[Is there life after trauma surgery? Cooperation with the developmental aid worker Karlheinz Böhm]. / Gibt es ein Leben nach der Unfallchirurgie? Zusammenarbeit mit dem Entwicklungshelfer Karlheinz Böhm.

The editors of the journal The Trauma Surgeon provided the stimulus for the topic "is there life after trauma surgery?": an unusual and original idea given the aging of society. This article describes the friendly attachment with the former actor and current developmental aid worker in Ethiopia, Karlheinz Böhm. During this cooperation five hospitals were founded and a languishing university clinic in the region of Illubarbor near to the Sudanese border could be modernized and raised to be an efficient medical faculty of Ethiopia. The article portrays that training and advanced training were the foremost priority of our actions and was furthermore successful with respect to the cooperation between the Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich and the University of Jimma.

Prospective documentation and analysis of the pre- and early clinical management in severe head injury in southern Bavaria at a population based level.

Treatment of patients suffering from severe head injury is so far restricted to general procedures, whereas specific pharmacological agents of neuroprotection including hypothermia have not been found to improve the outcome in clinical trials. Albeit effective, symptomatic measures of the preclinical rescue of patients (i.e. stabilization or reestablishment of the circulatory and respiratory system) or of the early clinical care (e.g. prompt diagnosis and treatment of an intracranial space occupying mass, maintenance of a competent circulatory and respiratory system, and others) by and large constitute the current treatment based on considerable organizational and logistical efforts. These and other components of the head injury treatment are certainly worthwhile of a systematic analysis as to their efficacy or remaining deficiencies, respectively. Deficits could be associated with delays of providing preclinical rescue procedures (e.g. until intubation of the patient or administration of fluid). Delays could also be associated in the hospital with the diagnostic establishment of intracranial lesions requiring prompt neurosurgical intervention. By support of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and under the auspices of the Forschungsverbund Neurotraumatology, University of Munich, a prospective system analysis was carried out on major aspects of the pre- and early clinical management at a population based level in patients with traumatic brain injury. Documentation of pertinent data was made from August 1998 to July 1999 covering a catchment area of Southern Bavaria (5.6 mio inhabitants). Altogether 528 cases identified to suffer from severe head injury (GCS < or = 8 or deteriorating to that level within 48 hrs) were enrolled following admission to the hospital and establishment of the diagnosis. Further, patients dying on the scene or during transport to the hospital were also documented, particularly as to the frequency of severe head injury as underlying cause of mortality. The analysis included also cases with additional peripheral trauma (polytrauma). The efficacy of the logistics and organization of the management was studied by documentation of prognosis-relevant time intervals, as for example until arrival of the rescue squad at the scene of an accident, until intubation and administration of fluid, or upon hospital admission until establishment of the CT-diagnosis and commencement of surgery or transfer to the intensive care unit, respectively. The severity of cases studied in the present analysis is evident from a mortality of far above 40% of cases admitted to the hospital, which was increased by about 20% when including prehospital mortality. The outcome data notwithstanding, the emerging results demonstrate a high efficacy of the pre- and early clinical management, as indicated by a prompt arrival of the rescue squad at the scene, a competent prehospital and early clinical management and care, indicative of a low rate of avoidable complications. It is tentatively concluded on the basis of these findings that the patient prognosis is increasingly determined by the manifestations of primary brain damage vs. the development of secondary complications.

[Outcome of long-term intensive therapy of surgery patients]. / Ergebnisse nach Langzeitintensivtherapie chirurgischer Patienten.

