[Early clinical care strategy for severely injured patients with abdominal trauma]. / Frühe klinische Versorgungsstrategien für schwerverletzte Patienten mit Abdominaltrauma.

BACKGROUND: The presence of abdominal injuries has a major impact on the mortality of severely injured patients. For injuries that require surgery, laparotomy is still the gold standard for early surgical care; however, there is increasing evidence that laparoscopy may be an alternative in the early clinical care of polytrauma patients. OBJECTIVE: The present registry-based study analyzed the utilization and the outcome of laparoscopy in severely injured patients with abdominal trauma in Germany. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 12,447 patients retrieved from the TraumaRegister DGU® (TR-DGU) was performed. The primary inclusion criteria were an injury severity score (ISS) ≥ 9 and an abbreviated injury scale (AIS) [abdomen] ≥ 1. The included patients were grouped according to early treatment management: (1) laparoscopy, (2) laparotomy and (3) non-operative management (NOM). Finally, group-specific patient characteristics and outcome were analyzed. RESULTS: The majority of patients were treated by NOM (52.4%, n = 6069), followed by laparotomy (50,6%, n = 6295) and laparoscopy (0.7%, n = 83). The majority of laparoscopies were performed in patients with an AIS [abdomen] ≤ 3 (86.7%). The ISS of the laparoscopy group was significantly lower compared to that of the laparotomy and NOM groups (ISS 23.4 vs. 34.5 vs. 28.2, respectively, p ≤ 0.001). The standardized mortality rate (SMR), defined as the ratio between observed and expected mortality, was lowest in the patients receiving laparoscopy followed by laparotomy and NOM (SMR 0.688 vs. 0.931 vs. 0.932, respectively, p-value = 0.2128) without achieving statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Despite being rarely employed the data indicate the effectiveness of laparoscopy for the early treatment of severely injured, hemodynamically stable patients with an AIS [abdomen] ≤ 3.

[Diagnosis and treatment of abdominal trauma]. / Diagnostik und Therapie des Abdominaltraumas.

Abdominal trauma represents the leading cause of haemorrhagic shock in the severely injured patient and is associated with high mortality and morbidity rates. The trauma surgeon has a central role in the multidisciplinary team addressing the specific diagnostic and therapeutic needs of patients with abdominal trauma. The management of blunt and penetrating abdominal trauma has undergone substantial changes in recent decades. Major innovations have been established in the field of diagnostic imaging and of nonoperative interventions such as angioembolization and endoscopic procedures. Another key development is the introduction of the damage control concept for the care of patients with abdominal trauma. The present manuscript comprises a review of the current management of abdominal trauma with an emphasis on diagnostic and therapeutic innovations.

[Denervation of the patella: influence on mid-term results after total knee arthroplasty]. / Retropatellare Denervierung : Einfluss auf die mittelfristigen Ergebnisse von Knietotalendoprothesenimplantationen.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to determine possible differences in the mid-term results of total knee arthroplasty in patients treated with and without denervation of the patella. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 80 total knee replacements in 71 patients who were treated with total knee replacement, either with (n = 40) or without (n = 40) simultaneous denervation of the patella out of a total population with 122 knee replacements in 100 patients. Comparability of both groups was achieved by applying matching criteria. All patients were reviewed by isokinetic tests, physical and radiological examination. The mean follow-up time was 2.2 years. RESULTS: The mean hospital for special surgery (HSS) score revealed no statistically significant differences between both groups (with denervation 77.9 ± 11.1 and without denervation 77.8 ± 11.0, p = 0.976). The isokinetic torque measurements with low angle velocity (60°/s) indicated slightly higher values during extension (60.2 ± 32.2 Nm versus 55.8 ± 25.2 Nm, p = 0.497) and flexion (52.4 ± 28.3 Nm versus 46.1 ± 22.3 Nm, p = 0.272) movements of the affected knee joint. However, the differences did not reach statistical significance. At high angle velocity (180°/s) no differences could be found between both groups. No cases of postoperative necrosis of the patella were observed. Anterior knee pain after denervation was reported in 6 cases (15 %) compared to 10 cases (25 %) in patients who were treated without denervation (p = 0.402). CONCLUSION: No statistically significant differences could be found between patients with and without denervation of the patella for total knee arthroplasty.

Mechanism of injury and treatment of trauma-associated acute compartment syndrome of the foot.

