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Background/Objectives : The number of seriously injured elderly patients is continuously rising. Several studies have underlined the benefit of orthogeriatric co-management in treating older patients with a proximal femur fracture. The basis of this orthogeriatric co-management is a certification as a Centre for Geriatric Trauma (ATZ). Data of seriously injured patients are collected in the TraumaRegister DGU ® (TR-DGU) from participating trauma centres. We hypothesise that if a certified trauma centre is also a certified Centre for Geriatric Trauma, a benefit can be measured. Methods : Retrospective cohort analysis was conducted from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2021. The TraumaRegister DGU ® collected the data prospectively. This retrospective multicentre registry study included patients 70 years or older with an abbreviated injury scale of ≥3 and intensive care unit treatment from 700 certified Trauma Centres and 110 Centres for Geriatric Trauma in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The primary outcome was mortality in in-hospital stays. Other outcome parameters were days of intubation, the length of stay in ICU, and in-hospital stays. Furthermore, the discharge target and the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) were analysed. Results : The inclusion criteria were met by 27,531 patients. The majority of seriously injured patients ( n = 23,007) were transported to certified trauma centres without certification as ATZ. A total of 4524 patients were transported to a trauma centre with additional ATZ certifications. Mortality and the Revised Injury Severity Classification II (RISC-II) model for prediction of mortality after trauma were higher in ATZ hospitals. Logistic regression analysis showed no effect on mortality by a certification as a centre for geriatric trauma in treating seriously injured elderly patients. Conclusions: We assume that the additional ATZ certification does not positively influence the treatment of seriously injured elderly patients. A potential side effect could not be measured.

Background/Objectives: Outcomes for hip fracture patients have improved over the years, yet the population of older patients (≥80 years) continues to grow. By 2100, the global centenarian population is projected to exceed 25 million, but data on hip fracture outcomes in this group are rare and often derived from small samples. This study aimed to analyze outcomes for centenarian hip fracture patients in specialized geriatric trauma centers and compare them with those of patients under 80. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the AltersTraumaRegister DGU ® from 2016 to 2022, including all proximal femur fracture data. Patients were categorized into two groups: under 80 years and centenarians. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality, with secondary outcomes including quality of life, walking ability on postoperative day seven, length of hospital stay, readmission rates, and changes in living situations. Results: Among 14,521 patients, 316 were over 99 years old. In-house mortality was significantly higher in centenarians (15.44% vs. 3.58%; p < 0.001), with more discharged to nursing homes. After matching by the Geriatrics at Risk (GeRi) score, mortality differences diminished. Conclusions: While age is a risk factor for mortality, centenarian hip fracture patients' outcomes do not significantly differ from those aged ≤80 when considering other risk factors.

A validation of the GeRi-Score on 120-day mortality, the impact of a pre-operative visit by a geriatrician, and timing of surgery on the outcome was conducted. The score has predictive value for 120-day mortality. No advantage was found for surgery within 24 h or a preoperative geriatric visit., Purpose: Numerous tools predict mortality among patients with hip fractures, but they include many variables, require time-consuming assessment, and are difficult to calculate. The GeRi-Score provides a quick method of pre-operative assessment. The aim of this study is to validate the score in the 120-day follow-up and determine the impact of a pre-operative visit by a geriatrician and timing of surgery on the patient outcome., Methods: A retrospective analysis of the AltersTraumaRegister DGU ® from 2017 to 2021 was conducted, including all proximal femur fractures. The patients were divided into low-, moderate-, and high-risk groups based on the GeRi-Score. Mortality was analyzed using logistic regression. To determine the influence of the time to surgery and the preoperative visit by a geriatrician, matching was performed using the exact GeRi-Score, preoperative walking ability, type of fracture, and the time to surgery., Results: The study included 38,570 patients, divided into 12,673 low-risk, 18,338 moderate-risk, and 7,559 high-risk patients. The moderate-risk group had three times the mortality risk of the low-risk group (OR 3.19 (95% CI 2.68-3.79; p<0.001)), while the high-risk group had almost eight times the mortality risk than the low-risk group (OR 7.82 (95% CI 6.51-9.93; p<0.001)). No advantage was found for surgery within the first 24 h across all groups. There was a correlation of a preoperative geriatric visit and mortality showing an increase in the moderate and high-risk group on in-house mortality., Conclusions: The GeRi-Score has predictive value for 120-day mortality. No advantage was found for surgery within 24 h. The analysis did not demonstrate a benefit of the preoperative geriatric visit, but more data are needed., (© 2024. International Osteoporosis Foundation and Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation.)

Background and Objectives: The outcomes of patients with atypical subtrochanteric fractures (ASFs) remain unclear. Data from a large international geriatric trauma registry were analysed to examine the outcome of patients with ASFs compared to patients with typical osteoporotic subtrochanteric fractures (TSFs)., Materials and Methods: Data from the Registry for Geriatric Trauma of the German Trauma Society (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Unfallchirurgie [DGU]) (ATR-DGU) were analysed. All patients treated surgically for ASFs or TSFs were included in this analysis. Across both fracture types, a paired matching approach was conducted, where statistical twins were formed based on background characteristics sex, age, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score and walking ability. In-house mortality and mortality rates at the 120-day follow-up, as well as mobility at 7 and 120 days, the reoperation rate, hospital discharge management, the hospital readmission rate at the 120-day follow-up, health-related quality of life, type of surgical treatment and anti-osteoporotic therapy at 7 and 120 days, were assessed as outcome measures using a multivariate logistic regression analysis., Results: Amongst the 1,800 included patients, 1,781 had TSFs and 19 had ASFs. Logistic regression analysis revealed that patients with ASFs were more often treated with closed intramedullary nailing (RR = 3.59, p < 0.001) and had a higher probability of vitamin D supplementation as osteoporosis therapy at 120 days (RR = 0.88, p < 0.002). Patients with ASFs were also more likely to live at home after surgery (RR = 1.43, p < 0.001), and they also tended to continue living at home more often than patients with TSFs (RR = 1.33, p < 0.001). Accordingly, patients with TSFs had a higher relative risk of losing their self-sufficient living status, as indicated by increased rates of patients living at home preoperatively and being discharged to nursing homes (RR = 0.19, p < 0.001) or other hospitals (RR = 0.00, p < 0.001) postoperatively., Conclusions: Surgical treatment of ASFs was marked by more frequent use of closed intramedullary fracture reduction. Furthermore, patients with ASFs were more likely to be discharged home and died significantly less often in the given timeframe. The rate of perioperative complications, as indicated by nonsignificant reoperation rates, as well as patient walking abilities during the follow-up period, remained unaffected., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background/objective: In 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic posed a major challenge to the healthcare system. The hypothesis is that the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 had an impact on the care of older adults with proximal femoral fractures due to resource scarcity, regardless of whether or not the patient was infected., Material and Methods: This study analyzed the data of 87 hospitals which entered 15,289 patients in the Geriatric Trauma Register ("AltersTraumaRegister DGU®", ATR-DGU) in Germany in 2019 and 2020. In this study we analyzed the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the inpatient treatment of hip fractures as well as the mid-term follow-up during the first 120 days. For the main analysis, we compared patients documented during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 (April-December) with a control group in 2019 (April-December). Additionally, we performed a subgroup analysis of the periods with high COVID-19 incidence rates., Results: Between 2019 and 2020 a total of 11,669 patients (2020: n = 6002 patients vs. 2019: n = 5667 patients) were included in this study. Only minor differences were found between the patients treated during the pandemic; however, when the COVID-19 incidence in Germany was greater than 50/100,000 residents, significantly fewer patients (p < 0.001) were discharged to a geriatric rehabilitation ward (27.2% vs. 36.3%) and an increased mortality rate during inpatient treatment was determined (8.4% vs. 4.6%) (p < 0.001)., Discussion: The healthcare system was able to respond to the pandemic and patients' clinical courses were not impaired as long as the incidences were low. Nevertheless, the healthcare system reached its limits in times of higher incidence, which was also directly reflected in the patient outcome, mortality and place of discharge., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Medizin Verlag GmbH, ein Teil von Springer Nature.)