OBJECTIVE: The treatment of severely ill patients remains a medical and human challenge. The aim of the study was to determine the survival rate of patients with prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) treatment. Additionally, the somatic, psychological, and social sequelae of the survivors should be determined. METHODS: Data of all patients who stayed for at least 30 consecutive days on a surgical ICU were evaluated with respect to age, sex, diagnosis on admission, APACHE II-Score, ISS, pre-existing diseases, therapeutic procedures, complications, organ dysfunctions, and mortality. The survivors passed a follow-up examination after 35 +/- 14 months. This included somatic, psychological, and social parameters. RESULTS: Data of 101 patients were analysed (m/f: 78/23, mean age: 49.9 +/- 18.2 years, mean stay on ICU: 57 +/- 37 days, trauma patients: 46%). 31 subjects died on the ICU. Until the follow-up, another 24 patients deceased. Thus, the total mortality rose to 55%. Age, diagnosis on admission and severity of organ failure influenced the ICU mortality. Concerning the mortality after discharge, age, pre-existing morbidity and diagnosis on admission affected the outcome. 41 of the remaining 46 patients (89%) underwent the follow-up. Nearly half of them showed no or minor signs of impairment in any of the investigated areas. One third had severe handicaps. Trauma patients had the lowest mortality rates but showed worse results in rehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: The mortality after prolonged ICU-treatment is substantially higher compared to average ICU patients. However, having survived the acute phase of the illness, successful rehabilitation in somatic, psychic as well as social terms could be performed to a considerable extent. This outcome is comparable to the one of other ICU populations. The results encourage to a consequent use of all medical options.

[Stable and unstable pertrochanteric femoral fractures. Differentiated indications for the dynamic hip screw]. / Die stabile und instabile pertrochantäre Femurfraktur. Differenzierte Indikationsstellung für die dynamische Hüftschraube.

The aim of all surgical procedures in the treatment of trochanteric fractures in elderly and even geriatric patients is achievement of initial stability. We examined in a clinical trial whether primary stability was achieved in all types of trochanteric fractures following osteosynthesis with the Dynamic Hip Screw (DHS). From 1994 to 1996, 122 patients with trochanteric fractures had osteosynthesis by dynamic hip screw. Patient records were evaluated and all data got registered with a standardized protocol;clinical radiological outcome was analysed after an average period of 1.9 years after injury according to the Traumatic Hip Rating Score. 22% of all patients died meantimes, 51.6% of the remaining 95 patients could get examined. The average age was 75.5 years, the patient population showed an increased preoperative morbidity (2.5 points) according to ASA-Score. 81% showed progressive osteoporosis. According to the AO-classification 47% stable fractures (type A-1) and 53% instable trochanteric fractures (type A-2 and A-3) occurred. Surgery lasted 77 minutes average in osteosynthesis of stable fractures. The duration of 108 minutes in instable fractures was significantly higher, as well as the blood loss was 43% increased in these complex fractures. Complications closely associated to the osteosynthesis appeared only in instable fractures (7%). Also common complications (24.6%) predominated with 15.6% in type A-2 and A-3 fractures versus 9% in type A-1 fractures; mortality was also different with 5.7% versus 1.6%. Assessment of the functional outcome according to THRS showed a significant deterioration of 20 points in 71% of all patients compared with the preoperative score. The results show that dynamic hip screw osteosynthesis in instable trochanteric fractures is associated to a higher incidence of complications. While the dynamic hip screw still represents the standard implant in stable fractures of the trochanteric region, being aware of improved intramedullary implants regarding biomechanical features and surgical technique, the results justify to critical consider the use of DHS for osteosynthesis in instable fractures of the trochanteric region.

Communication in plastic surgery by means of e-mail: experiences and recommendations for clinical use.

The Internet is a global network of computers with a broad variety of services and options. Electronic mail (email) is the most frequently used service. For a plastic surgeon, this mode is the fastest and the most cost-effective way of transferring data of any kind. The critical aim of this study was to assess the transfer of confidential data by means of e-mail and to present general conditions for the use of e-mail. Therefore, experiences with this means of communication are described to point to the possibilities, but also to indicate problems and weak points of this medium. Some rules should be obeyed for the transfer of confidential patient data by means of e-mail to satisfy the demand for data-security standards. Also, medicolegal aspects must be considered. These recommendations or rules and aspects will be discussed to offer a guideline to plastic surgeons for their e-mail applications.

[The biological reaction in atrophic and hypertrophic pseudarthrosis of diaphysis of long bone. Causes and forms of appearance]. / Die biologischen Bedingungen atropher und hypertropher Pseudarthrosen der Schaftknochen. Ursachen und Erscheinungsbild.

