Predictors for Pediatric Blunt Cerebrovascular Injury (BCVI): An International Multicenter Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Practice guidelines for adult BCVI patients have been implemented recently, but data for this devastating injury pattern in children are still limited. An international multicenter analysis was performed to characterize BCVI in the pediatric population. METHODS: The TraumaRegister DGU®, a prospectively maintained database, was analyzed (01/2002-12/2015). Pediatric patients (0-17 years) with major injuries [Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥ 9 points] were included. BCVI was divided into carotid artery injury and vertebral artery injury (VAI). Data of demographics, injury, imaging, therapy, and outcome characteristics were analyzed with SPSS (Version 25, IBM Inc., Armonk, NY). RESULTS: The study cohort included 8128 pediatric trauma patients. We identified 48 BCVIs in 42 children, resulting in an overall prevalence of 0.5%. Carotid injuries were diagnosed more frequently (n = 30; 0.4%) when compared to VAIs (n = 12; 0.1%). The coincidence of head (p = 0.028), facial (p ≤ 0.001), chest (p ≤ 0.001), and spinal injuries (p ≤ 0.001) was higher in BCVI patients. The risk for thromboembolic complications (8.3% vs. 1%, p = 0.026) and in-hospital mortality (38.1% vs. 7.7%, p ≤ 0.001) was excessive in children with BCVI. We identified various predictors for pediatric BCVI and quantified the cumulative impact of these risk factors. CONCLUSION: BCVI is more uncommon in pediatric than in adult trauma patients. Due to the considerable relevance of this injury for both children and adults, special attention should be paid to this entity and associated complications in the early treatment phase after severe pediatric trauma, especially in high-risk children.

Blunt Cerebrovascular Artery Injury and Stroke in Severely Injured Patients: An International Multicenter Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI) is considered to be a rare entity in patients with high-energy trauma and is a potentially preventable cause of secondary brain damage. If it occurs, it may be fatal or associated with poor outcomes related to devastating complications. We hypothesized that analyses of epidemiology and concomitant injuries may predict the development of BCVI and associated complications. METHODS: The TraumaRegister DGU® (TR-DGU), a prospectively maintained database, was used for retrospective data analysis (01/2009-12/2015). INCLUSION CRITERIA: adult trauma patients (≥16 years) with severe injuries (ISS ≥ 16 points) with and without BCVI. Subgroups: carotid artery injury (CAI) and vertebral artery injury (VAI). The degree of vascular injury was classified according to the Abbreviated Injury Scale values. Demographic, injury, therapy and outcome characteristic data (length of stay, stroke, multiple organ failure and mortality) were collected and analyzed for each patient with SPSS statistics (Version 23, IBM Inc., Armonk, NY). RESULTS: Out of 76,480 individuals, a total of 786 patients with BCVI (1%) were identified. The 435 CAI patients included 263 dissections, 78 pseudoaneurysms and 94 bilateral injuries. The 383 VAI patients presented with 198 dissections, 43 pseudoaneurysms, 122 thrombotic occlusions and 20 bilateral injuries. The risk for stroke was excessive in BCVI patients versus controls (11.5 vs. 1.1%, p < 0.001) and increased with vascular injury severity, up to 24.1% in CAI patients and 30.0% in VAI patients. We confirmed that cervical spine injuries were a major BCVI predictor (OR 6.46, p < 0.001, 95% CI 5.34-7.81); furthermore, high-energy mechanisms (OR 1.79), facial fractures (OR 1.56) and general injury severity (OR 1.05) were identified as independent predictors. Basilar skull fractures (BSF) were found with comparable frequency (p = 0.63) in both groups, and the predictive value was found to be insignificant (OR 1.1, p = 0.36, 95% CI 0.89-1.37). Age ≥ 60 years was associated with a decreased risk for BCVI (OR 0.54, p < 0.001, 95% CI 0.45-0.65); however, in BCVI patients over 60 years of age, mortality was excessive (OR 4.33, p < 0.001, 95% CI 2.40-7.80). Even after adjusting for head injuries, BCVI-associated stroke remained a significant risk factor for mortality (OR 2.52, p < 0.001, 95% CI 1.13-5.62). CONCLUSION: Our data validated cervical spine injuries as a major predictor, but the predictive value of BSF must be scrutinized. Patient age appears to play a contradictory role in BCVI risk and BCVI-associated mortality. Predicting which patients will develop BCVI remains an ongoing challenge, especially since many patients do not present with concomitant injuries of the head or spine and therefore might not be captured by standard screening criteria.