Background: Major trauma and its consequences are one of the leading causes of death worldwide across all age groups. Few studies have conducted comparative age-specific investigations. It is well known that children respond differently to major trauma than elderly patients due to physiological differences. The aim of this study was to analyze the actual reality of treatment and outcomes by using a matched triplet analysis of severely injured patients of different age groups., Methods: Data from the TraumaRegister DGU® were analyzed. A total of 56,115 patients met the following inclusion criteria: individuals with Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale > 2 and < 6, primary admission, from German-speaking countries, and treated from 2011-2020. Furthermore, three age groups were defined (child: 3-15 years; adult: 20-50 years; and elderly: 70-90 years). The matched triplets were defined based on the following criteria: 1. exact injury severity of the body regions according to the Abbreviated Injury Scale (head, thorax, abdomen, extremities [including pelvis], and spine) and 2. level of the receiving hospital., Results: A total of 2,590 matched triplets could be defined. Traffic accidents were the main cause of severe injury in younger patients (child: 59.2%; adult: 57.9%). In contrast, low falls (from < 3 m) were the most frequent cause of accidents in the elderly group (47.2%). Elderly patients were least likely to be resuscitated at the scene. Both children and elderly patients received fewer therapeutic interventions on average than adults. More elderly patients died during the clinical course, and their outcome was worse overall, whereas the children had the lowest mortality rate., Conclusions: For the first time, a large patient population was used to demonstrate that both elderly patients and children may have received less invasive treatment compared with adults who were injured with exactly the same severity (with the outcomes of these two groups being opposite to each other). Future studies and recommendations should urgently consider the different age groups., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Purpose: Fractures of the proximal femur in geriatric patients are life-changing and life-threatening events. Previous research has identified fluid volume as an independent factor contributing to trauma patients' complications. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the impact of intraoperative fluid volume on outcomes in geriatric patients undergoing hip fracture surgery., Methods: We conducted a retrospective single-center study with data from the hospital information systems. Our study included patients aged 70 years or older who had sustained a proximal femur fracture. We excluded patients with pathologic, periprosthetic, or peri-implant fractures and those with missing data. Based on the fluids given, we divided patients into high-volume and low-volume groups., Results: Patients with a higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade and more comorbidities were more likely to receive more than 1500 ml of fluids. We observed significant differences in anesthesiologic management between the two groups, with a higher rate of invasive blood pressure management (IBP) and central venous catheter usage in the high-volume group. High-volume therapy was associated with a higher rate of complications (69.7% vs. 43.6%, p < 0.01), a higher transfusion rate (odds ratio 1.91 [1.26-2.91]), and an increased likelihood of patients being transferred to an intensive care unit (17.1% vs. 6.4%, p = 0.009). These findings were confirmed after adjusting for ASA grade, age, sex, type of fracture, Identification-of-Seniors-At-Risk (ISAR) score, and intraoperative blood loss., Conclusions: Our study suggests that intraoperative fluid volume is a significant factor that impacts the outcome of hip fracture surgery in geriatric patients. High-volume therapy was associated with increased complications., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany.)

Background: Proximal humeral shaft fractures are surgically challenging and plate osteosynthesis with a long straight plate is one operative treatment option in these patients although endangering the radial nerve distally. Helical plates potentially avoid the radial nerve by twisting around the humeral shaft. Aim of the study was to investigate in a human cadaveric model the biomechanical competence of helical plates versus straight lateral plates used for fixation of proximal third comminuted humeral shaft fractures., Methods: Eight pairs of humeral cadaveric humeri were instrumented using either a long 90°-helical plate (Group1) or a straight long PHILOS plate (Group2). An unstable proximal humeral shaft fracture was simulated by means of a 5 cm osteotomy gap. All specimens were tested under quasi-static loading in axial compression, internal and external rotation, and bending in four directions. Subsequently, progressively increasing cyclic loading in internal rotation until failure was applied and interfragmentary movements were monitored by motion tracking., Results: During static testing flexion/extension deformation in Group1 was significantly higher, however, varus/valgus deformation as well as shear and torsional displacement under torsional load remained statistically indifferent between both groups. During cyclic testing shear and torsional displacements were both significantly higher in Group1 compared to Group 2. However, cycles to catastrophic failure remained statistically indifferent between the groups., Conclusions: From a biomechanical perspective, although 90°-helical plating is associated with higher initial stability against varus/valgus collapse and comparable endurance under dynamic loading, it demonstrates lower resistance to flexion/extension and internal rotation with bigger shear interfragmentary displacements versus straight lateral plating and, therefore, cannot be considered as its real alternative. Alternative helical plate designs should be investigated in the future., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: Proximal femur fractures predominantly affect older patients and can mark a drastic turning point in their lives. To avoid complications and reduce mortality, expert associations recommend surgical treatment within 24-48 h after admission. Due to the high incidence, treatment is provided at a wide range of hospitals with different size and level of care, which may affect time to surgery., Methods: Data from 19,712 patients included from 2016 to 2019 in the Registry for Geriatric Trauma (ATR-DGU) were analyzed in terms of time to surgery, in-house mortality, mobilization on the first postoperative day, ambulation status on the 7th day after surgery, and initiation of osteoporosis therapy. Participating hospitals were grouped according to their classification as level I, II or III trauma centers. Also presence of additional injuries, intake and type of anticoagulants were considered. Linear and logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the influence of hospitals level of care on each item., Results: 28.6% of patients were treated in level I, 37.7% in level II, and 33.7% in level III trauma centers. There was no significant difference in age, sex and ASA-score. Mean time to surgery was 19.2 h (IQR 9.0-29.8) in level I trauma centers and 16.8 h (IQR 6.5-24) in level II/III trauma centers (p < 0.001). Surgery in the first 24 h after admission was provided for 64.7% of level I and 75.0% of level II/III patients (p < 0.001). Treatment in hospitals with higher level of care and subsequent increased time to surgery showed no significant influence on in-house mortality (OR 0.90, 95%-CI 0.78-1.04), but negative effects on walking ability 7 days after surgery could be observed (OR 1.28, 95%-CI 1.18-1.38)., Conclusion: In hospitals of larger size and higher level of care the time to surgery for patients with a proximal femur fracture was significantly higher than in smaller hospitals. No negative effects regarding in-house mortality, but for ambulation status during in-hospital stay could be observed. As the number of these patients will constantly increase, specific treatment capacities should be established regardless of the hospitals size., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