Acute compartment syndrome (ACS) of the foot represents a rare complication following trauma of the lower extremity. Early diagnosis and treatment are necessary to prevent poor outcome. The study was conducted to describe etiology and treatment of foot ACS. In the current study, patients diagnosed with and treated for ACS between 1st December 2000 and 30th September 2007 were included. Mechanism of injury, additional injuries and treatment was analyzed. We included 31 patients (21 males) with a mean age of 33.8 ± 16.9 years. Most injuries were caused by a motor vehicle accident, while nearly 20 % occurred after a low-energy mechanism. Multiple injuries with a mean ISS of 19.5 ± 11.0 were present in 14 patients. Superficial infections occurred in 6 feet, while a deep infection only developed in one patient. Acute compartment syndrome of the foot has a low incidence. A thorough clinical examination in patients on risk is required to provide timely diagnosis and adequate surgical decompression.

[Influence of comorbidities and delay in surgical treatment on mortality following femoral neck fracture]. / Der Einfluss von Begleiterkrankungen und operativem Versorgungszeitpunkt auf die Mortalität bei Patienten mit Schenkelhalsfraktur.

BACKGROUND: Hip fractures typically occur in geriatric patients representing an increasing medical as well as socioeconomic challenge. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In order to reveal the influence of considerable comorbidities and the time of surgery in the treatment of geriatric hip fractures we analysed patients treated between 1993 and 2008 at a level I trauma centre. RESULTS: 654 patients with isolated hip fractures were included. Surgical treatment was performed with osteosynthetic stabilisation in 55.5 % (n = 363) and with endoprosthetic implants in 44.5 % (n = 291). The presence of pulmonary, psychiatric and metabolic/endocrinological comorbidities resulted in delayed treatment. If an early surgical treatment was performed within the first 12 hours after hospital admission, long-term survival was significantly improved (p = 0.02). A regression analysis revealed a statistical trend towards an increased mortality of 0.2 % per hour delay after hospital admission. The presence of considerable comorbidities and surgical treatment with endoprosthetic implants (odds ratio 1.611) were proven as independent mortality factors. CONCLUSION: The present study supports the guideline of early surgical treatment of geriatric hip fractures. Emphasising the incidence of in-hospital complications and the mortality after endoprosthetic treatment, osteosynthetic fracture stabilisation should be considered in the presence of considerable morbidity and pre-surgical immobilisation.

[The oncofetal gene survivin - a possible target gene for regenerative therapy concepts in cartilaginous tissue]. / Das "onkofetale" Gen Survivin - ein mögliches Ziel-Gen regenerativer Therapiekonzepte im Gelenkknorpel.

Survivin, the smallest member of the inhibitor of the apoptosis protein gene family (IAP) is a key molecule for mammalian cell cycle regulation and cellular survival. Of note these functions have been thought to be limited to embryonic and malignant tissues. However, a growing body of evidence indicates a limited expression of survivin in some highly specific adult tissues and cells. In the present study it has been demonstrated that the antiapoptotic protein survivin is re-expressed in osteoarthritic human cartilage and primary human chondrocytes. Furthermore, the data indicated that survivin significantly affects cell cycle regulation and cellular survival. The modulation of survivin expression and function in cartilaginous tissues might be important for understanding osteoarthritis and the development of regenerative strategies.

[Revision implants of the future: trends and new developments]. / Revisionsimplantate der Zukunft: Trends und neue Entwicklungen.

According to current prognostic studies the numbers of revision operations of hip and knee arthroplasty will increase worldwide. As many patients undergo several revisions and become older at the same time, orthopedic surgeons will have to cope with vast bony defects during operations. The introduction of highly porous metals as surface layer or metal augments has facilitated primary stabilization of prostheses. Short and mid-term results of these new products are promising. New developments in coatings, such as cationic antimicrobial peptides represent new alternatives for antibacterial therapy of periprosthetic infections and increase osteointegration of prosthesis components. Furthermore, the new revision systems have a modular design and can be individually adapted to the patient's bony conditions during operations. In most cases this can be done without cement or in a hybrid technique.

[Principles and new concepts in computer-navigated total hip arthroplasty]. / Grundlagen und neue Konzepte in der computernavigierten Hüftendoprothetik.