Evaluation of severe and fatal injuries in extreme and contact sports: an international multicenter analysis.

PURPOSE: The participation in extreme and contact sports has grown internationally, despite the significant risk for major and multiple injuries. We conducted this multicenter study to evaluate sport-specific injury patterns and mechanisms, to characterize individuals at risk and to identify possible approaches for prevention. METHODS: We compared demographic data, severity and patterns of injuries; and the pre- and in-hospital management from an international population-based prospective trauma database (TraumaRegister DGU®). The registry was screened for sport-related injuries, and only patients with major injuries [Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥ 9 points] related to extreme or contact sports activities were included (January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2012). Parameters were compared for different types of sports activities: (1) Airborne sports, (2) Climbing, (3) Skateboarding/Skating, (4) Contact sports. The following countries participated: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Finland, Slovenia, Belgium, Luxembourg, and The Netherlands. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS (Version 22, IBM Inc., Armonk, New York). RESULTS: A total of 278 athletes were identified within the study period and classified into four groups: Airborne sports (n = 105) were associated with the highest injury severity (ISS 22.4 ± 14.6), followed by climbing (n = 35, ISS 16.5 ± 12), skating (n = 67, ISS 15.2 ± 10.3) and contact sports (n = 71, ISS 10.4 ± 9.2). Especially high falls resulted in a significant rate of spinal injuries in airborne activities (68.6%, p < 0.001) and in climbing accidents (45.7%). Skating was associated with the highest rate of loss of consciousness (LOC) at scene (27.1%), the highest pre-hospital intubation rate (33.3%), and also the highest in-hospital mortality (15.2%, p < 0.001), related to major head injuries. CONCLUSIONS: Extreme and contact sports related major injuries predominantly affect young male athletes. Especially skaters are at risk for debilitating and lethal head injuries. Individuals recognizing sport-specific hazards might modify their risk behavior. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Descriptive Epidemiologic Study, Level II.

Return to Sports After Multiple Trauma: Which Factors Are Responsible?-Results From a 17-Year Follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: We hypothesize that the majority of polytraumatised patients are unable to maintain their preinjury level of sporting activity, and that musculoskeletal injuries are a major contributing factor. We assessed the impact of such injuries on sporting prowess, with a focus on isolating, particularly debilitating musculoskeletal trauma. METHODS: We conducted a cohort study of 637 patients at a level 1 trauma centre, to assess the long-term outcome of severe trauma on return to sporting activities (RTS). Data collated on the multiply injured patient included preinjury physical activity, standardized outcome scores (SF-12, GOS, HASPOC), and clinical follow-up of at least 10 years duration. The return to preinjury sports participation was defined as a primary outcome parameter. Regression analyses were performed to identify specific injuries interfering with the RTS. STUDY DESIGN: Prognostic study; Level of evidence, II. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 17 ± 5 years. We included 465 patients, including 207 athletic and 258 nonathletic individuals. Mean age at the time of injury was 26 ± 11.5 years and injury severity was comparable between the 2 cohorts. The deleterious effects on quality of life and the total duration of the rehabilitation process were also similar in athletes and nonathletes. Athletes were more likely to be unable to return to preinjury activities, or to return to a lower level of sporting prowess posttrauma. We identified knee injuries as the type of musculoskeletal trauma most likely to be career ending for the athlete (odds ratio 3.4, 95% confidence interval, 1.4-8.3; P = 0.008). CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate an enforced shift from high-impact and team sports to low-impact activities after multiple trauma. Injuries of the lower extremities, especially around the knee joint, seem to have the highest lifechanging potential, preventing individuals from returning to their previous sporting activities.

