Transcranial Doppler detection of cerebral fat emboli and relation to paradoxical embolism: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: The fat embolism syndrome is clinically characterized by dyspnea, skin petechiae, and neurological dysfunction. It is associated mainly with long bone fracture and bone marrow fat passage to the systemic circulation. An intracardiac right-to-left shunt (RLS) could allow larger fat particles to reach the systemic circulation. Transcranial Doppler can be a useful tool to detect both RLS and the fat particles reaching the brain. METHODS AND RESULTS: We prospectively studied patients with femur shaft fracture with RLS evaluation, daily transcranial Doppler with embolus detection studies, and neurological examinations to evaluate the relation of RLS and microembolic signals to the development of fat embolism syndrome. Forty-two patients were included; 14 had an RLS detected. Seven patients developed neurological symptoms; all of them had a positive RLS (P=<0.001). The patients with an RLS showed higher counts and higher intensities of microembolic signals (P=<0.05 and P=<0.01, respectively) compared with those who did not have an RLS identified. The presence of high microembolic signal counts and intensities in patients with RLS was strongly predictive of the occurrence of neurological symptoms (odds ratio, 204; 95% confidence interval, 11 to 3724; P<0.001) with a positive predictive value of 86% and negative predictive value of 97%. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with long bone fractures, the presence of an RLS is associated with larger and more frequent microembolic signals to the brain detected by transcranial Doppler study and can predict the development of neurological symptoms.

An alternative method of osteosynthesis for distal humeral shaft fractures.

Treatment of extra-articular distal humerus shaft fractures with plating techniques is often difficult, as traditional centrally located posterior plates often encroach on the olecranon fossa, limiting distal osseous fixation. The use of a modified Synthes Lateral Tibial Head Buttress Plate (Synthes, Paoli, PA) allows for a centrally placed posterior plating of the humeral shaft that angles anatomically along the lateral column to treat far distal humeral shaft fractures. Fifteen patients treated in this manner were followed to radiographic and clinical union. There were no cases of instrumentation failure or loss of reduction.

Endovascular closure of a patent foramen ovale in the fat embolism syndrome: changes in the embolic patterns as detected by transcranial Doppler.

BACKGROUND: The posttraumatic fat embolism syndrome (FES) is characterized by petechiae and pulmonary and cerebral dysfunction. A patent foramen ovale (PFO) could worsen the prognosis of FES by allowing larger emboli to reach the systemic circulation. Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography can be used to diagnose and monitor cerebral microembolism in FES. OBJECTIVE: To describe a case of successful percutaneous closure of PFO in a patient with posttraumatic FES with excellent clinical outcome. PATIENT AND METHODS: A 17-year-old girl presented with a posttraumatic long-bone fracture complicated by typical severe FES. Transcranial Doppler disclosed multiple microembolic signals over both middle cerebral and basilar arteries. A large PFO was diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiogram. A brain magnetic resonance image with diffusion-weighted sequences showed multiple bilateral areas of abnormal diffusion in watershed territories. Percutaneous PFO closure with a buttoned device was successfully performed. RESULTS: Closure of PFO was associated with marked reduction in the number and intensity of microembolic signals. Subsequent surgical repair of the fracture with the patient under transcranial Doppler monitoring was uneventful. There was excellent correlation between clinical course and microembolic signal load by transcranial Doppler. CONCLUSIONS: Cerebral fat embolism after long-bone fractures can be detected in vivo and monitored over time with the use of transcranial Doppler techniques. If a PFO is present, its closure before surgical manipulation of the fracture is feasible and could have important protective effects against massive systemic embolization.

The use of spring plates in the internal fixation of acetabular fractures.

The spring plate, a modified one third tubular plate, can be a viable and durable option for fixation of periarticular acetabular fractures. The use of the spring plate in acetabular fractures is demonstrated.

A minimally disruptive surgical technique for the treatment of osteitis pubis in athletes.

BACKGROUND: MULTIPLE SURGICAL PROCEDURES EXIST FOR THE TREATMENT OF OSTEITIS PUBIS: curettage of the symphysis joint, wedge resection, complete resection of the joint, placement of extraperitoneal retropubic synthetic mesh, and arthrodesis of the joint. However, a paucity of literature has reported long-term successful outcomes with the aforementioned approaches. Patients treated operatively have reported recalcitrant pain resulting from iatrogenic instability. The article presents the results of a conservative operative technique that avoids disruption of adjacent ligaments. HYPOTHESIS: Preserving the adjacent ligamentous structures will allow competitive athletes to return to competition and activities of daily living free of iatrogenic pelvic instability and pain. STUDY DESIGN: Case series. METHODS: Four competitive athletes (2 professional and 2 collegiate football players) diagnosed with osteitis pubis were treated conservatively for a minimum of 6 months. Patients underwent surgical intervention upon failure to respond to nonoperative management. The degenerative tissue was resected, allowing only bleeding cancellous bone to remain while preserving the adjacent ligaments. An arthroscope was used to assist in curettage, allowing the debridement to be performed through a small incision in the anterior capsule. RESULTS: The symptoms of all 4 patients resolved, and they returned to competitive athletics. This ligament-sparing technique provided a solid, stable repair and pain relief. CONCLUSION: This surgical technique preserves the adjacent ligamentous structures and allows competitive athletes to return to competition and activities of daily living free of pain and void of pelvic instability. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This technique is a surgical treatment option for athletes with osteitis pubis who fail conservative treatment.

Wound management for severe open fractures: use of antibiotic bead pouches and vacuum-assisted closure.

Open fractures complicated by infection, or those requiring extensive soft-tissue procedures, are disabling problems for patients and result in significant costs for the health care system. As an adjuvant to current protocols involving open fractures, antibiotic bead pouches (ABPs) provide high concentrations of local antibiotics and can help reduce infection rates. Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) has been shown to decrease the need for, and enhance the success of, free-flap coverage for traumatic wounds that are significant enough to preclude primary closure, delayed primary closure, or healing by secondary intention. These 2 modalities may help decrease the complications and costs involved in the management of severe open fractures. In this article, we review the theory, technique, and efficacy of ABPs and VAC in the management of severe open fractures.