replacement: classification system and treatment algorithm.

Background: Despite progress in implant design and surgical technique, the reported number of periprosthetic ankle fractures following total ankle joint replacement continues to increase. A treatment-oriented classification of these fractures has not yet been reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, cause, and location of periprosthetic fractures and the stability of the associated prosthetic components after total ankle replacement and to develop a method of classification.

Necrotizing fasciitis: is the bacterial spectrum changing?

Purpose: Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a rare, but potentially fatal pathology. The aim of the present study was to identify the population characteristics of the NF patients, the responsible bacteria, and the differences between survivors and nonsurvivors.

Methods: In this retrospective case-control study, all patients with NF from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2010, treated in an academic level 1 trauma center, were identified, and their medical records were reviewed.

Signal-inducing bone cements for MRI-guided spinal cementoplasty: evaluation of contrast-agent-based polymethylmethacrylate cements.

Objective: The purpose of this work is to evaluate two signal-inducing bone cements for MRI-guided spinal cementoplasty.

Materials And Methods: The bone cements were made of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA, 5 ml monomeric, 12 g polymeric) and gadoterate meglumine as a contrast agent (CA, 0-40 μl) with either saline solution (NaCl, 2-4 ml) or hydroxyapatite bone substitute (HA, 2-4 ml). The cement's signal was assessed in an open 1-Tesla MR scanner, with T1W TSE and fast interventional T1W TSE pulse sequences, and the ideal amount of each component was determined.

Sonographic measurements of subcutaneous fat in obese individuals may correlate better with peripheral artery disease indices.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of various methods for body fat assessment with indices of peripheral artery disease in the deep and superficial femoral arteries.

Methods: The intima-media thickness (IMT), maximal IMT (max IMT), femoral wall thickness (FWT), maximal FWT (max FWT), cross-sectional intima media area (CIMA), and atherosclerotic burden score (ABS) were measured sonographically in 26 subjects. The minimum thickness of the abdominal subcutaneous fat layer (Smin) was measured sonographically close to the xyphoid process, and body fat percentage was calculated using various formulas.

A formula for the stratified selection of patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in the emergency setting: a retrospective pilot study.

Background: Amiodarone is a commonly used medication in the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) of recent onset.

Study Objectives: The aim of the study was to identify a possible formula for selecting Emergency Department (ED) patients with paroxysmal AF who will spontaneously restore sinus rhythm (SR), successfully restore SR with the use of loading intravenous (i.v.

Effect of statins on serum apolipoprotein j and paraoxonase-1 levels in patients with ischemic heart disease undergoing coronary angiography.

It has been proposed that apolipoprotein J (apo J) and paraoxonase-1 (PON1) correlate with the extent and severity of ischemic heart disease (IHD). This article compares apo J and PON1 serum concentrations, PON1 activity, and the apo J/PON1 ratio in 138 IHD patients (64 statins users and 74 statin nonusers) referred for angiography and possible percutaneous coronary intervention. The effect of statin treatment on apo J and PON1 concentrations, PON1 activity, and the degree of coronary artery stenosis were evaluated.

A prognostic index for the successful use of adenosine in patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia in emergency settings: a retrospective study.

Study Objectives: The use of adenosine on failure of vagal maneuvers in patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) is recommended. The aim of the present study was to identify a possible prognostic index for the efficacy of adenosine in PSVT.

Methods: This retrospective study included 321 patients with PSVT, in whom vagal maneuvers failed to restore normal sinus rhythm and who received 6 mg adenosine, followed by 12 mg adenosine (repeated if necessary).