Blunt injuries related to equestrian sports: results from an international prospective trauma database analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to investigate the nature, management, and outcome of major injuries related to equestrian sports and to define the at-risk groups for serious and life-threatening injuries. METHODS: We analyzed demographic, pre-hospital, clinical, and outcome data from an international population-based prospective trauma database (TraumaRegister DGU®). Patients with major injuries (Injury Severity Score [ISS] ≥9 points) related to equestrian sports activities were included (January 1, 1993, to December 31, 2012). Clinical and outcome parameters were stratified for four different types of injury mechanisms: fall from horse (FFH), horse-kick (HK), horse crush (HC), and carriage-related accidents (CRA). Participating countries included Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Finland, Slovenia, Belgium, Luxembourg, and The Netherlands. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS (Version 22, IBM Inc., Armonk, NY). RESULTS: The Database identified 122,000 documented patients, of whom 679 were equestrian incidents. Among these, the four major injury mechanisms were: FFH (n = 427), HK (n = 188), HC (n = 34), and the CRA (n = 30). Females were more likely to sustain FFH (75.5%, p < 0.001), leading to head injuries (n = 204, 47.8%) and spinal fractures (n = 109, 25.5%). HK injuries often resulted in facial fractures (29.3%, p < 0.001). Individuals sustaining HC injuries had a high risk for pelvic (32.4%, p < 0.001) and abdominal injuries (35.2%, p < 0.001). In contrast to the FFH cohort, the CRA cohort involved older males (57 ± 13 years), with chest (63.3% p = 0.001), and extremity injuries, resulting in significant injury severity (ISS 20.7 ± 10.6). In the CRA cohort, 16% were in haemorrhagic shock on scene, and also the highest in-hospital mortality (14.8%, p = 0.006) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Young female riders are at risk from falling, horse-kicks, and crush-injuries. Older males in carriage-related accidents sustained the highest injury severity and mortality rate, and must specifically be targeted by future prevention initiatives. Level of evidence Descriptive Epidemiologic Study, Level II.

A pilot study on the efficacy of GPT-4 in providing orthopedic treatment recommendations from MRI reports.

Large language models (LLMs) have shown potential in various applications, including clinical practice. However, their accuracy and utility in providing treatment recommendations for orthopedic conditions remain to be investigated. Thus, this pilot study aims to evaluate the validity of treatment recommendations generated by GPT-4 for common knee and shoulder orthopedic conditions using anonymized clinical MRI reports. A retrospective analysis was conducted using 20 anonymized clinical MRI reports, with varying severity and complexity. Treatment recommendations were elicited from GPT-4 and evaluated by two board-certified specialty-trained senior orthopedic surgeons. Their evaluation focused on semiquantitative gradings of accuracy and clinical utility and potential limitations of the LLM-generated recommendations. GPT-4 provided treatment recommendations for 20 patients (mean age, 50 years ± 19 [standard deviation]; 12 men) with acute and chronic knee and shoulder conditions. The LLM produced largely accurate and clinically useful recommendations. However, limited awareness of a patient's overall situation, a tendency to incorrectly appreciate treatment urgency, and largely schematic and unspecific treatment recommendations were observed and may reduce its clinical usefulness. In conclusion, LLM-based treatment recommendations are largely adequate and not prone to 'hallucinations', yet inadequate in particular situations. Critical guidance by healthcare professionals is obligatory, and independent use by patients is discouraged, given the dependency on precise data input.

Surgical Management of an Osteomyelitis Associated Subchondral Bone Defect in the Pediatric Knee Based on Arthroscopy, "Ossoscopy" and Bone Grafting-A Case Report.