The grading of long-tubular-bone pseudarthrosis depends on the biological reaction or lack of reaction in pseudarthrosis or non-unions. Hypertrophic and oligotrophic pseudarthrosis belongs to biologically reacting non-unions, whereas non-reacting non-unions are necrotic pseudarthrosis and defective non-unions with partial decline or complete destruction of cortical substance. Pseudarthrosis is a serious disturbance or disorder within the regulation cycle in fracture healing, which consists of osteoregeneration, osteovascularization and stabilization. The causes and underlying reasons for disturbance of this regulation cycle are primarily massive destruction of the biological and functional very important unity of periost, cortical substance and medullary space. This can occur from trauma, but it happens more often from surgical procedures that do not take the biological principles of bone-healing into account. Surgical strategies and interventions that respect the importance of periosteal tissue, cortical tissue and medullary space do fill the biological principles of fracture-healing and fracture union.

Checking for breathing: evaluation of the diagnostic capability of emergency medical services personnel, physicians, medical students, and medical laypersons.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: International guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) recommend determination of unconsciousness, breathlessness, and absence of pulse to diagnose cardiorespiratory arrest. Thus far, there have been no scientifically proven data available regarding the quality of assessing breathlessness. The study objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of checking for breathing in an emergency situation, to determine the necessary amount of time until diagnosis, and to document used techniques. METHODS: Four different populations were tested for their ability to assess breathlessness: emergency medical services (EMS) personnel, physicians, medical students, and laypersons. Each participant was asked to perform the diagnostic procedure twice, first with a breathing or not-breathing unresponsive test person and then with a modified megacode manikin (with the possibility of simulated respiratory function). The order of testing and the respiratory status were strictly randomized. Diagnostic accuracy, time interval to diagnosis, and used techniques were documented. RESULTS: A total of 261 persons were tested in 522 trials, with a median time interval of 12 seconds for obtaining a diagnosis. Regarding all participants, the correct diagnosis was achieved in 81.0% (EMS personnel, 89.7%; physicians, 84.5%; medical students, 78.4%; laypersons, 71.5%). Only 55.6% of all participants showed correct diagnostic skills (EMS personnel, 91.3%; physicians, 51.5%; medical students, 61.9%; laypersons, 18.5%). CONCLUSION: Checking for breathing was shown to be mostly inaccurate and unreliable. This diagnostic procedure takes more time than recommended in international guidelines. Therefore CPR training should focus more on the determination of breathlessness. Also, the guidelines for CPR should be revised.

Computational analysis of platelet adhesion and aggregation under stagnation point flow conditions.

The clinical relevance of platelet function assessment with stagnation point flow adhesio-aggregometry (SPAA) has been verified. Quantitative analysis of platelet adhesion and aggregation is possible by means of mathematical analysis of the dark-field, light intensity curves (growth curves) obtained during the SPAA experiment. We present a computational procedure for evaluating these curves, which was necessitated by, and is based on, actual clinical application. A qualitative growth curve classification, corresponding to a basic and distinct pattern of platelet deposition and characteristic of a regularly occurring clinical state is also presented.

Long-term results and quality of life after parasuicidal multiple blunt trauma.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the somatic, socioeconomic, and psychiatric long-term results, as well as the factors for adverse outcome, in a significant subset of patients with severe multiple injuries resulting from attempted suicide. DESIGN: The follow-up study 6.1 +/- 3 (SD) yrs after trauma was based on prospectively documented data of patients with multiple injuries. SETTING: Level I university trauma center in a major German city. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Data derived from thorough physical and psychiatric evaluations. The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale served to describe psychiatric outcome. PATIENTS: In a series of 539 severely injured patients (Abbreviated Injury Score in two regions > or = 3), 65 (12%) attempted suicides were reported (Injury Severity Score, 40 +/- 15; age, 38 +/- 18 yrs). Twenty-one patients of the study cohort died during the hospital stay, and six subjects died thereafter, none because of suicide. Three patients were lost to follow-up, resulting in 35 individuals eligible for examination. None of the latter had reattempted suicide. Seventeen (48%) had good or satisfactory outcomes reflected by absent or ambulatory psychiatric treatment, employment, normal psychiatric findings (Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale), and good psychosocial ability (Global Assessment of Functioning Scale). For eight patients (24%), the result was indeterminate. The adverse outcomes in ten patients (28%) were mainly influenced by the presence of chronic schizophrenia (n = 4), affective disorder (n = 2), or severe traumatic brain injury (n = 3). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the parasuicidal origin, the long-term results after severe trauma were good or satisfactory in approximately half the cases and without further suicide attempts in any of the patients. Good recovery of the parasuicidal patients in our study is approximately 20% lower than in an unselected group of patients with multiple injuries and may be attributed mainly to the underlying chronic psychiatric disease.

