Geriatric Patients Presenting With Isolated Pubic Rami Fractures and Inability to Mobilize May Have Occult Lateral Compression Pelvic Ring Injuries With Dynamic Instability.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence of patients with isolated pubic rami fractures on computed tomography scans who have dynamic instability secondary to occult lateral compression pelvic ring injuries. DESIGN: Retrospective comparison study. SETTING: Urban level 1 trauma center. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: This study included geriatric patients with isolated pubic rami fractures and inability to mobilize secondary to pain. INTERVENTION: Lateral stress radiographs of pelvis to evaluate for ≥1 cm dynamic instability. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Physical therapy clearance, hospital length of stay, and discharge location. RESULTS: A total of 19 patients were identified over 12 months. Patients were predominantly geriatric (median age: 75 years, interquartile range: 67 to 90), woman (11/19), with unilateral (17/19) comminuted distal rami fractures (12/19) sustained in ground-level falls (12/19). Dynamic instability was identified in 42% of patients (8/19). Magnetic resonance imaging, obtained in 6 of these patients, demonstrated occult posterior ring fractures in all cases. Patients with dynamic instability were more likely to have comminuted distal rami fractures (Nakatani type 1b) and a longer hospital length of stay. There was also a trend for these patients to be unable to clear physical therapy by discharge (63% (5/8) versus 36% (4/11)). The 90-day mortality rate of the cohort was 16% (3/19). CONCLUSIONS: Patients presenting with seemingly isolated pubic rami fractures on radiographs and computed tomography scans who are unable to mobilize may have occult lateral compression injuries with dynamic instability. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Treatment Options in Maxillofacial Fractures.

From 2000 to 2010, 720 patients with facial trauma were admitted in Plastic Surgery Service of Argerich Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina; 58 of them with panfacial fractures were included in this study. Height velocity impact is the principal etiology, and most concomitant extrafacial injuries are neurocranium and cervical spine. Common affected areas were orbits, nose, and malar-zygoma. The timing of the treatment was airway evaluation, control of bleeding and consciousness, treatment of associated injuries, and finally facial reconstruction. The applications of craniofacial surgical techniques complete facial treatment in only operatory time by means of standard approaches like coronal, subciliar palpebral, upper and lower vestibular. The treatment was exploration to open sky; reduction and fijation with titanium plates; replacement of comminuted bones with bone autografts harvested iliac crest, calvary, and costal bones. The results were classificated acceptables in 48 (85%) and not acceptables in 9 (15%) according to successful reconstruction of the both form and armony facial, persistent esthetic and functional sequels, and postoperative complications. Postoperative complications were detected in 18 patients. According to most authors the use of internal rigid fixation and bone autograf permits obtaining the best aesthetic and functional results decreasing complications and sequels. The recuperation of tridimensional aspect of the face and aesthetic and functional pretrauma state must be the goal standard.

Variables related to surgical and nonsurgical treatment of zygomatic complex fracture.

The aim of this retrospective research was to establish the association between variables for the surgical treatment of zygomatic complex (ZC) fractures. In a 10-year period, 532 patients were examined for ZC fractures. The medical records of patients were analyzed to obtain information related to sociodemographic characteristics, trauma etiology, sign and symptoms of patients, and surgical or nonsurgical treatment. Statistical analysis was performed using χ test with statistical significance of P < 0.05. Most fractures were sustained by subjects between 21 and 40 years of age (55.8%), being principally men (80.1%), and 153 patients underwent surgery (28.8%). Surgical treatment of ZC fractures was statistically associated to the presence of other facial fractures (P = 0.004), alteration of occlusion (P = 0.0001; probably due to jaw fractures), presence of the comminuted fractures (P = 0.0002), and infraorbital nerve sensory disturbances (P = 0.003). A mixture of complex variables can be associated to surgical treatment; however, variables as comminuted fracture and alteration of occlusion were associated to surgical treatment indications.

Traumatic intrusion of maxillary permanent incisors into the nasal cavity: report of a case.

Complete intrusion injuries in the mixed or permanent dentition are relatively rare and represent one of the most serious injuries to the periodontal ligament in dental traumatology. This paper describes the case history of a 7-year-old boy who sustained displacement of central incisors into the nasal cavity. Surgical repositioning was undertaken and a splint was placed.

Acute spinal cord and head injury: case report and discussion of cardiac, respiratory and endocrine abnormalities.

We report a male patient who after a fall suffered high cervical spinal cord and head (cerebral) injuries. These injuries led to spinal shock, marked sinus bradycardia and asystolic cardiac and respiratory arrests, recalcitrant central traumatic diabetes insipidus, and death within approximately seven weeks. Temporary transvenous cardiac pacing proved useful in the management of this patient.

Acute spinal cord and head injury: case report and discussion of cardiac, respiratory and endocrine abnormalities

We report a male patient who after a fall suffered high cervical spinal cord and head (cerebral) injuries. These injuries led to spinal shock, marked sinus bradycardia and asystolic cardiac and respiratory arrests, recalcitrant central traumatic diabetes insipidus, and death within approximately seven weeks. Temporary transvenous cardiac pacing proved useful in the management of this patient