Combined component placement of cup and stem is closely correlated to stability, functionality and wear in total hip replacement (THA). Computer-navigated orthopedic surgery offers a reliable control method for a complex three-dimensional situation. Imageless navigation systems without the need of preoperative or intraoperative image acquisition and exposure to radiation have been proven to increase the accuracy of positioning the acetabular component and measure intraoperative leg length and offset changes precisely. A new development in this field is the noninvasive external femoral reference marker array system in conjunction with an imageless measurement technique. The future generation of imageless navigation systems will switch from simple measurement tasks to an integral part of the surgical process in navigated THA. The aim will be to find an optimized complementary component orientation with improved postoperative functionality and optimized range of motion without impingement.

[Minimally invasive surgery in total hip arthroplasty : Surgical technique of the future?]. / Minimalinvasive Operationstechniken in der Hüftgelenktotalendoprothetik : Operationstechniken der Zukunft?

AIM: A selective analysis of the latest literature was carried out including prospective clinical controlled studies on the comparison between minimally invasive total hip arthroplasty (MIS) and the conventional technique. METHODS: An online data base search for controlled study designs within the last 3 years (2009-2011) which compared MIS with standard procedures was performed. Data such as operation time, blood loss, Harris hip score, complications and implant positioning were compared. RESULTS: A total of 11 studies which compared the results of 387 MISs and 264 operations on hips with the standard technique were analyzed. In the majority of the studies reduced levels of creatine kinase and myoglobin as well as reduced intraoperative blood loss were reported. In the early postoperative period up to postoperative week 6 significant advantages in the Harris hip score were reported for the MIS patients. Postoperative complications and implant positioning were comparable in both groups. The operation time was significantly longer in the MIS group for some studies. CONCLUSIONS: Minimally invasive techniques in total hip arthroplasty are nowadays no longer seen as just cosmetically attractive but rather as a real improvement for the clinical outcome. In this respect prospective clinically controlled studies within the last 3 years showed advantages in the early postoperative period.

[Patellofemoral pain after total knee arthroplasty: clinical pathway and review of the literature]. / Patellofemoraler Schmerz nach primärer Knieendoprothetik : Behandlungsalgorithmus und Literaturüberblick.

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is an operation with a high gain in quality of life. However, some patients suffer from pain, limited range of motion, instability, infections or other postoperative complications. Patellofemoral pain (PFP) in particular is a common complication after TKA and is often responsible for revision surgery. In particular increasing and localized contact pressure and patella maltracking are held accountable for patellofemoral pain but the reasons are various. Diagnostics and therapy of patellofemoral pain is not easy to handle and should be treated following a clinical pathway. We suggest that patients with patellofemoral pain should be classified into four groups according to the suspected diagnosis after basic diagnostic measures as 1) tenidinosis, 2) mechanical reasons, 3) intraarticular non-mechanical reasons and 4) neurogenic psychogenic reasons. Efficient application of special diagnostic measures and further therapy is facilitated by this classification.

[Repair of local cartilage defects in the patellofemoral joint]. / Therapie lokaler Knorpelschäden im Patellofemoralgelenk.

Cartilage defects of the patellofemoral joint represent different entities. Results of patellofemoral cartilage repair are often variable. Concomitant pathologies, such as malalignment and instability are frequent. Currently no common treatment concept exists. Improvement of patellofemoral biomechanics, e.g. tubercle transfer, results in better outcome independent of the cartilage repair technique used. In patellofemoral instability reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) has recently become a focus of interest. Microfracturing and osteochondral cylinder transfer/mosaicplasty are recommended for smaller defects, while comparative studies have shown advantages for autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) in defects larger than 4 cm². In our study patients with patellofemoral scaffold ACI (MACI®), better Lysholm scores were seen with isolated trochlea defects rather than patella defects or bipolar lesions. While trochlea defects can be effectively addressed, treatment of bipolar patellofemoral defects by scaffold ACI cannot generally be recommended. Follow-up treatment of the patellofemoral joint is more time and cost-consuming than other defect localizations. For the development of therapeutic algorithms further well-defined large randomized studies are necessary.

[Histological pathological investigations and arthroplasty: do they make sense?]. / Histologisch-pathologische Untersuchung bei Gelenkersatzoperationen: Sinnvoll oder nicht?

The present article discusses for which arthroplastic operations a histology investigation should be performed and in which cases histological analyses can be omitted.