[Comments on the topic of attesting to health status at arrest during medical emergency care]. / Anmerkungen zur Problematik der Attestierung einer Haftfähigkeit während des ärztlichen Bereitschaftsdienstes.

A common problem for Emergency Room doctors on call is whether or not an arrested patient is sufficiently healthy to allow his transfer to jail. When there are signs of injury, or doubts about the patient's condition, the police must bring the patient in for medical examination to get a certification of the patient's health condition. He must be examined according to the information about his health and pre-existing conditions. Additional treatment should be undertaken, depending on patient's condition. The diagnoses must be written and summarized accurately and concisely. Additional documentation, such as photographic evidence must also be saved in the medical records. Should there be symptoms of a serious but difficult to diagnose condition, like traumatic head injury, the patient should always be admitted to the hospital. The medical certification or permission for imprisonment can not be enforced when the medical condition of the patient changes.

[Fully implantable intramedullary distraction nail in shortening deformity and bone defects. Spectrum of indications]. / Der voll implantierbare Distraktionsmarknagel bei Verkürzungen, Deformitäten und Knochendefekten. Indikationsspektrum.

Since the first clinical experiences with the fully implantable programmable distraction nail nearly ten years ago, the system has been improved in Munich and meanwhile used in 26 patients. During the first 10 cases there has been highest interest in the reliability of the system, while in the following the expansion of indications was more important. At the thigh a good indication beside shortening is the combination of shortening and axis deviation, even if the center of deviation is located near to the knee joint in the supracondylar area. According to preoperative planing the deformity correction can be done acutely while the lengthening procedure follows postoperatively automatically at night-time. If the stabilization with an intramedullary nail is possible, large bone defects can be treated by bone transport using this system also. The fully implantable intramedullary nail has proved its variable functions in cases of large bone defects combined with shortening of the femur. The system is able to perform the bone transport at first and the lengthening procedure automatically without any further operation thereafter.

[Indications and technique of bone cutting]. / Indikation und Technik der Knochendurchtrennung.

For cutting bones different tools and techniques are available. The question which method is most advantageous depends on the basic surgical concept, the location of the bone cut and the choice of the subsequent implant. The biological activity of the anatomical site of the cut determines how much the tissue needs to be protected, taking into consideration the vascularity of the bone and avoiding heat transfer. The surgical approach depends on the implant and should be used also for the bone cut. Specific indications are given for the oscillating saw, the Gigli saw, the osteotome, drill holes and the medullary saw.

High-dose antithrombin III treatment of severely injured patients: results of a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Antithrombin III (AT III) treatment has been shown to reduce disseminated intravascular coagulation and to inhibit thrombin, which plays a central role in the activation of platelets and other inflammatory systems in conditions with severe inflammation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of early and high-dose administration of AT III to patients with severe multiple injuries on the inflammatory response and outcome. METHODS: In a placebo-controlled, double-blind study, 40 consecutive patients with Injury Severity Scores of 29 or greater who met the inclusion criteria were randomized to receive either AT III or placebo within 360 minutes after trauma. Twenty patients were administered AT III for a period of 4 days, aiming to achieve AT III concentrations of 140% of normal. RESULTS: The AT III and placebo groups were comparable with respect to Injury Severity Score, age, incidence of blood pressure less than 80 mm Hg on admission, initial base deficit, and start of the test drug. The patients in the AT III group received a total of about 20,000 IU during the first 4 days. AT III levels of 130 to 140% could be achieved by this regimen, whereas in the control group the AT III concentration averaged about 70%. In the AT III group prothrombin tended to be elevated and prothrombin fragment F1+2 as well as thrombin-AT III complex tended to be lower on the first day. No differences between groups, however, could be observed with respect to partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, platelets, plasminogen activator inhibitor I, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor II, neutrophil elastase, interleukin (IL)-1 receptor antagonist, IL-6, and IL-8. Mortality (15 vs. 5%), incidence of respiratory failure (55 vs. 55%), duration of mechanical ventilation (13 vs. 12 days), and length of stay in the surgical intensive care unit (19 vs. 21 days) were also similar in both treatment groups. The duration of organ failure, however, was shorter in the patients receiving AT III. CONCLUSION: The early and high-dose administration of AT III to patients with severe blunt trauma appears not to attenuate the posttraumatic inflammatory response or to significantly improve outcome.

