Intraoperative subcutaneous wound closing culture sample: a predicting factor for periprosthetic infection after hip- and knee-replacement?

Introduction: It is unknown whether intraoperative subcutaneous wound closing culture samples (WCCS) are useful to predict periprosthetic joint infection (PJI).

Method: Here we prospectively followed 167 out of a total of 175 consecutive patients with primary total hip (THR) or knee replacement (TKR) between 01/2002 and 12/2002 for a mean follow-up period of 5 years; of those patients, n = 159 (96.8%) underwent WCCS.

Analgesia and sedation in the intensive care of burn patients: results of a European survey.

Objective: A variety of agents and techniques are employed in different countries, settings, and medical specialities in order to provide analgesia and sedation in intensive care. Several national guidelines have been published in recent years regarding sedation and analgesia in a general intensive care patient population; however, to date no data exist for patients with burn injuries. The aim of the study was to evaluate analgesia and sedation practice in the intensive care of burn patients in Europe.

Evaluating the effectiveness of a patient-oriented hand rehabilitation programme.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a patient-oriented, hand rehabilitation programme compared to a standard programme regarding functional outcomes, return to work, patient satisfaction and costs. Patients were recruited in two consecutive cohorts. One cohort received the standard treatment programme (n = 75) and the other a programme based on principles of patient orientation (n = 75).

Computer-assisted LISS plate osteosynthesis of proximal tibia fractures: feasibility study and first clinical results.

Fluoroscopy is the most common tool for the intraoperative control of long-bone fracture reduction. Limitations of this technology include high radiation exposure for the patient and the surgical team, limited visual field, distorted images, and cumbersome verification of image updating. Fluoroscopy-based navigation systems partially address these limitations by allowing fluoroscopic images to be used for real-time surgical localization and instrument tracking.

Measuring levels of upper-extremity disability in employed adults using the DASH Questionnaire.

Purpose: The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire is a standardized outcome measure that captures upper-extremity disability from the perspective of the patient and is used to study clinical outcomes in musculoskeletal disorders. To constitute a frame of reference for clinical values it is important for clinicians to be able to compare clinical DASH scores with those of nonclinical populations. We collected DASH data from a working population in Germany that was outside clinical considerations and used the data to identify disability levels among identified subgroups as a basis for future clinical comparisons.