This study developed an easy-to-use mortality prediction tool, which showed an acceptable discrimination and no significant lack of fit. The GeRi-Score was able to predict mortality and could distinguish between mild, moderate and high risk groups. Therefore, the GeRi-Score might have the potential to distribute the intensity of medical care., Purpose: Several mortality-predicting tools for hip fracture patients are available, but all consist of a high number of variables, require a time-consuming evaluation and/or are difficult to calculate. The aim of this study was to develop and validate an easy-to-use score, which depends mostly on routine data., Methods: Patients from the Registry for Geriatric Trauma were divided into a development and a validation group. Logistic regression models were used to build a model for in-house mortality and to obtain a score. Candidate models were compared using Akaike information criteria (AIC) and likelihood ratio tests. The quality of the model was tested using the area under the curve (AUC) and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test., Results: 38,570 patients were included, almost equal distributed to the development and to the validation dataset. The AUC was 0.727 (95% CI 0.711 - 0.742) for the final model, AIC resulted in a significant reduction in deviance compared to the basic model, and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed no significant lack of fit (p = 0.07). The GeRi-Score predicted an in-house mortality of 5.3% vs. 5.3% observed mortality in the development dataset and 5.4% vs. 5.7% in the validation dataset. The GeRi-Score was able to distinguish between mild, moderate and high risk groups., Conclusions: The GeRi-Score is an easy-to-use mortality-predicting tool with an acceptable discrimination and no significant lack of fit. The GeRi-Score might have the potential to distribute the intensity of perioperative medical care in hip fracture surgery and can be used in quality management programs as benchmark tool., (© 2023. International Osteoporosis Foundation and Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation.)

Background: Literature shows conflicting results regarding spinal (SA) or general anesthesia (GA) and their influence on the outcome of elderly patients with hip fractures. We, therefore, conducted an analysis from the Registry for Geriatric Trauma (ATR-DGU)., Methods: A retrospective, multicenter registry study including patients aged 70 years or above with hip fractures requiring surgery from 131 Centers for Geriatric Trauma (AltersTraumaZentrum DGU®) from 2016 to 2021. Patients with SA or GA were compared using matched-pair analysis and linear and logistic regression models., Results: A total of 43,714 patients were included, of whom 3,242 received SA. The median age was 85 (SA) and 84 years (GA). Adjustments for the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade, sex, age, additional injuries, and anticoagulation resulted in a higher in-hospital (odds ratio (OR) 1.31; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07 - 1.61, p = 0.009) and 120 days mortality (OR 1.47; 95% CI, 1.1 - 1.95, p = 0.009) in the GA group. GA had a significant negative influence on walking ability seven days after surgery and on the quality of life (QoL). The length of hospital stay (LoS) was significantly shorter in the SA group., Conclusions: SA is associated with a higher survival rate, a better walking ability seven days after surgery, a higher QoL, and a shorter LoS., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Introduction: Revision total knee arthroplasty (RTKA) has been increasing continuously. The results of RTKA still remain unsatisfactory. Failure patterns and risk factors in RTKA were thoroughly analyzed, with periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) and aseptic loosening remaining at the forefront of re-revision (ReRTKA) causes. While there is evidence that stem profile impacts the revisability of cemented implants, its association with the modes of RTKA failure is unknown., Methods: 50 consecutive ReRTKA performed in a single orthopedic center during 2016-2017 were retrospectively analyzed. The cases were stratified according to age, sex, number of preexisting revisions, fixation technique, stem design and causes of re-revision. All explanted implants with conical vs. cylindrical stem profiles were compared., Results: Mean age was 67 ± 11.5, and 54% were females. 72% of the cases had ≥ 3 previous revisions. 88% were full-cemented, 3% hybrid and 9% press-fit stems. 36% of the RTKA had conical, 58% cylindrical and 6% combined stem profiles. 92% of the RTKA components were removed. Removal causes were: PJI (52.2%), aseptic loosening (34.8%), implant malposition (9.8%), painful knee (1.1%) and instability (2.2%). While the overall RTKA failure patterns were equally distributed between conical and cylindrical stems, subgroup analysis of only cemented ReRTKA revealed a higher incidence of aseptic loosening within cylindrical stem profiles (46.7% vs. 25.7%, P = 0.05)., Conclusion: Stem profile may have an impact on the process of aseptic loosening in cemented non-metaphyseal engaging RTKA, with cylindrical designs tending to worse outcomes than conical designs. Large cohort studies could provide more clarity on current observation., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Objectives: Helical plates are preferably used for proximal humeral shaft fracture fixation and potentially avoid radial nerve irritation., Aims: Safety of applying four different long plate designs (straight, 45°-, 90°-helical and ALPS) with MIPO technique as well as assessment and comparison of their distances to adjacent anatomical structures., Methods: MIPO was performed in 16 human cadaveric humeri using either a straight (group 1), a 45°-helical (group 2), a 90°-helical (group 3) plate, or an ALPS (group 4). Applying CT angiography, distances between brachial arteries and plates were evaluated. All specimens were dissected and distances to the axillary, radial and musculocutaneous nerve were evaluated., Results: No specimens demonstrated injuries of the anatomical structures at risk after MIPO with all investigated plate designs. Closest overall distance (mean (range); mm) between each plate and the radial nerve was 1 (1-3) in group 1, 7 (2-11) in group 2, 14 (7-25) in group 3 and 6 (3-8) in group 4. It was significantly bigger in group 3 and significantly smaller in group 1 compared to all other groups, p < 0.001. Closest overall distance between each plate and the musculocutaneous nerve was 16 (8-28) in group 1, 11 (7-18) in group 2, 3 (2-4) in group 3 and 6 (3-8) in group 4. It was significantly bigger in group 1 and significantly smaller in group 3 compared to all other groups, p < 0.001., Conclusions: MIPO with 45°- and 90°-helical plates as well as with ALPS is safely feasible and demonstrates significantly bigger distances to the radial nerve compared to straight plates. However, the distances remain small and attention must be paid to the musculocutaneous nerve and the brachial artery when MIPO is applied using ALPS, 45°- and 90°-helical implants., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany.)

