Publications by authors named "Till Berk"

Introduction: Pelvic ring fractures are known to be associated with complications associated with adjacent organ injuries, such as the urogenital tract (e.g. erectile dysfunction (ED), which are sometimes diagnosed in a delayed fashion.

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Introduction: According to current clinical practice, a minimum of 7 knots are required to provide secure hold in high-strength sutures. A new technology featuring a suture tape with a salt-infused silicon core has been recently developed, potentially reducing the number of needed knots.

Aims: to (1) assess the influence of number of knots on tape security, (2) evaluate the effect of different ambient conditions on knot security, and (3) compare the biomechanical competence of the novel versus a conventional suture tape.

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Article Synopsis
  • A study was conducted to improve training for trauma surgeons on managing unstable pelvic ring injuries through a realistic simulation model that focused on external fixation and screw placement.
  • Participants, including residents and consultants, completed a confidence assessment on emergency procedures before and after the simulation.
  • Results showed a significant increase in confidence levels for emergency screw placement, external fixation, and pelvic imaging following the training sessions.
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Purpose: The emergency treatment of unstable pelvic ring injuries is still a challenge and requires surgical and anesthesiological resuscitation. Emergency fixation of the unstable pelvic ring with percutaneous sacroiliac (SI) screws, also known as "Rescue Screws", is an established treatment method. The aim of our study was to compare the outcome and complication rates of "Rescue Screws" with elective SI-screw fixations.

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: Despite the established role of subtalar joint arthrodesis (SJA) for treatment of subtalar osteoarthritis, achieving bone union remains challenging, with up to 46% non-union rates. Adequate compression and stable fixation are crucial for successful outcomes, with internal screw fixation being the gold standard for SJA. The delta configuration, featuring highly divergent screws, offers stability, however, it can result in hardware irritation in 20-30% of patients.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the effectiveness of two types of screws (cannulated compression headless screw vs. standard screw) for fixing anterior column acetabular fractures in osteoporotic bones as life expectancy and associated fractures increase.
  • Eight composite pelvis models were used to compare the biomechanical performance of both screws under increasing load until failure, revealing the cannulated screw group displayed greater stiffness and load capacity.
  • Results suggest that the cannulated compression headless screw offers better biomechanical competence and could be a viable alternative to the standard screw for treating these fractures.
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Background: The aim of the study was to determine the impact that PHTLS course participation had on self-confidence of emergency personnel, regarding the pre-hospital treatment of patients who had suffered severe trauma. Furthermore, the goal was to determine the impact of specific medical profession, work experience and prior course participation had on the benefits of PHTLS training.

Methods: A structured questionnaire study was performed.

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Purpose: Clinical assessment of the major trauma patient follows international validated guidelines without standardized trauma-specific assessment of the lower extremities for injuries. This study aimed to validate a novel clinical test for lower extremity evaluation during trauma resuscitation phase.

Methods: This diagnostic, prognostic observational cohort study was performed on trauma patient treated at one level I trauma center between Mar 2022 and Mar 2023.

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Background: The timing of definitive surgery in multiple injured patients remains a topic of debate, and multiple concepts have been described. Although these included injury severity as a criterion to decide on the indications for surgery, none of them considered the influence of injury distributions. We analyzed whether injury distribution is associated with certain surgical strategies and related outcomes in a cohort of patients treated according to principles of early and safe fixation strategies.

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Background: 3D-navigation for percutaneous sacroiliac (SI) screw fixation is becoming increasingly common and several studies report great advantages of this technology. However, there is still limited clinical evidence on the efficacy regarding radiation exposure for patient and personnel.

Methods: This is a retrospective, single-center cohort study.

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Purpose: The number of seven required throws per knot was previously reported as providing sufficient security against slippage. A novel high-strength suture featuring dynamic tightening may allow for throw number reduction without compromising stability. The aims of this study were to (1) investigate the influence of the throw number and the effect of different ambient conditions on the knot security of two different high-strength sutures, and (2) compare their biomechanical competence.

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Dual plating of comminuted distal femoral fractures allows for early patient mobilization. An additional helically shaped medial plate avoids the medial vital structures of the thigh. The aim of this study is to investigate the biomechanical competence of an augmented lateral locking compression plate distal femur (LCP-DF) using an additional straight versus a helically shaped medial LCP of the same length.

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Study Design: Retrospective database analysis.