Subchondral bone defects around the knee joint are uncommon in skeletally immature patients. These lesions require comprehensive management, especially if related to periarticular bacterial infections. While pediatric osteomyelitis typically affects the metaphysis of long bones, the epiphysis is also a potential site for pyogenic osteomyelitis. Long-term sequelae may include growth plate injury and articular cartilage degradation. Primary epiphyseal subacute osteomyelitis is an extremely rare condition, mainly affecting neonates or young infants, as the cartilage of the growth plate generally acts as a barrier for pathogens. Radiographically, the lesions may appear radiolucent or lytic and often demonstrate a substantial perilesional bone marrow edema in MRI studies, but do not primarily contact the articular surface. However, if diagnosis and treatment of epiphyseal infections are delayed or missed, abscess formation may spread into the knee joint and progress to septic arthritis. Approaching a distal femoral epiphyseal lesion or subsequent bone defect surgically may be limited anatomically by both the subchondral plate and articular cartilage on the distal side and the growth plate proximally. Of the few reported cases of epiphyseal osteomyelitis, most underwent non-operative treatment including antibiotic coverage, or (staged) aggressive surgical care involving open curettage, irrigation and bone grafting. We report a novel combination of arthroscopic techniques, namely "ossoscopy", bone grafting and antibiotics, to approach a large lateral femoral epiphyseal lesion with knee involvement. In this case report, we present a 5-year old male patient with subacute posttraumatic knee pain and a significant bone defect of the lateral femoral epiphysis related to pyogenic osteomyelitis. The knee joint and periarticular bone lesion were both debrided and irrigated based on arthroscopic and ossoscopic techniques.The osseous lesion was filled with bone graft. The single-stage procedure proved to be a viable treatment to restore both the large subchondral bone defect and full knee function. Over a course of two years, no recurrent symptoms, infection or growth disturbances were observed in the individual.

Fixation of the Membrane during Matrix-Induced Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation in the Knee: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: It is unclear whether the type of membrane used for matrix-assisted autologous chondrocyte implantation (mACI) influences results. A systematic review was conducted to investigate the midterm results of the three most common types of membrane fixation for mACI. Methods: This systematic review was conducted according to the 2020 PRISMA checklist. PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, and Scopus online databases were accessed in August 2022. All the prospective clinical trials reporting outcomes of mACI in the knee were considered. Studies that describe the modality of membrane fixation (glued, glued, and sutured, no fixation) used for mACI were eligible. Studies that conducted a minimum of 12 months of follow-up were considered. The outcomes of interest were the Tegner Activity Scale and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score. The rate of failure and revisions were also collected. Results: Data from 26 studies (1539 procedures; 554 of 1539 (36%) were women) were retrieved. The mean follow-up was 42.6 (12 to 84) months. No difference between the groups was found in terms of mean duration of symptoms, age, BMI, gender, and defect size (P > 0.1). No difference was found in terms of the Tegner score (P = 0.3). When no fixation was used, a statistically significant higher IKDC compared to the other groups (P = 0.02) was evidenced. No difference was found in the rate of failure (P = 0.1). The no-fixation group evidenced a statistically significant lower rate of revisions (P = 0.02). Conclusions: No membrane fixation for mACI in the knee scored better than the fastening techniques at the midterm follow-up.

Internal fixation versus hip arthroplasty in patients with nondisplaced femoral neck fractures: short-term results from a geriatric trauma registry.

PURPOSE: To determine whether internal fixation (IF) or hip arthroplasty (HA) is associated with superior outcomes in geriatric nondisplaced femoral neck fracture (FNF) patients. METHODS: Data from the Registry for Geriatric Trauma of the German Trauma Society (ATR-DGU) were analyzed (IF Group 449 and HA Group 1278 patients). In-hospital care and a 120-day postoperative follow-up were conducted. Primary outcomes, including mobility, residential status, reoperation rate, and a generic health status measure (EQ-5D score), and the secondary outcome of mortality were compared between groups. Multivariable analyses were performed to assess independent treatment group associations (odds ratios, ORs) with the primary and secondary end points. RESULTS: Patients in the HA group were older (83 vs. 81 years, p < 0.001) and scored higher on the Identification of Seniors at Risk screening (3 vs. 2, p < 0.001). We observed no differences in residential status, reoperation rate, EQ-5D score, or mortality between groups. After adjusting for key covariates, including prefracture ambulatory capacity, the mobility of patients in the HA group was more frequently impaired at the 120-day follow-up (OR 2.28, 95% confidence interval = 1.11-4.74). CONCLUSION: Treatment with HA compared to treatment with IF led to a more than twofold increase in the adjusted odds of impaired ambulation at the short-term follow-up, while no significant associations with residential status, reoperation rate, EQ-5D index score, or mortality were observed. Thus, IF for geriatric nondisplaced FNFs was associated with superior mobility 120 days after surgery. However, before definitive treatment recommendations can be made, prospective, randomized, long-term studies must be performed to confirm our findings.