Introduction: While re-revision total knee arthroplasty (ReRTKA) steadily increases, the ease and bone-sparing removal of RTKA implants is gaining more and more in importance. Biomechanical data suggest that cemented conical stems can be removed significantly easier than cylindrical stems. However, no clinical evidence exists supporting this observation. Aim of this study was to compare the revisability and need for osteotomy (OT) between removals of well-fixed cemented conical vs. cylindrical RTKA stems., Materials and Methods: 55 removals of well-fixed full-cemented RTKA stems (29 knees) performed between 2016 and 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Main outcome variables were: bone loss, fractures, osteotomy incidence, surgery duration, early postoperative complications (EPC), hemoglobin drop and blood transfusion. SPSS was used for the statistical analysis., Results: 44.8% were conical, 48.3% cylindrical, and 6.9% combined stem designs. Causes for re-revision were PJI (75.9%), malposition (17.2%) and persistent pain (6.9%). 10 stem removals (18.2%) required an OT (four femoral, six tibial): eight stems (14.5%) had cylindrical and two (3.6%) conical designs (P = 0.041). Fractures were noted solely in removals without OT (11.1% vs. 0%,). There was a tendency to more bone loss in cylindrical stem revisions (53.8% vs. 32%, P = 0.24). A longer overall surgery time was observed in revisions of cylindrical stems (+ 37 min, P = 0.05). There was higher hemoglobin drop and need for blood transfusion in revisions of cylindrical stems or after OT but without reaching statistical significance. The EPC rates were slightly higher in ReRTKA on cylindrical stems (P = 0.28)., Conclusion: Well-fixed cemented conical stems may be revision friendlier with less demands on OT and shorter overall surgery time than cemented cylindrical stems., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background and Objectives: Fractures of the proximal femur are a life-changing and life-threatening event for older people. Concomitant malnutrition has been described as an independent risk factor for complications and mortality. Therefore, we examined the influence of albumin and body mass index (BMI) as parameters for the nutritional state on the outcome after geriatric hip fracture surgery. Materials and Methods: Data were retrospectively collected from hospital information systems, and complications and all other parameters were obtained from patient charts. We included patients aged 70 years or above with a fracture of the proximal femur. We excluded periprosthetic and peri-implant fractures and patients with a missing BMI or albumin value. Results: Patients with a BMI below 20 kg/m 2 were more likely to be female but did not differ from the normal BMI group in terms of baseline parameters. Patients with hypoalbuminemia had a higher ASA grade and Charlson Comorbidity Index, as well as a lower hemoglobin value and prothrombin time compared to those with normal albumin values and low BMI. Hypoalbuminemia was associated with significantly increased rates of complications (57.9% vs. 46.7%, p = 0.04) and mortality (10.3% vs. 4.1%, p = 0.02). Blood loss and transfusion rates were higher in the hypoalbuminemia group. Patients with a BMI below 20 kg/m 2 had a higher risk of intraoperative cardiac arrest (2.6% vs. 0.4%, p = 0.05) but did not show higher mortality rates than patients with a BMI above 20 kg/m 2 . However, the outcome parameter could not be confirmed in the regression analysis. Conclusions: Hypoalbuminemia might be an indicator for more vulnerable patients with a compromised hemoglobin value, prothrombin time, and ASA grade. Therefore, it is also associated with higher mortality and postoperative complications. However, hypoalbuminemia was not an independent predictor for mortality or postoperative complications, but low albumin values were associated with a higher CCI and ASA grade than in patients with a BMI below 20 kg/m 2 .

Background and Objectives: The outcomes of patients with pathologic hip fractures remain unclear. Data from a large international geriatric trauma registry were analyzed to examine the outcomes of patients with pathologic hip fractures compared with patients with typical osteoporotic hip fractures. Materials and Methods: Data from the Registry for Geriatric Trauma of the German Trauma Society (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Unfallchirurgie (DGU)) (ATR-DGU) were analyzed. All patients treated surgically for osteoporotic or pathologic hip fractures were included in this analysis. Across both fracture types, a 2:1 optimal propensity score matching and multivariate logistic regression analysis were conducted. In-house mortality rate and mortality at the 120-day follow-up, as well as mobility after 7 and 120 days, reoperation rate, discharge management from the hospital and readmission rate to the hospital until the 120-day follow-up were analyzed as outcome parameters for the underlying fracture type-pathologic or osteoporotic. Results: A total of 29,541 cases met the inclusion criteria. Of the patients included, 29,330 suffered from osteoporotic fractures, and 211 suffered from pathologic fractures. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed no differences between the two fracture types in terms of mortality during the acute hospital stay, reoperation during the initial acute hospital stay, walking ability after seven days and the likelihood of being discharged back home. Walking ability and hospital readmission remained insignificant at the 120-day follow-up as well. However, the odds of passing away within the first 120 days were significantly higher for patients suffering from pathologic hip fractures (OR: 3.07; p = 0.003). Conclusions: Surgical treatment of pathologic hip fractures was marked by a more frequent use of arthroplasty in per- and subtrochanteric fractures. Furthermore, the mortality rate among patients suffering from pathologic hip fractures was elevated in the midterm. The complication rate, as indicated by the rate of readmission to the hospital and the necessity for reoperation, remained unaffected.

Purpose: Medial femoral neck fractures are typically managed with hemiarthroplasty (HA) or total hip arthroplasty (THA) in elderly patients. There is a debate as to which treatment predominates. The literatures have reported better outcomes for those patients with proximal femur fracture who were treated in an orthogeriatric centres compared to standard orthopaedic hospitals. Therefore, we have analysed the differences of outcome between HA and THA on patients, exclusively treated in orthogeriatric co-management and compared the results with the available literature., Methods: We conducted a retrospective registry analysis of the Registry for Geriatric Trauma DGU ® . Between 2016 and 2018, data for 16,236 patients from 78 different hospitals were available: they were analysed univariably, and differences between HA and THA were examined using propensity score matching, according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade, Identification-of-Seniors-At-Risk (ISAR) Score, anticoagulation level, sex, age, and walking ability prefracture., Results: There were 4,662 patients treated with HA and 892 with THA, meeting inclusion criteria. Patients in the HA group were older (84 years (IQR 80-89) vs. 79 years (IQR 75-83); p < 0.001), with more severe preexisting conditions, with an ASA grade ≥ 3 in 79% vs. 57% in the THA group (p < 0.001). After matching, the mortality rate, in-house revision rate, and quality of life (QoL) 7 days postoperatively were not significantly different by group. After 120 days, the HA group presented a lower rate of surgical complications (4% vs. 10%; p = 0.006), while the THA group had a higher rate of independent walking (18% vs. 28%; p = 0.001) and a higher QoL, measured by the EQ-5D-3L (0.81 (IQR 0.7-1.0) vs. 0.9 (IQR 0.72-1.0); p = 0.01)., Conclusions: Due to better walking ability and QoL, THA might be the better choice in healthier and more mobile patients, while HA would be better for multimorbid patients to avoid additional complication-associated treatments. Not the age of the patient but the preoperative condition might be important for the choice between THA and HA., (© 2021. Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Objectives: COVID-19 can be a life-threatening illness, especially for older patients. The COVID-19 outbreak created a dramatic organizational challenge in treating infected patients requiring surgical treatment, like those suffering a proximal femur fracture, in a pandemic setting. We investigate the impact of a COVID-19 infection in patients with a proximal femur fracture not only on mortality but also on quality of life (QoL), length of stay, and discharge target., Design: Retrospective cohort analysis from July 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020. The Registry for Geriatric Trauma collected the data prospectively. Patient groups with and without COVID-19 infection were compared using linear and logistic regression models., Setting and Participants: Retrospective multicenter registry study including patients aged ≥70 years with proximal femur fracture requiring surgery from 107 certified Centers for Geriatric Trauma in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland., Measures: The occurrence and impact of COVID-19 infection in patients suffering a proximal femur fracture were measured regarding in-house mortality, length of stay, and discharge location. Moreover, QoL was measured by the validated EQ-5D-3L questionnaire., Results: A total of 3733 patients were included in our study. Of them, 123 patients tested COVID-19 positive at admission. A COVID-19 infection resulted in a 5.95-fold higher mortality risk (odds ratio 5.95, P < .001], a length of stay prolonged by 4.21 days [regression coefficient (β) 4.21, P < .001], a reduced QoL (β -0.13, P = .001), and a change in discharge target, more likely to their home instead of another inpatient facility like a rehabilitation clinic (P = .013)., Conclusions and Implications: The impact of a COVID-19 infection in patients suffering a proximal femur fracture is tremendous. The infected patients presented a dramatic rise in mortality rate, were significantly less likely to be discharged to a rehabilitation facility, had a longer in-hospital stay, and a reduced QoL., (Copyright © 2021 AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objectives: The increased use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) results in an increased prevalence of DOAC treatment in hip fractures patients. However, the impact of DOAC treatment on perioperative management of hip fracture patients is limited. In this study, we describe the prevalence of DOAC treatment in a population of hip fracture patients and compare these patients with patients taking vitamin K antagonists (VKA) and patients not taking anticoagulants. Materials and Methods: This study is a retrospective analysis from the Registry for Geriatric Trauma (ATR-DGU). The data were collected prospectively from patients with proximal femur fractures treated between January 2016 and December 2018. Among other factors, anticoagulation was surveyed. The primary outcome parameter was time-to-surgery. Further parameters were: type of anesthesia, surgical complications, soft tissue complications, length of stay and mortality. Results: In total, 11% (n = 1595) of patients took DOACs at the time of fracture, whereas 9.2% (n = 1325) were on VKA therapy. During the study period, there was a shift from VKA to DOACs. The time-to-surgery of patients on DOACs and of patients on VKA was longer compared to patients who did not take any anticoagulation. No significant differences with regard to complications, type of anesthesia and mortality were found between patients on DOACs compared to VKA treatment. Conclusion: An increased time-to-surgery in patients taking DOACs and taking VKA compared to non-anticoagulated patients was found. This underlines the need for standardized multi-disciplinary orthopedic, hematologic and ortho-geriatric algorithms for the management of hip fracture patients under DOAC treatment. In addition, no significant differences regarding complications and mortality were found between DOAC and VKA users. This demonstrates that even in the absence of widely available antidotes, the safe management of geriatric patients under DOACs with proximal femur fractures is possible.