Objective: Polytraumatized patients with spinal injuries require tailor-made treatment plans. Severity of both spinal and concomitant injuries determine timing of spinal surgery.

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Background: Distal femoral fractures are commonly treated with lateral straight plates. However, the lateral approach may not always be desirable, and 180°-helical plates may be an alternative.

Aim: To investigate the biomechanical competence of 180°-helical plating versus standard straight lateral plating of unstable fractures at the distal femur.

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Backround: The beneficial effects of unrestricted postoperative full weight bearing for elderly patients suffering hip fractures have been demonstrated. However, there is still existing disagreement regarding acetabular fractures.The aim of this biomechanical study was to evaluate the initial load bearing capabilities of different fixation constructs of anterior column fractures (ACFs) in osteoporotic bone.

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Background: Recently, a new generation of superior clavicle plates was developed featuring the variable-angle locking technology for enhanced screw positioning and a less prominent and optimized plate-to-bone fit design. On the other hand, minifragment plates in dual plating mode have demonstrated promising clinical results. The aim of the current study was to compare the biomechanical competence of single superior plating using the new-generation plate vs.

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Article Synopsis
  • Cannulated screws are commonly used for fixing posterior pelvis ring injuries, but it's unclear whether using a washer with these screws improves stability.
  • A study evaluated the effectiveness of S1-S2 sacroiliac screw fixation with and without washers across different screw types on simulated pelvis injuries.
  • Results showed that fully threaded short screws with a washer provided significantly better stability than without; however, for partially threaded short and fully threaded long screws, using a washer was not essential.
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Background/purpose: The surgical fixation of a symphyseal diastasis in partially or fully unstable pelvic ring injuries is an important element when stabilizing the anterior pelvic ring. Currently, open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) by means of plating represents the gold standard treatment. Advances in percutaneous fixation techniques have shown improvements in blood loss, surgery time, and scar length.

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: Minimally invasive surgeries for acetabulum fracture fixation are gaining popularity due to their known advantages versus open reduction and internal fixation. Antegrade or retrograde screw fixation along the long axis of the posterior column of the acetabulum is increasingly applied in surgical practice. While there is sufficient justification in the literature for the application of the anterior approach, there is a deficit of reports related to the posterior approach.

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Background: Geriatric trauma patients represent a special challenge in postoperative care and are prone to specific complications. The goal of this study was to analyse the predictive potential of a novel nursing assessment tool, the outcome-oriented nursing assessment for acute care (ePA-AC), in geriatric trauma patients with proximal femur fractures (PFF).

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of geriatric trauma patients aged ≥ 70 years with PFF was conducted at a level 1 trauma centre.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study investigates the best surgical fixation methods for posterior column fractures (PCFs) in acetabular fractures, aiming to compare standard plate osteosynthesis, percutaneous screw fixation, and screwable cup fixation in terms of stiffness and failure load under full weight-bearing conditions.
  • - Twelve composite osteoporotic pelvis models were tested, revealing that while all fixation methods showed similar initial stiffness, standard plate fixation had significantly higher cycles to failure and failure load compared to percutaneous screw fixation.
  • - The findings suggest that using standard open reduction and internal fixation with plates or screwable cups yields promising results for post-surgical weight bearing after PCFs in elderly patients.
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Injuries of the posterior pelvic ring are predominantly associated with osteoporosis. Percutaneously placed screws transfixing the sacroiliac joint have become the gold standard for their treatment. However, screw cut-out, backing-out, and loosening are common complications.

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Background/purpose: Impaired healing is a feared complication with devastating outcomes for each patient. Most studies focus on geriatric fracture fixation and assess well known risk factors such as infections. However, risk factors, others than infections, and impaired healing of proximal femur fractures in non-geriatric adults are marginally assessed.

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Pubic ramus fractures are common in compound pelvic injuries known to have an increased rate of morbidity and mortality along with recurrent and chronic pain, impeding a patient's quality of life. The current standard treatment of these fractures is percutaneous screw fixation due to its reduced risk of blood loss and shorter surgery times. However, this is an intricate surgical technique associated with high failure rates of up to 15%, related to implant failure and loss of reduction.

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Background/purpose: Posterior pelvis ring injuries represent typical high-energy trauma injuries in young adults. Joint stabilization with two cannulated sacroiliac (SI) screws at the level of sacral vertebrae S1 and S2 is a well-established procedure. However, high failure- and implant removal (IR) rates have been reported.

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