Percutaneous computed tomographic-controlled ventriculostomy in severe traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: Percutaneous computed tomographic (CT)-controlled ventriculostomy (PCV) was introduced for the monitoring of intracranial pressure in patients with severe traumatic brain injury who did not require simultaneous decompressive trepanation. METHODS: PCV (n = 14) was compared with conventional burr hole ventriculostomy (n = 13) based on prospectively collected data. RESULTS: PCV proved to be a successful technique in all cases and also when a burr hole ventriculostomy was impossible previously. There were no complications. In burr hole ventriculostomy, there were one unsuccessful insertion and one catheter contamination. The main advantage of PCV over burr hole ventriculostomy was a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the time required to perform the procedure. In ventriculostomy directly after the initial evaluation in the emergency department, the operation time was reduced from 45 +/- 11 to 22 +/- 14 minutes. The interval between cranial computed tomography and start of operation was reduced from 78 +/- 38 to 33 +/- 12 minutes, and between initial cranial computed tomography and intensive care unit admittance, from 138 +/- 37 to 73 +/- 28 minutes. For patients requiring ventriculostomy while being treated in the intensive care unit, the duration of the procedure (i.e., absence from the intensive care unit) was able to be reduced from 111 +/- 24 to 81 +/- 21 minutes. CONCLUSION: Distinct time savings are the major advantages of PCV, allowing exact catheter positioning even with very narrow ventricles.

[Management of complicated incisional hernias with underlay-technique implanted polypropylene mesh. An effective technique in French hernia surgery]. / Die Versorgung komplizierter Narbenhernien mit einem in Underlay-Technik implantierten Polypropylennetz. Eine bewährte Technik der französischen Hernienchirurgie.

UNLABELLED: Incisional hernia repair with conventional techniques (simple closure, Mayo-technique) is associated with unacceptable recurrence rates of 30-50%. Therefore, surgical repair using different prosthetic biomaterials is becoming increasingly popular. Further to favourable results by French hernia surgeons, we studied the results of underlay prosthetic mesh repair using polypropylene mesh in complicated and recurrent incisional hernias. METHOD: After preparation and excision of the entire hernia sac, the posterior rectus sheath is freed from the muscle bellies on both sides. The peritoneum and posterior rectus sheaths are closed with a continuous looped polyglyconate suture. The prosthesis used for midline hernias is positioned on the posterior rectus sheath and extends far beyond the borders of the myoaponeurotic defect. The anterior rectus sheath is closed with a continuous suture. The prosthesis for lumbar and subcostal hernias is placed in a prepared space between the transverse and oblique muscles. Intraperitoneal placement of the mesh must be avoided. RESULTS: Between January 1996 and August 1997 we performed a total of 33 incisional hernia repairs (14 primary hernias, 19 recurrent hernias) using this technique (16 women, 17 men, mean age 56.19 +/- 12.92 years). Local complications occurred in four patients (12%): superficial wound infection (n = 2), postoperative bleeding, requiring reoperation (n = 1), minor hemato-seroma (n = 1). One patient suddenly died on the 3rd post-operative day from severe pulmonary embolism (mortality 3%). Twenty-two patients with a minimum follow up to 6 months were re-examined clinically. The average follow-up time for this group was 9 months (range 6-17 months). To date no recurrent hernias have been observed. There were only minor complaints like "a feeling of tension" in the abdominal wall (n = 3) and slight pain under physical stress (n = 6). CONCLUSIONS: The use of prosthetic mesh should be considered for repair of large or recurrent incisional hernias, especially in high-risk patients (obesity, obstructive lung disease) and complicated hernias. The aforementioned technique of underlay prosthetic repair using polypropylene mesh fixed onto the posterior rectus sheath allows for anatomical and consolidated reconstruction of the damaged abdominal wall with excellent results and low complication rates.