Background: Reamer-Irrigator-Aspirator (RIA) of long bones is increasingly being used as an alternative to iliac crest harvesting for bone-grafts. This meta-analysis compares both harvesting techniques with regard to donor site morbidity, healing potency and implantation site morbidity., Methods: PubMed/Medline/Embase/CENTRAL/CINAHL were searched for both randomized clinical trials (RCT) and observational studies. Effect estimates were pooled across studies using random effects models and presented as weighted odds ratio (OR) with corresponding 95% confidence interval (95%CI)., Results: A total of 5 studies were included. RIA carries a lower risk for chronic pain (0% versus 14.2%, OR 0.08, 95% CI 0.02 - 0.35) and infection (1% versus 5.9%, OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.09- 0.9) at the donor site compared to iliac crest harvesting. Iliac crest bone-harvesting has an inherent additional risk of neuropraxia of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve and numbness of the scar which is not encountered in RIA harvesting. Risk for other reported complications such as hematoma and iatrogenic fractures appear equal in both groups. The clinical healing potential of both bone grafts, in terms of union rate (OR 1.53, 95%CI 0.62 - 3.75) at the implantation site and time-to-union (MD 0.44 months, 95%CI -1.72 - 0.83), seems equal., Conclusion: The main difference between RIA and iliac crest bone graft harvesting is the considerable higher risk of chronic pain of the pelvic procedure. Although risk for infection was also higher for the iliac crest group, the absolute difference is relatively small. Evidence suggests an equal healing potential of the grafts themselves irrespective of harvesting method., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interests None., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Aims: The impact of concomitant injuries in patients with proximal femoral fractures has rarely been studied. To date, the few studies published have been mostly single-centre research focusing on the influence of upper limb fractures. A retrospective cohort analysis was, therefore, conducted to identify the impact and distribution of concomitant injuries in patients with proximal femoral fractures., Methods: A retrospective, multicentre registry-based study was undertaken. Between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2019, data for 24,919 patients from 100 hospitals were collected in the Registry for Geriatric Trauma. This information was queried and patient groups with and without concomitant injury were compared using linear and logistic regression models. In addition, we analyzed the influence of the different types of additional injuries., Results: A total of 22,602 patients met the inclusion criteria. The overall prevalence of a concomitant injury was 8.2% with a predominance of female patients (8.7% vs 6.9%; p < 0.001). Most common were fractures of the ipsilateral upper limb. Concomitant injuries resulted in prolonged time-to-surgery (by 3.4 hours (95 confidence interval (CI) 2.14 to 4.69)) and extended length of stay in hospital by 2.2 days (95% CI 1.74 to 2.61). Mortality during the admission was significantly higher in the concomitant injury group (7.4% vs 5.3%; p < 0.001). Additionally, walking ability and quality of life were reduced in these patients at discharge. More patients were discharged to a nursing home instead of their own home compared to patients without additional injuries (25.8% vs 30.3%; p < 0.001)., Conclusion: With a prevalence of 8.2%, the appearance of a concomitant injury is common in elderly patients with hip fracture. These patients are at a greater risk for death during the admission, longer hospital stays, and delayed surgery. This knowledge is clinically important for all who are involved in the treatment of proximal femur fractures. Cite this article: Bone Joint J  2021;103-B(9):1526-1533.

Background and Objectives : Wound infections provoked by alterations in microcirculation are major complications in the treatment of trochanteric femur fractures. Surgical fracture fixation on a traction table is the gold standard for treatment, but the effect on tissue microcirculation is unknown. Microcirculation could be impaired by the pull on the soft-tissue or by a release of vasoactive factors. We hypothesized that intraoperative traction impairs soft-tissue microcirculation. Materials and Methods : In 22 patients (14 women, eight men), average age 78 years (range 36-96 ± 14), with trochanteric femur fractures, non-invasive laser-Doppler spectrophotometry was used to assess oxygen saturation, hemoglobin content, and blood flow in the skin and subcutaneous tissue before and after application of traction. Measurements were recorded in nine locations around the greater trochanter at a depth of 2, 8, and 15 mm before and after fracture reduction by traction. Results : No differences were found in any depth with traction compared to without (oxygen saturation: p = 0.751, p = 0.308, and p = 0.955, haemoglobin content: p = 0.651, p = 0.928, and p = 0.926, blood flow: p = 0.829, p = 0.866, and p = 0.411). Conclusion : In this pilot study, the application of traction does not affect skin and subcutaneous microcirculation in the surgery of proximal femur fractures.

