Publications by authors named "Volker Zimmermann"
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to create an easy-to-use score, called the OF Pelvis Score, to help decide between non-operative and surgical treatments for patients with osteoporotic pelvic fractures.
- The score was developed through expert consensus based on extensive analysis of fractures and includes factors like fracture type, pain level, mobility, and overall health, categorizing scores below, above, or equal to 8 for treatment recommendations.
- In a retrospective evaluation of 107 patients, the score guided therapy decisions effectively, with a high compliance rate, and emphasized its adaptable nature as patient conditions evolve.
Clinical Evaluation of the Osteoporotic Fracture Treatment Score (OF-Score): Results of the Evaluation of the Osteoporotic Fracture Classification, Treatment Score and Therapy Recommendations (EOFTT) Study.
Global Spine J
April 2023
Study Design: Multicenter prospective cohort study.
Objective: The study aims to validate the recently developed OF score for treatment decisions in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF).
Methods: This is a prospective multicenter cohort study (EOFTT) in 17 spine centers.
Treatment and Outcome of Osteoporotic Thoracolumbar Vertebral Fractures With Anterior or Posterior Tension Band Failure (OF 5): Short-Term Results From the Prospective EOFTT Multicenter Study.
Global Spine J
April 2023
Article Synopsis
- The study involved analyzing surgical strategies and outcomes for patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar fractures classified as OF 5 within a larger multicenter cohort of 518 patients.
- Out of 19 patients assessed, different surgical methods were utilized, with no major surgical complications but a 45% occurrence of general postoperative complications reported.
- Results indicated significant improvements in patients' functional outcomes and quality of life at an average follow-up of 20 weeks, highlighting surgical stabilization as an effective treatment despite the associated complication rate.
Treatment and Outcome of Osteoporotic Thoracolumbar Vertebral Body Fractures With Deformation of Both Endplates With or Without Posterior Wall Involvement (OF 4): Short-Term Results from the Prospective EOFTT Multicenter Study.
Global Spine J
April 2023
Article Synopsis
- This study aimed to analyze treatment strategies for osteoporotic thoracolumbar OF 4 fractures, assessing complications and clinical outcomes in 518 patients.
- Out of these, 152 patients with OF 4 fractures were evaluated, with the most common treatment being short-segment posterior stabilization, revealing varying outcomes based on age and treatment type.
- The findings suggest that conservative treatment is effective for moderate symptoms, while hybrid stabilization showed better results, indicating that cement augmentation is a good alternative for specific patients.
Aim: Osteoporotic thoracolumbar fractures are of increasing importance. To identify the optimal treatment strategy this multicentre prospective cohort study was performed.
Purpose: Patients suffering from osteoporotic thoracolumbar fractures were included.
OF-Pelvis classification of osteoporotic sacral and pelvic ring fractures.
BMC Musculoskelet Disord
November 2021
Article Synopsis
- Osteoporotic fractures of the pelvis (OFP) are becoming a significant concern in orthopedics, prompting the need for a new, simpler, and more reliable classification system (CS) that uses both CT and MRI, as existing systems have limited reliability.
- A consensus among trauma and orthopedic experts in German-speaking countries led to the creation of the new OF-Pelvis CS over five years, which was validated by having experienced surgeons categorize 25 anonymized cases using imaging scans.
- The new classification has five subgroups indicating increasing instability and three modifiers that can be used alone or in combination; the inter-rater reliability scores are notably high, showing strong agreement among both the developers and the
Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess therapeutic strategies of inpatients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar fractures (OTF) in Germany.
Methods: Prospective multi-center study including 16 German-speaking trauma centers over a period of 7 months. All inpatients with OTF were included.
Background: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a lung disease of preterm born infants, characterized by alveolar simplification. MicroRNA ( are known to be involved in many biological and pathological processes in the lung. Although a changed expression has been described for several in BPD, a causal role remains to be established.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Odontoid fractures in geriatric patients represent an entity of increasing incidence with a high rate of morbidity and mortality. The optimal diagnostic and therapeutic management is being controversially discussed in the literature.
Methods: In a consensus process and based on the current literature, the members of the working groups "Osteoporotic Fractures" and "Upper Cervical Spine" of the German Society for Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery (DGOU) defined recommendations for the diagnostics and treatment of odontoid fractures in geriatric patients.
Study Design: Prospective clinical cohort study (data collection); expert opinion (recommendation development).
Objectives: Treatment options for nonsurgical and surgical management of osteoporotic vertebral body fractures are widely differing. Based on current literature, the knowledge of the experts, and their classification for osteoporotic fractures (OF classification) the Spine Section of the German Society for Orthopaedics and Trauma has now introduced general treatment recommendations.
Study Design: Expert opinion.
Objectives: Osteoporotic vertebral fractures are of increasing medical importance. For an adequate treatment strategy, an easy and reliable classification is needed.
Study Design: Expert consensus.
Objectives: To establish treatment recommendations for subaxial cervical spine injuries based on current literature and the knowledge of the Spine Section of the German Society for Orthopaedics and Trauma.
Methods: This recommendation summarizes the knowledge of the Spine Section of the German Society for Orthopaedics and Trauma.
In a consensus process during four sessions in 2016, the working group "lower cervical spine" of the German Society for Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery (DGOU), formulated "Therapeutic Recommendations for the Lower Cervical Spine", taking into consideration the current literature. Therapeutic goals are a permanently stable, painless cervical spine and the protection against secondary neurologic damage while retaining the greatest possible amount of motion and spinal profile. Due to its ease of use and its proven good reliability, the AOSpine classification for subaxial cervical injuries should be used.
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