Search

Shaft fractures of the tibia and fibula mainly affect younger patients and are therefore of great socioeconomic importance. Due to the high proportion of high-energy direct trauma mechanisms and the thin soft tissue covering layer of the ventromedian tibia, open factures occur in up to 39%. A structured diagnostic and therapeutic approach is essential for successful treatment. Reamed intramedullary nailing is currently the gold standard surgical procedure. The suprapatellar approach, representing an interesting alternative to the popular infrapatellar approach, postoperative complications, such as anterior knee pain as well as the management of non-unions are discussed in this article. Furthermore, the indications and the application of minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) and external fixators are described. Every trauma surgeon should be familiar with the etiology and the surgical treatment of compartment syndrome. A firm knowledge of the classifications of open and closed soft tissue injury is mandatory.

Due to the exposure of the hands in the daily routine, defect wounds of the hand are common. The injury severity varies and ranges from small fingertip defects to large soft tissue lesions with exposed tendons, nerves and vessels. The complete extent of the soft tissue defect is often only recognizable after meticulous debridement. A considerable variety of techniques for defect coverage are available to the surgeon but the actual challenge is to select the most appropriate procedure which will result in the smallest possible residual defect. This review article presents the diagnostic approaches to soft tissue defects of the hand and current treatment options.

Due to recent rampage and terror attacks in Europe, gunshot wounds have become a focus of attention even though they are still rare in Europe. Approximately 50% of gunshot wounds affect the extremities and to understand the sequelae, a basic knowledge of wound ballistics is indispensable. The energy transmitted from the bullet to the tissue is responsible for the severity of the injury and is dependent on the type of weapon and ammunition. A differentiation is made between low-energy injuries caused, e.g. by pistols and high-energy injuries mostly caused by rifles. The higher energy transfer to the tissue in high-energy injuries, results in a temporary wound cavity in addition to the permanent wound channel with extensive soft tissue damage. High-energy gunshot fractures are also more extensive compared to those of low energy injuries. Debridement seems to be necessary for almost all gunshot wounds. Fractures should be temporarily stabilized with an external fixator due to contamination.

Intraarticular fractures of the distal tibia (pilon fractures) are rare injuries and today they occur mostly in traffic accidents and falls from a great height. There are simple fractures in the context of low-energy traumas, as well as complex comminuted fractures in high-energy traumas. Besides the clinical examination, plain radiographs and computed tomographic scans are diagnostic prerequisites. The aim of the diagnostic process is to clearly identify and classify the fracture before appropriate treatment is initiated. The systems used to classify the displaced distal pilon fractures are supposed to ensure the three-dimensional assessment of the fracture and provide high inter- and intra-observer agreement. In addition to the classification of Rüedi and Allgöwer, the classification of pilon fractures has been carried out using the AO classification.

Intraarticular fractures of the distal tibia (pilon fractures) are caused by axial forces, usually in combination with torsional moments. Routine diagnostics include plain films and three dimensional (3D) imaging with computed tomography (CT). Treatment is often impaired by complex fracture configurations and thin soft tissue layers. The management of complex pilon fractures with soft tissue injuries has seen many trends, with changes toward staged protocols of temporary external fixation followed by delayed open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis (MIPPO) techniques and special implants, the benefits of negative pressure wound sealing and early "fix and flap" efforts to reconstruct soft tissue defects. Reduction and fixation must involve respectful management and careful handling of soft tissues in order to minimize the well-known complications of this difficult fracture. The proper approach is one of the keys to success. Approach planning is based on the careful and thorough analysis of the fracture pattern in the 3D data set, which is the basis for a successful strategy for articular reconstruction.

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament tears are one of the most common human ligament ruptures. The assessment of such ruptures is particularly difficult because most ACL injuries involve minimal to no contact. The steps of the assessment are presented with the necessary requirements., Method: Criteria for determining the cause of anterior cruciate ligament ruptures are discussed against the background of our experience and the literature. Different definitions of causality apply to German statutory accident insurance (workers' compensation) on the one hand and to private accident insurance on the other., Results: The assessment of disability within the scope of workers' compensation in most cases results in "under 10 to 30%", while in private accident insurance it is rated as 1/10 to 1/20 degree of disablement.

The successful management of open extremity injuries continues to represent a surgical challenge requiring a structured and multidisciplinary treatment concept. The treatment strategy depends on specific parameters, including the overall injury severity, life threatening trauma components, the degree oft soft tissue injury, the ischemia time, the contamination of the wound as well as the age and accompanying diseases of the patient. The treatment of fractures with a high-grade open soft tissue injury is guided by the severity of soft tissue damage including neurovascular damages, type of the fracture, overall state of the patient and is based on a clearly defined reconstructive algorithm sequentially employing initial wound treatment (debridement), stabilisation of the fracture and soft tissue coverage. The initial wound management includes radical and serial debridements and vessel reconstruction, followed by the gradual reconstruction of bone, tendons and nerves and a subsequent plastic soft tissue coverage.The sequential and priority-orientated implementation of these treatment steps is decisive for the long term outcome, which ideally results in an regular healing of bone and soft tissue without the presence of infection and good regain of extremity function.

In the AO classification, the distal tibia is 43 and A type injuries are extra-articular, B type partial articular and C type involve the whole of the articular surface with complete separation of the joint from the diaphysis. The term pilon fracture should be confined to B(3) and C type fractures. The injury mechanism of pilon fractures will vary from a simple fall to a high energy road traffic accident, leading to increasing fracture comminution and greater soft tissue injury with more open fractures. Plain radiographs and CT-scans are diagnostic prerequisites. A spanning external fixator, with or without fixing the fibula, is the initial method of choice. The goal is to span the zone of injury with the fixator, to align the limb, to reduce the articular surface through very limited approaches, and to minimize complications related to treatment to maintain length and provisionally align the fracture. When soft tissue swelling has subsided definitive stabilization is performed. Bone grafting of defects is rarely necessary.

The complex nature of combined fractures and soft tissue injuries of the distal femur and proximal tibia needs special attention and specific management. Distal femoral and proximal tibial fractures in young patients are usually caused by high-energy trauma. They are complicated by a high rate of systemic and local injuries to cartilage, ligaments and skin. This small but important group with severe injuries needs a detailed treatment algorithm, because despite the treating surgeon's skill, enthusiasm and wishful thinking, these injuries frequently lead to unsatisfactory results. The combination of distal femoral fractures and proximal tibial fractures was defined as complex knee injury type 1; the combination of distal femoral fractures or proximal tibial fractures with second or third degree open or closed soft-tissue injury was defined as complex knee injury type 2; knee dislocations were defined as complex knee injury type 3. A decision-making scheme is presented specifically addressing timing and treatment modalities. Out of 116 type 1 and 2 complex knee injuries, 8 had a deep infection, in 6 cases an amputation was carried out and in 4 cases a knee arthrodesis was performed. In 81 isolated distal femoral fractures, only 4 had a deep infection, none needed amputation, and in only 1 case did a knee arthrodesis have to be performed. The average Neer Score in 90 followed-up complex knee injuries, types 1 and 2, was 76.5 +/- 13.5 compared with 82.8 +/- 10 (out of 54 isolated distal femoral fractures). Out of 37 cases with knee dislocation, 22 (60%) had an poor result according to the Lysholm Score (average Lysholm Score 60.7 +/- 28).