Cost-effectiveness of on-demand removal of syndesmotic screws.

Purpose: Syndesmotic screw removal following acute syndesmotic injury is a commonly performed procedure. However, recent studies suggest that the removal does not result in improved patient reported outcome, while the procedure has proved not to be without complications. The aim of this study was to present a health-economic evaluation of on-demand removal (ODR) compared to routine removal (RR) of the syndesmotic screw.

Volar Plate Fixation Versus Cast Immobilization in Acceptably Reduced Intra-Articular Distal Radial Fractures: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: The evidence for the treatment of acceptably reduced intra-articular distal radial fractures remains inconclusive. We therefore compared the functional outcomes of cast immobilization (nonoperative) and volar plate fixation (operative) for patients with these fractures.

Methods: This multicenter randomized controlled trial enrolled patients between 18 and 75 years old with an acceptably reduced intra-articular distal radial fracture.

Correction to: Routine versus on demand removal of the syndesmotic screw; a protocol for an international randomised controlled trial (RODEO-trial).

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

Routine versus on demand removal of the syndesmotic screw; a protocol for an international randomised controlled trial (RODEO-trial).

Background: Syndesmotic injuries are common and their incidence is rising. In case of surgical fixation of the syndesmosis a metal syndesmotic screw is used most often. It is however unclear whether this screw needs to be removed routinely after the syndesmosis has healed.

Effect of Antibiotic Prophylaxis on Surgical Site Infections Following Removal of Orthopedic Implants Used for Treatment of Foot, Ankle, and Lower Leg Fractures: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Following clean (class I, not contaminated) surgical procedures, the rate of surgical site infection (SSI) should be less than approximately 2%. However, an infection rate of 12.2% has been reported following removal of orthopedic implants used for treatment of fractures below the knee.

Normative data for the lower extremity functional scale (LEFS).

Background and purpose - The lower extremity functional scale (LEFS) is a well-known and validated instrument for measurement of lower extremity function. The LEFS was developed in a group of patients with various musculoskeletal disorders, and no reference data for the healthy population are available. Here we provide normative data for the LEFS.

Unusual presentation of a late-onset recurrence of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma.

A man aged 79 years with a history of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma presented 8 years after primary presentation with a suspected right-sided painful inguinal hernia and hydrocele, both present for 5 months. During surgery, however, the inguinal swelling appeared to be a tumour. Laboratory examination was non-alarming and ultrasonography not specific for mesothelioma.

Trauma surgery by general surgeons: Still an option for proximal femoral fractures?

Introduction: Surgery for proximal femoral fractures in the Netherlands is performed by trauma surgeons, general surgeons and orthopaedic surgeons. The aim of this study was to assess whether there is a difference in outcome for patients with proximal femoral fractures operated by trauma surgeons versus general surgeons. Secondly, the relation between hospital and surgeon volume and postoperative complications was explored.

Wound Infections Following Implant removal below the knee: the effect of antibiotic prophylaxis; the WIFI-trial, a multi-centre randomized controlled trial.

Background: In the Netherlands about 18,000 procedures with implant removal are performed annually following open or closed reduction and fixation of fractures, of which 30-80% concern the foot, ankle and lower leg region. For clean surgical procedures, the rate of postoperative wound infections (POWI) should be less than ~2%. However, rates of 10-12% following implant removal have been reported, specifically after foot, ankle and lower leg fractures.

Surgery versus conservative treatment in patients with type A distal radius fractures, a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Fractures of the distal radius are common and account for an estimated 17% of all fractures diagnosed. Two-thirds of these fractures are displaced and require reduction. Although distal radius fractures, especially extra-articular fractures, are considered to be relatively harmless, inadequate treatment may result in impaired function of the wrist.

Preliminary results of cannulated screw fixation for isolated pubic ramus fractures.

Isolated pubic ramus fractures are common fractures in the elderly, and treatment is typically non-operative. Up to 35 % of patients have a prolonged hospital stay due to pain. A small number of these patients do not respond to standard (non-operative) treatment.

February 2009 airplane crash at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport: an overview of injuries and patient distribution.

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the injuries and distribution of casualties resulting from the crash of Turkish Airlines flight TK 1951 near Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands on 25 of February 2009.

Methods: This was a retrospective, descriptive study. Based on a review of the hospital records for all casualties of the airplane crash, triage at the scene, time to emergency department, Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) and Injury Severity Score (ISS), mortality, length of hospital stay and surgical procedures were abstracted.

Delayed diagnosis of injury in survivors of the February 2009 crash of flight TK 1951.

Introduction: On 25th February 2009, a Boeing 737 crashed nearby Amsterdam, leaving 126 victims. In trauma patients, some injuries initially escape detection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of Delayed Diagnosis of Injury (DDI) and the tertiary survey on the victims of a plane crash, and the effect of ATLS(®) implementation on DDI incidence.

A clinical decision rule to establish the diagnosis of acute diverticulitis at the emergency department.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify patients in whom the clinical diagnosis of diverticulitis can be made with a high certainty, distinguishing them from patients requiring imaging.

Methods: We prospectively recorded clinical features in patients with acute abdominal pain presenting at the emergency department, before they underwent imaging. We identified features significantly associated with a final diagnosis of acute diverticulitis using multivariate logistic regression analysis and developed a decision rule based on these features.

[Airplane crash near Schiphol Airport 25 February 2009: injuries and casualty distribution].

Objective: To describe the injuries and distribution of casualties resulting from the crash of Turkish Airlines flight TK 1951 near Schiphol Airport on 25 February 2009.

Design: Retrospective, descriptive.

Method: We reviewed the hospital case notes of all casualties of the airplane crash and scored triage at the scene, time to emergency department, Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) and Injury Severity Score (ISS), mortality, length of hospital stay and surgical procedures.