Traumatic Hip Dislocations in Major Trauma Patients: Epidemiology, Injury Mechanisms, and Concomitant Injuries.

INTRODUCTION: Traumatic hip dislocations (THDs) are severe injuries associated with considerable morbidity. Delayed recognition of fracture dislocations and neurovascular deficits have been proposed to cause deleterious long-term clinical outcomes. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to identify characteristics of epidemiology, injury mechanisms, and associated injuries to identify patients at risk. METHODS: For this study based on the TraumaRegister DGU® (January 2002-December 2017), the inclusion criterion was an Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥9 points. Exclusion criteria were an isolated head injury and early transfer to another hospital. The THD group was compared to a control group without hip dislocation. The ISS and New ISS were used for injury severity and the Abbreviated Injury Scale for associated injuries classification. Univariate and logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: The final study cohort comprised n = 170,934 major trauma patients. We identified 1359 individuals (0.8%) with THD; 12 patients had sustained bilateral hip dislocations. Patients with THD were predominantly male (79.5%, mean age 43 years, mean ISS 22.4 points). Aortic injuries (2.1% vs. 0.9%, p ≤ 0.001) were observed more frequently in the THD group. Among the predictors for THDs were specific injury mechanisms, including motor vehicle accidents (odds ratio (OR) 2.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.57-3.45, p ≤ 0.001), motorcycle accidents (OR 1.99, 95% CI 1.66-2.39, p ≤ 0.001), and suicide attempts (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.06-1.75, p = 0.016). Despite a lower rate of head injuries and a comparable level of care measured by trauma center admission, both intensive care unit and total hospital stay were prolonged in patients with THD. CONCLUSIONS: Since early diagnosis, as well as timely and sufficient treatment, of THDs are of high relevance for long-term outcomes of severely injured individuals, knowledge of patients at risk for this injury pattern is of utmost importance. THDs are frequently related to high-energy mechanisms and associated with severe concomitant injuries in major trauma patients.

Reconstruction of Large Osteochondral Lesions in the Knee: Focus on Fixation Techniques.

Large (>3 cm2), focal osteochondral lesions (OCL) may result in poor functional outcomes and early secondary osteoarthritis of the knee. The surgical management of these OCL remains challenging. The treatment strategy must be tailored to various aspects, including lesion-specific (e.g., size, location, chronicity), joint-specific (e.g., instability, limb alignment, meniscal status), and patient-specific factors (e.g., age, activity level, comorbidities). Simple chondroplasty and bone marrow stimulation (BMS) techniques should be reserved for smaller lesions, as they only realize midterm clinical benefits, related to inferior wear characteristics of the induced fibrocartilage (type I collagen). Therefore, much attention has been focused on surgical restoration with hyaline cartilage (type II collagen), based on chondrocyte transplantation and matrix-assisted autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI). Limited graft availability, staged procedures (MACI), and high treatment costs are limitations of these techniques. However, acute traumatic OCL of the femoral condyles and patellofemoral joint may also be suitable for preservation by surgical fixation. Early detection of the fragment facilitates primary repair with internal fixation. The surgical repair of the articular surface may offer promising clinical and cost-effective benefits as a first-line therapy but remains under-investigated and potentially under-utilized. As a unique characteristic, the fixation technique allows the anatomic restoration of the hyaline articular surface with native cartilage and the repair of the subchondral bone. In this manuscript, we present a case series of large OCL around the knee that were preserved by surgical fixation. Furthermore, various implants and techniques reported for this procedure are reviewed.