Background: The aim of the present study was to describe specific characteristics of patients suffering from pelvic fragility fractures and evaluate factors that might influence treatment decisions which may optimize treatment pathways and patient mobility in the future., Methods: A prospective study with patients suffering from fractures of the pelvis and aged 60 years or above was performed between 2012 and 2016. Data acquisition took place at admission, every day during hospitalization and at discharge., Results: One hundred thirty-four patients (mean age of 79.93 (± 7.67) years), predominantly female (84%), were included. Eighty-six patients were treated non-operatively. Forty-eight patients underwent a surgical procedure. The main fracture types were B2 fractures (52.24%) and FFP IIb fractures (39.55%). At the time of discharge, pain level (NRS) could be significantly reduced (p <  0.001). Patients who underwent a surgical procedure had a significantly higher pain level on day three and four compared to the non-operative group (p = 0.032 and p = 0.023, respectively). Significant differences were found in the mobility level: patients treated operatively on day four or later were not able to stand or walk on day three as compared to non-operatively treated patients. Regarding B2 fractures, a significantly higher mobility level difference between time of admission and discharge was found in patients treated with a surgical procedure compared to patients treated non-operatively (p = 0.035)., Conclusions: Fracture type, mobility level and pain level influence the decision to proceed with surgical treatment. Especially patients suffering from B2 fractures benefitted in terms of mobility level at discharge when treated operatively., Level of Evidence: II., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Objectives: Despite continual improvement in the methods and devices used for treatment of proximal femoral fractures, unacceptably high failure rates remain. Novel screw-blade implant systems, combining a lag screw with a blade - the latter adding rotational stability to the femoral head - offer improvement of osseous purchase, especially in osteoporotic bone. The aim of this study was to compare biomechanically the head element (HE) anchorage of two screw-blade implant systems differing in blade orientation in the femoral head - vertical versus horizontal., Methods: Twenty paired human cadaveric femoral heads were assigned to four groups (n = 10), implanted with either Rotationally Stable Screw-Anchor HE (RoSA-HE, vertical blade orientation) or Gamma3 Rotation Control Lag Screw (Gamma-RC, horizontal blade orientation) in center or off-center position, and biomechanically tested until failure under progressively increasing cyclic loading at 2 Hz., Results: Cycles to failure and failure load were significantly higher for Gamma-RC versus RoSA-HE in center position and not significantly different between them in off-center position, p = 0.03 and p = 0.22, respectively. In center position, the progression of both rotation around implant axis and varus deformation over time demonstrated superiority of the implant with horizontal versus vertical blade orientation. Compared with center positioning, off-center implant placement led to a significant decrease in stiffness, cycles to failure and failure load for Gamma-RC, but not for RoSA-HE, p < 0.01 and p = 0.99, respectively., Conclusion: Horizontal blade orientation of screw-blade implant systems demonstrates better anchorage in the femoral head versus vertical blade orientation in center position. As the stability of the implant system with horizontal blade orientation drops sharply in off-center position, central insertion is its placement of choice., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background and Objectives : Hip fractures are among the most typical geriatric fractures. Subtrochanteric fractures are considered difficult to treat, and, to date, there is no consensus on the optimal surgical treatment. Materialis and Methods : We analyzed data from the Registry for Geriatric Trauma, which includes patients ≥ 70 years old with hip fractures or periprosthetic fractures requiring surgery (21,734 patients in 2017-2019). For this study, we analyzed only the subgroup of patients with a subtrochanteric fracture. We analyzed the difference between closed and open surgical methods on a range of outcomes, including mortality, mobility, length of acute hospital stay, and the need for surgical revisions. Results : A total of 506 patients with subtrochanteric fractures were analyzed in this study. The median age was 85 years (interquartile range of 81-89). About 21.1% ( n = 107) were operated on with a closed technique, 73.3% ( n = 371) with open reduction without using a cerclage, and 5.53% ( n = 28) with open reduction with the additional use of one or more cerclage wires. A total of 3.56% ( n = 18) of the patients had complications requiring operative revision, most commonly soft tissue interventions (open vs. closed reduction-3.26% vs. 4.67%) ( p = 0.687). Patients treated with open reduction were significantly more mobile 7 days after surgery ( p = 0.008), while no significant effects on mortality ( p = 0.312), length of hospital stay ( p = 0.968), or surgical complications ( p = 0.687) were found. Conclusion : Proper reduction is the gold standard practice for successful union in subtrochanteric fractures. This study shows that open reduction is not associated with a higher complication rate but does lead to increased mobility 7 days after operation. Therefore, in case of doubt, a good reduction should be aimed for, even using open techniques.

This study analyzed the outcome of orthogeriatric patients with hip fracture 4 months after surgery. The overall mortality rate was 12.2%. Sixty-five percent presented a degradation in walking ability, and 16% had to move to a nursing home. Early geriatric rehabilitation reduces the mortality rate and increases the rate of anti-osteoporotic treatment., Purpose: Hip fractures are increasingly common with severe consequences. Therefore, the German Trauma Society (DGU) implemented an orthogeriatric co-management and developed the concept for certified Centre for Geriatric Trauma DGU. The patients' treatment data and the optional 120 days of follow-up were collected in the Registry for Geriatric Trauma DGU (ATR-DGU). This study analyzed these 4-month treatment results., Methods: A retrospective analysis of the ATR-DGU was conducted. Outcome parameters were the rate of readmission, rate of re-surgery, anti-osteoporotic therapy, housing, mortality, walking ability, and quality of life (QoL) 120 days post-surgery. The influence of the early geriatric rehabilitation (EGR) was evaluated using a regression analysis., Results: The follow-up data from 9780 patients were included. After 120 days, the mortality rate was 12.2%, the readmission rate 4%, and the re-surgery rate 3%. The anti-osteoporotic treatment increased from 20% at admission to 32%; 65% of the patients had a degradation in walking ability, and 16% of the patients who lived in their domestic environment pre-surgery had to move to a nursing home. QoL was distinctly reduced. The EGR showed a positive influence of anti-osteoporotic treatment (p<0.001) and mortality (p=0.011) but led to a slight reduction in QoL (p=0.026)., Conclusion: The 4-month treatment results of the ATR-DGU are comparable to international studies. The EGR led to a significant rise in anti-osteoporotic treatment and a reduction in mortality with a slight reduction in QoL.