[Thoracic trauma]. / Das Thoraxtrauma.

Blunt chest trauma is the leading cause of thoracic injuries in Germany, penetrating chest injuries are rare. Hereby, single or multiple rib fractures, hemato-pneumothorax and pulmonary contusion represent the most common injuries. The early management of thoracic injuries consists of detection and sufficient therapy of acute life threatening situations like tension pneumothorax, acute respiratory insufficiency or severe intrathoracic bleeding. Most of the isolated thoracic injuries are adequately treated by conservative means, sufficient analgesia, drainage of intrapleural air or blood, physiotherapy and clearance of bronchial secretions provided; operative intervention is rarely indicated. In multiple injured patients however, severe blunt chest trauma and especially pulmonary contusion negatively affects outcome with a significant increase of morbidity and mortality. Hence, patients with this combination of pulmonary injuries, such as lung contusion and associated severe injuries, carry a particular high risk of respiratory failure, ARDS and MOF with a considerable mortality. Therefore, early exact diagnosis of all thoracic injuries is essential and can be achieved by thoracic computed tomography, which becomes more and more popular in this setting. Early intubation and PEEP-ventilation, alternate prone and supine positioning of multiple injured patients with lung contusion and differentiated concepts of volume- and catecholamine therapy represent the basic therapeutic principles. Additionally, the entire early trauma management of multiple injured patients must focus on the presence of pulmonary contusion. Every additional burden on their pulmonary microvascular system like microembolisation during femoral nailing, the trauma burden of extended surgery or mediator release in septic states may cause rapid decompensation and organ failure and therefore, has to be avoided.

[Primary shortening--secondary lengthening. A new treatment concept for reconstruction of extensive soft tissue and bone injuries after 3rd degree open fracture and amputation of the lower leg]. / Primäre Verkürzung--sekundäre Verlängerung. Ein neues Behandlungskonzept zur Rekonstruktion ausgedehnter Weichteil- und Knochenverletzungen nach drittgradig offener Fraktur und Amputation am Unterschenkel.

The main problem in major limb replantation--especially of the lower extremity--is an extensive bone- and soft-tissue loss. The traditional replantation concept tries to preserve the initial limb length; only a small shortening is accepted. To avoid a more extensive shortening, often insufficient debridement at the time of replantation is carried out. After successful revascularisation, bone and soft-tissue defects will be reconstructed according to the principles of staged reconstruction. Especially segmental nerve defects of more than one major peripheral nerve and severe skin and muscle loss necessitate extensive secondary grafting procedures. This often leads to a prolonged hospitalisation and a high complication rate. In 1951, Lorenz Böhler described the deliberate extremity shortening as a method of therapy in segmental combined bone-soft-tissue defects of the extremities. No additional surgical procedure were necessary to treat the soft tissue defect. A functional but shortened extremity was the result. With Ilizarov's principle of callus distraction he proved in an extensive experimental and clinical study the possibility to lengthen extremities without functional damage up to 20 cm. A new reconstruction concept--"concept of primary shortening with secondary limb lengthening"--for the treatment of amputation and/or amputation-like injuries was created by combining both principles mentioned above. At the time of replantation (reconstruction), deliberate shortening is carried out in order to reduce soft-tissue and/or bone defect or to enable primary nerve repair. Moreover, the aggressive debridement leads to a reduction of the local complication risk (wound healing disturbance, infection) and the potential systemic complications (crush-syndrome, ischemia-reperfusion-syndrome) after revascularisation of a large tissue bloc. Six to twelve months after replantation, secondary limb lengthening is started using an external or internal (= programmable intramedullary nail) distraction device. Since 1985, twelve patients (six macroamputations and six third-degree open fractures of the lower leg) have been treated using the "concept of primary shortening with secondary limb lengthening". Indications, operative technique, and results are shown and discussed, comparing this new concept to the traditional "concept of staged length-reconstruction" with extensive free tissue reconstruction and secondary nerve grafting.