Which Risk Factors Predict Knee Ligament Injuries in Severely Injured Patients?-Results from an International Multicenter Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Ligament injuries around the knee joint and knee dislocations are rare but potentially complex injuries associated with high-energy trauma. Concomitant neurovascular injuries further affect their long-term clinical outcomes. In contrast to isolated ligamentous knee injuries, epidemiologic data and knowledge on predicting knee injuries in severely injured patients is still limited. METHODS: The TraumaRegister DGU® (TR-DGU) was queried (01/2009-12/2016). Inclusion criteria for selection from the database: maximum abbreviated injury severity ≥ 3 points (MAIS 3+). Participating countries: Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The two main groups included a "control" and a "knee injury" group. The injury severity score (ISS) and new ISS (NISS) were used for injury severity classification, and the abbreviated injury scale (AIS) was used to classify the severity of the knee injury. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate various risk factors for knee injuries. RESULTS: The study cohort included 139,462 severely injured trauma patients. We identified 4411 individuals (3.2%) with a ligament injury around the knee joint ("knee injury" group) and 1153 patients with a knee dislocation (0.8%). The risk for associated injuries of the peroneal nerve and popliteal artery were significantly increased in dislocated knees when compared to controls (peroneal nerve from 0.4% to 6.7%, popliteal artery from 0.3% to 6.9%, respectively). Among the predictors for knee injuries were specific mechanisms of injury: e.g., pedestrian struck (Odds ratio [OR] 3.2, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.69-3.74 p ≤ 0.001), motorcycle (OR 3.0, 95% CI: 2.58-3.48, p ≤ 0.001), and motor vehicle accidents (OR 2.2, 95% CI: 1.86-2.51, p ≤ 0.001) and associated skeletal injuries, e.g., patella (OR 2.3, 95% CI: 1.99-2.62, p ≤ 0.001), tibia (OR 1.9, 95% CI: 1.75-2.05, p ≤ 0.001), and femur (OR 1.8, 95% CI: 1.64-1.89, p ≤ 0.001), but neither male sex nor general injury severity (ISS). CONCLUSION: Ligament injuries and knee dislocations are associated with high-risk mechanisms and concomitant skeletal injuries of the lower extremity, but are not predicted by general injury severity or sex. Despite comparable ISS, knee injuries prolong the hospital length of stay. Delayed or missed diagnosis of knee injuries can be prevented by comprehensive clinical evaluation after fracture fixation and a high index of suspicion is advised, especially in the presence of the above mentioned risk factors.

Validation of the mTICCS Score as a Useful Tool for the Early Prediction of a Massive Transfusion in Patients with a Traumatic Hemorrhage.

The modified Trauma-Induced Coagulopathy Clinical Score (mTICCS) presents a new scoring system for the early detection of the need for a massive transfusion (MT). While validated in a large trauma cohort, the comparison of mTICCS to established scoring systems is missing. This study therefore validated the ability of six scoring systems to stratify patients at risk for an MT at an early stage after trauma. A dataset of severely injured patients (ISS ≥ 16) derived from the database of a level I trauma center (2010-2015) was used. Scoring systems assessed were Trauma-Associated Severe Hemorrhage (TASH) score, Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) score, Larson score, Assessment of Blood Consumption (ABC) score, Emergency Transfusion Score (ETS), and mTICCS. Demographics, diagnostic data, mechanism of injury, injury pattern (graded by AIS), and outcome (length of stay, mortality) were analyzed. Scores were calculated, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) were evaluated. From the AUCs, the cut-off point with the best relationship of sensitivity-to-specificity was used to recalculate sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values (PPV), and negative predictive values (NPV). A total of 479 patients were included; of those, blunt trauma occurred in 92.3% of patients. The mean age of patients was 49 ± 22 years with a mean ISS of 25 ± 29. The overall MT rate was 8.4% (n = 40). The TASH score had the highest overall accuracy as reflected by an AUC of 0.782 followed by the mTICCS (0.776). The ETS was the most sensitive (80%), whereas the TASH score had the highest specificity (82%) and the PWH score had the lowest (51.83%). At a cut-off > 5 points, the mTICCS score showed a sensitivity of 77.5% and a specificity of 74.03%. Compared to sophisticated systems, using a higher number of weighted variables, the newly developed mTICCS presents a useful tool to predict the need for an MT in a prehospital situation. This might accelerate the diagnosis of an MT in emergency situations. However, prospective validations are needed to improve the development process and use of scoring systems in the future.