Background: The COVID 19 pandemic is a major challenge to all social systems, particularly the healthcare system. Within an international study, German Trauma Centres DGU and Geriatric Trauma Centres DGU have been questioned about their situation., Method: The questionnaire was translated from English into German and sent to all contacts. The evaluation was performed descriptively., Results: 71 of 692 centres participated in this study. Government instructions to avoid elective treatments have been adhered to by 68% of the hospitals, and the remaining performed only urgent elective treatments. There was also a decline in the number of traumatological patients. In more than 90% of the hospitals, only 0 - 4% of all patients treated for proximal femur fracture were tested positive for COVID-19. It appears that 84% of these hospitals have or will have financial deficits. Almost all hospitals were organised and ready to fight the pandemic with their personal and/or infrastructural resources they possess., Conclusion: Our questionnaire shows that the pandemic had an enormous effect on Trauma Centres DGU and Geriatric Trauma Centres DGU. The hospitals expect financial losses. Almost all the hospitals have provided personal and infrastructural resources to be used in the fight against the pandemic with a better outcome in Germany in comparison with international standards., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest./Die Autorinnen/Autoren geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background: Time-to-surgery in geriatric hip fractures remains of interest. The majority of the literature reports a significantly decreased mortality rate after early surgery. Nevertheless, there are some studies presenting no effect of time-to-surgery on mortality. The body of literature addressing the effect of an orthogeriatric co-management is growing. Here we investigate the effect of time-to-surgery on in-house mortality in a group of patients treated under the best possible conditions in certified orthogeriatric treatment units., Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort registry analysis from prospectively collected data of the AltersTraumaRegister DGU®. Data were analyzed univariably, and the association of early surgery with in-house mortality was assessed with multivariable logistic regression while controlling for specified patient characteristics. Additionally, propensity score matching for time-to-surgery was applied to examine its effect on the in-house mortality rate., Findings: A total of 15,099 patients met the inclusion criteria. The median age was 85 years (IQR 80-89), and 72.1% were female. The overall in-house mortality rate was 5.5%. Most (71.2%) of the patients were treated within 24 h, and 91.6% within 48 h. Neither the multivariable logistic regression model nor the propensity score matching indicated that early surgery was associated with a decreased mortality rate. The most important indicators for mortality were ASA ≥ 3 [Odds ratio (OR) 3.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.35-5.11], fracture event during inpatient stay (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.48-4.3), ISAR ≥ 2 (OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.33-2.76), and male gender (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.39-2.09)., Interpretation: Our results suggest that for those patients, who were treated in an orthogeriatric co-management under the best possible conditions, there are no significant differences regarding in-house mortality rate between the time-to-surgery intervals of 24 and 48 h or slightly above. This and the comparatively small number of patients who underwent surgery after 24 h show that an extension of the pre-surgery interval, justified by an orthogeriatric treatment team, will not be detrimental to the affected patients., Competing Interests: Declaration Competing Interest We declare that we have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Patients suffering from complications during inpatient treatment after hip fracture surgery are associated with a worse mid-term outcome. While surgically treatable complications only delay the healing process, internal complications seem to worsen the outcome in the long run. All complications come with significant increased costs during the hospital stay., Purpose: Due to the demographic changes, the importance of hip fractures is still increasing nowadays. Not only surgical but also medical complications represent a major challenge in the treatment of those patients. Nevertheless, only few is known about the functional, medical, and economic consequences of complications., Methods: A total of 402 hip fracture patients ≥ 60 years were observed prospectively at a German university hospital. Complications were assessed during the inpatient stay and classified by Clavien and Dindo. Afterwards their influence on acute care costs was examined as well as their influence on the mortality, health-related quality of life (HRQL) (EQ5D), functional capacities (Barthel index), and mobility (Tinetti score) in the follow-up periods of 6 and 12 months., Results: Complications that required surgical revision/treatment (type III) were associated with an increased 6 months' mortality, while type II and IV complications did not influence mortality after 6 and 12 months. Six months after surgery, HRQL, Barthel score, and Tinetti score were reduced in patients suffering from all different types of complications. After 12 months however, HRQL, Barthel score, and Tinetti score following type II and IV complications remained reduced, while the scores improved in patients suffering from type III complication. All types of complications led to significantly increased acute care costs., Conclusions: The results of the present study emphasize the crucial role of perioperative complications in older patients with hip fractures. Therefore, special attention has to be given to the prevention of those complications, e.g., with orthogeriatric treatment models, which have been shown to be effective in the reduction of complications.

Background: Orthogeriatric co-management of proximal femoral fractures has been proven to effectively reduce mortality rates. This involves extending resources in hospitals treating these patients as well as dealing with the possibility of prolonged periods of hospitalization. The increase in costs of orthogeriatric co-management are best illustrated by the implementation of geriatric early rehabilitation complex treatment. In view of the problems concerning billing this complex treatment, an online survey was carried among certified geriatric trauma centers of the German Trauma Society (DGU®)., Methods: Based on a trauma-geriatric consensus 20 questions were formulated by the Academy of Trauma Surgery (AUC) as an online questionnaire and sent to all 75 certified geriatric trauma centers. Apart from a description of the results, a subanalysis based on the figures presented by the case closing departments (geriatrics or trauma surgery) was included. The questions covered a 2-year period of experiences from 2016 to 2018., Results: A total of 26 of the 75 certified geriatric trauma centers participated (35%). A continuous increase in cost analysis evaluations by the medical services of the health funds was observed. A rise from 38% in 2016 to 45% in 2018 was seen. An analogous rejection trend from 16% to 24% during this period was evident as well. Subanalysis revealed significantly higher cost evaluation by the medical services of the health funds and cost rejection rates if trauma departments were the case closing disciplines., Conclusion: The online survey revealed significantly higher assessment and rejection rates when compared to other hospital services. This could prove potentially detrimental to the future of orthogeriatric co-management.

Background: Geriatric trauma centers which are certified to the status of a Geriatic Trauma Center DGU® based on the criteria catalogue as outlined by the German Trauma Society (DGU), are required to participate in the Geriatric Trauma Register (ATR-DGU) for quality management and outcome analyses. The evaluation is pseudoanonymous and includes data on all treated hip fracture patients over 70 years old. This has been in regular use since 2016. This study analyzed the postoperative evaluation of gait, mortality, quality of life, hospital readmission and treatment of osteoporosis after 120 days., Methods: A voluntary retrospective data evaluation of the ATR-DGU 120-day follow-up from 2017 was carried out. Written consent for the analysis and publication of the data was obtained from six clinics that already participated in the follow-up. The primary target parameters were mortality rate, readmission and revision rates, gait quality, osteoporosis treatment and quality of life according to EQ-5D-3L. The patient data were completely pseudonymized and a descriptive analysis was carried out., Results: In this study 957 patients from the 6 hospitals were included. The average age was 84.5 years (±6.8 years). The mortality rate during the acute treatment phase was 5%. The 120-day follow-up could be evaluated in 412 patients, 10% of these required hospital readmission due to complications oft he same fracture and of these 6% required revision surgery. The mortality rate at 120 days was 12%. In 54% of the patients the fracture led to deterioration of mobility and 49% of patients received osteoporosis treatment after 120 days. The results of the EQ-5D-3L at 120 days revealed improvement as compared to the values on postoperative day 7; however, the preoperative status with respect to mobility and quality of life could not be regained., Conclusion: Despite the clear advantages of interdisciplinary treatment, the results are still limited concerning mobilization and quality of life. Further analysis of causative and influencing factors is necessary.

