Tension band versus locking plate fixation for patella fractures - a protocol of a randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Following surgical management of patella fractures, patients commonly report pain; difficulties with weight-bearing tasks such as walking, running and climbing stairs; and restrictions in quality of life. Recently, a locking plate system for surgical management of patella fractures has been introduced. To date, no studies have compared standard treatment with tension band wiring with locking plate fixation in a randomised study design. We aim to compare the one-year patient-reported Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome subscale scores (KOOS5-subscales) after standard care tension band fixation with locking plate fixation for patients with patella fractures. METHODS: This is a multicentre randomised and prospective clinical trial. A total of 122 patients will be included in the study, and the primary outcome will be the KOOS subscales at 12 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from the present study are expected to advance our understanding of outcome following surgical treatment of patella fractures. FUNDING: This study is funded, in part, by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Denmark. CLINICALTRIALS: gov ID: NCT04891549.

[Prolonged symptoms following mild traumatic brain injury]. / Langvarige symptomer efter commotio cerebri.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) do not undergo consistent follow-up in Denmark and the risk factors for long-term symptoms are not fully known. The purpose of this study was to look into symptom frequency, sick-leave frequency and to try to identify risk factors for long-term symptoms following MTBI. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients were recruited from the emergency room at Viborg Hospital. Initial data were registered and telephone interviews were conducted one month and one year after trauma. RESULTS: 60% were asymptomatic within the first month; an additional 11% became asymptomatic within the next year, leaving 29% with residual symptoms one year after trauma. 70% reported a sick leave period < 2 days, 19% > one month and 2% > one year. The average trauma-to-emergency room contact reached 158 min (median 65 min). Gender, age, blood pressure (BP), pulse, Glasgow coma score (GCS), admission to hospital, unconsciousness, amnesia, alcohol intake, time or type of trauma were not associated with long term symptoms. CONCLUSION: Even patients with minor head trauma have a relatively high risk of long-term symptoms regardless of gender, age, BP, pulse, GCS, admission to hospital, unconsciousness, amnesia, alcohol intake, time or type of trauma. Nevertheless, the risk of long-term sick leave is relatively small.

Fascia iliaca compartment block performed by junior registrars as a supplement to pre-operative analgesia for patients with hip fracture.

This study investigate the efficacy of pre-operative pain treatment for patients with hip fractures using fascia lliaca compartment block (FIB) technique performed by junior registrars (JR) as a supplement to conventional pain treatment. The FIB technique has routinely been used pre-operatively in the emergency department since 1 January 2004 for all patients with hip fractures. Over an 8-month period, 187 patients were treated. FIB was performed with 40 ml lidocaine and bubivacaine. A simple 5-step verbal pain score and maximal passive hip flexion was used as objective and subjective pain measurements. Effect of FIB was prospectively assessed on 70 patients: 2/3 females, mean age 80.7 (SD = 7.8), 36% in ASA-group III and IV (95% CI, 0.25-0.48). The median pain-free hip flexion pre-block was 15 degrees (SD = 17) this improved to a median of 28 degrees (SD = 21) 15 min post-block (P = 0.014) and 37 degrees (SD = 26) 60 min post-block (P = 0.030). The median simple verbal pain score (0-4) pre-block was 2.2 (SD = 0.92). This decreased to a median of 1.5 (SD = 0.78) 15 min post-block (P < 0.001) and 1.3 (SD = 0.71) 60 min post-block (P = 0.021). No side-effects were observed. There was no correlation between the number of FIB previously performed by the attending registrar and the improved maximal hip flexion (rho = 0.090, P = 0.50) or reduction in subjective pain score (rho = 0.005, P = 0.971). FIB performed by JR is a feasible, efficient pre-operative supplement to conventional pain-treatment for patients with hip fractures. FIB is easy to perform, requires minimal introduction, no expensive equipment and is connected with a minimal risk approach.

[Should high-energy traumas always result in a trauma team call?]. / Bør højenergiulykker altid medføre tilkald af traumeteam?

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to evaluate the trauma triage system currently used by the general hospital of Viborg County, Denmark. According to the trauma triage system, an isolated high-energy trauma leads to a trauma team call. The aim of the study was to determine whether a high-energy trauma patient with no symptoms of injury is a sufficient indication to lead to a trauma team call. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was based on prospective registration of traumatised patients admitted to the hospital during the period from 1 March 2000 to 28 February 2003. A ROC curve analysis was used to validate the ability of the trauma points to predict severe injury by isolated high-energy traumas. RESULTS: The study included 514 trauma patients, 304 of whom had suffered high-energy traumas. The positive predictive value of a trauma team call was 45% of severe injury. Among the subgroup of patients with no immediate symptoms, the positive predictive value was 15%. The ROC curve analysis found the optimum cut point to be a high-energy trauma with at least one symptom of injury. The sensitivity was 70% and the specificity 52%. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that a high-energy trauma patient showing no symptoms of injury is not a sufficient indication to lead to a trauma team call. This has caused a change in the scoring system. A trauma team call based on a high-energy trauma now implies that the patient shows signs of at least one symptom of injury.