[Pre-operative Evaluation of Patients Undergoing Total Joint Arthroplasty - What is Essential?] / Was ist ein Muss in der präoperativen Diagnostik vor elektiver Endoprothetik?

Background A thorough pre-operative evaluation is required prior to total joint arthroplasty (TJA). The objective of screening is to identify patient- and procedure-related risk constellations. Pre-operative diagnostic measures are vital in order to anticipate, reduce or even eliminate threats to patient safety. Furthermore, the clinical and radiographical workup may confirm the indication and type of surgical procedure, but this is not the subject of this article. Objective An overview of the current literature on pre-operative diagnostic principles is presented. Methods A selective literature analysis was performed. Results We identified recommendations related to the following: (1) preoperative anaemia, (2) metabolic optimisation, (3) weight control, (4) obstructive sleep apnoea, (5) MRSA and skin decontamination, (6) urinary tract infections (UTI), (7) dental screening (8) cardiological workup, (9) technical considerations on primary and revision arthroplasty. Conclusion While clear evidence-based recommendations for every item are not yet available, a critical pre-operative evaluation including history taking, physical exam, laboratory tests and imaging studies remains essential. The ongoing evolution of improved perioperative care and implications for patient safety will further increase the scope of necessary preoperative diagnostic measures.

Thoracic trauma now and then: A 10 year experience from 16,773 severely injured patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Thoracic trauma remains to be a relevant injury to the polytraumatised patient. However, literature regarding how far changes in clinical guidelines for pre- and in-hospital trauma management and diagnostic procedures affect the outcome of multiple injured patients with severe chest injury during a long-term observation period is sparse. METHODS: Multiple traumatised patients (age≥16y) documented in the TraumaRegister DGU® (TR-DGU) from January 1st 2005 to December 31st 2014 with severe chest trauma (AIS≥3) were included in this study. Demographic data, the pattern of injury, injury severity, radiographic emergency procedures, indication for intubation, duration of mechanical ventilation, emergency surgery, occurrence of complications and mortality were evaluated per year and over time. RESULTS: A total of 16,773 patients were analysed. The use of whole body computer tomography increased (p<0.001), while the incidence of plain x-rays decreased (p<0.001). Furthermore, incidence of AISThorax = 3 graded injuries increased (p<0.001) while AISThorax = 4 decreased (p<0.001). Both, rate of patients being intubated at the time of ICU admission decreased (p<0.001) and the time of mechanical ventilation decreased (p<0.001). Additionally, need for emergency surgery, lung failure, sepsis, and multi organ failure all decreased (p<0.001). However, mortality remained unchanged. INTERPRETATION: Severity of severe chest trauma and associated complications decreased while diagnostics and treatment improved over time. However, mortality remained unchanged. Our results are in line with those expected in the context of the incidence of CT diagnostics, which has increased parallel to the clinical outcome Thus, our data demonstrate a positive trend in the treatment of patients with severe chest trauma.

Fracture of the lesser trochanter as a sign of undiagnosed tumor disease in adults.

Isolated avulsion fractures of the pelvic ring are rare and occur predominantly in adolescent athletes. Isolated fractures of the lesser trochanter are reported to be pathognomic for tumor diseases in adults. We present a case of a female patient with an isolated avulsion of the lesser trochanter after treatment by her chiropractor. After staging examination, we determine the diagnosis of a left-sided carcinoma of the mamma. Additional imaging shows multiple metastases in liver, spine and pelvis. Palliative therapy has started over the course of time. We suggest, on suspicion of a malignant metastatic process, further investigation.