Background: Whether enhanced prehospital volume therapy leads to outcome improvements in severely injured patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of prehospital volume therapy on the clinical course of severely injured patients with severe TBI., Methods: Data for 122,672 patients from TraumaRegister DGU ® (TR-DGU) was analyzed. Inclusion criteria were defined as follows: Injury Severety Score (ISS) ≥ 16, primary admission, age ≥ 16 years, Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) head ≥3, administration of at least one unit of packed red blood cells (pRBCs), and available volume and blood pressure data. Stratification based on the following matched-pair criteria was performed: group 1: prehospital volumes of 0-1000 ml; group 2: prehospital volumes of ≥1501 ml; AIS head (3, 4, 5 + 6 and higher than for other body regions); age (16-54, 55-69, ≥ 70 years); gender; prehospital intubation (yes/no); emergency treatment time +/- 30 min.; rescue resources (rescue helicopter, emergency ambulance); blood pressure (20-60, 61-90, ≥ 91 mmHg); year of accident (2002-2005, 2006-2009, 2010-2012); AIS thorax, abdomen, and extremities plus pelvis., Results: A total of 169 patients per group fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Increasing volume administration was associated with reduced coagulation capability and reduced hemoglobin (Hb) levels (prothrombin ratio: group 1: 68%, group 2: 63.7%; p ≤ 0.04; Hb: group 1: 11.2 mg/dl, group 2: 10.2 mg/dl; p ≤ 0.001). It was not possible to show a significant reduction in the mortality rate with increasing volumes (group 1: 45.6, group 2: 45.6; p = 1)., Conclusions: The data presented in this study demonstrates that prehospital volume administration of more than 1500 ml does not improve severely injured patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Background: Various injuries in kitesurfing (KS) have been reported so far. The aim of this study was to validate the effect of different kite designs and safety equipment on the injury rate compared to older studies., Methods: A retrospective epidemiological study based on an anonymous face-to-face survey was conducted amongst active kitesurfers. The questionnaire consisted of 66 questions focusing on the equipment used, injury rates, overuse injuries and gender differences. A stepwise Poisson-Model was used to identify injury-associated factors., Results: A total of 202 kitesurfers with a mean age of 31.8±9.1 years and 698.2±931.5 hours of KS experience were included. 2613 injuries were recorded (18.5/1000 hours KS). Almost 50% were hematomas, bruises or cuts. 3.9% of all injuries (0.71/1000 hours KS) were time-loss injuries of more than one week. Female kitesurfers had a significantly greater injury rate, were less experienced and fewer of them used C-kites. Height, weight, primary kite spot, experience, physical activity, warm-up/stretching, the type of kite and control bar used, and the use of a board leash were independent factors associated to injury rate. The lower extremity, the elbow, thorax and abdomen were at risk for overuse injuries., Conclusions: An influence of equipment on injuries could be statistically shown. The overall injury rate in KS did not decline in the last decades, but time-loss injuries did.

Background: At present, there is a high percentage and increasing tendency of patients presenting with orthogeriatric injuries. Moreover, significant comorbidities often exist, requiring increased interdisciplinary treatment. These developments have led the German Society of Trauma Surgery, in cooperation with the German Society of Geriatrics, to establish geriatric trauma centers., Methods: As a conglomerate hospital at two locations, we are cooperating with two external geriatric clinics. In 2015, a geriatric trauma center certification in the form of a conglomerate network structure was agreed upon for the first time in Germany. For this purpose, the requirements for certification were observed. Both structure and organization were defined in a manual according to DIN EN ISO 9001:2015., Results: Between 2008 and 2016, an increase of 70% was seen in geriatric trauma cases in our hospital, with a rise of up to 360% in specific diagnoses. The necessary standards and regulations were compiled and evaluated from our hospitals. After successful certification, improvements were necessary, followed by a planned re-audit. These were prepared by multiprofessional interdisciplinary teams and implemented at all locations., Conclusions: A network structure can be an alternative to classical cooperation between trauma and geriatric units in one clinic and help reduce possible staffing shortage. Due to the lack of scientific evidence, future evaluations of the geriatric trauma register should reveal whether network structures in geriatric trauma surgery lead to a valid improvement in medical care.

Background: In the last decades, a reduction in mortality in severely injured patients with an ISS ≥ 16 could be observed. Some authors report a death rate of about 22 %. Moreover, there were some new insights in the last years such as the reduction in mortality by use of whole-body CT and the introduction of the S3 guideline of the German Society of Trauma Surgery "Treatment of Patients with Severe and Multiple Injuries" have supported the evidence-based treatment of severely injured patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 2304 patients was performed between 2002 and 2011. The data of the authors' clinic for the trauma registry of the DGU® were used. After applying the inclusion criteria, ISS ≥ 16 and primary transfer from the accident site, 968 patients remained. Results: In the study population, a mean ISS of 29.81 and a mean GCS of 9.42 were found. The average age was 46.04 years. The mortality rate was 28.7 %. A significant difference between decedents and survivors was found at the ISS, GCS, RTS, new ISS, TRISS, RISC, AIS head, AIS skin, RR pre-clinical, pre-clinical heart rate and age. To test whether the lethality was reduced by the increased use of whole-body CT, a division into a group prior to and from 2009 was performed. Results revealed a significant increase in the whole-body CT rate from 56.96 to 71.7 %. The mortality rate declined from 32.3 to 24.5 %. In the same way it was verified whether the S3 guideline had an impact on mortality. Therefore, a division into groups before and from 2011 was conducted. Here, the mortality rate decreased from 30.4 to 18.4 %. In addition, a comparison between 2010 and 2011 was performed. Overall, there were statistically significant differences in the trauma room time, the surgical time, the volume infused, the rate of multiple organ failure and the rate of whole-body CTs performed. Conclusion: In the period from 2002 to 2011 a mortality rate of 28.7 % was found. The higher rate in comparison to published data is most likely explained by the high rate of serious and severe head injuries. The increased use of whole-body CT and the introduction of the S3 guideline led to a significant decrease in mortality in the authors' patient population. This is due particularly to the accelerating of the treatment of severely injured patients, the reduction of the infused volume, shortened surgical phase within the first 24 hours and the increased use of whole-body CT., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Objective. The aim of this study was to identify routinely available clinical surrogate markers for potential clotting factor alterations following multiple trauma. Methods. In 68 patients admitted directly from the scene of the accident, all soluble clotting factors were analyzed and clinical data was collected prospectively. Ten healthy subjects served as control group. Results. Patients showed reduced activities of clotting factors II, V, VII, and X and calcium levels (all P < 0.0001 to 0.01). Levels of hemoglobin and base deficit correlated moderately to highly with the activities of a number of clotting factors. Nonsurvivors and patients who needed preclinical intubation or hemostatic therapy showed significantly reduced factor activities at admission. In contrast, factor VIII activity was markedly elevated after injury in general (P < 0.0001), but reduced in nonsurvivors (P < 0.05). Conclusions. Multiple trauma causes an early reduction of the activities of nearly all soluble clotting factors in general. Initial hemoglobin and, with certain qualifications, base deficit levels demonstrated a potential value in detecting those underlying clotting factor deficiencies. Nevertheless, their role as triggers of a hemostatic therapy as well as the observed response of factor VIII to multiple trauma and also its potential prognostic value needs further evaluation.

Purpose: Gender-specific differences in trauma patients have been reported in several studies. There is a lack of knowledge about differences in therapy and laboratory parameters. The objective of this study is to analyze differences between genders, confirming the therapy and laboratory parameters. Additionally, predictors for mortality were validated., Methods: Patients on primary admission to the hospital between 2002 and 2012 with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥ 16 were included. 1073 patients met the inclusion criteria. Comparisons and matched-pair analyses between deceased and survived females, males, and between deceased females and males were conducted., Results: The analyzed laboratory parameters differed between genders, especially the base excess, lactate, and coagulation parameters. In particular, females presented values that were normal or only slightly pathological. The prothrombin ratio was 75.3% in female and 63.2% in male (p = 0.027) and lactate 2.5 mmol/l in female and 3.8 mmol/l in male (p = 0.049). No differences between genders could be found in the initial treatment of severely injured patients. Only the infused volume differed between genders with 1178.2 ml in male and 793.6 ml in female (p = 0.02). The known predictors for mortality, lactate, and prothrombin ratio could not be validated in female trauma patients., Conclusions: No gender differences, except the infused volume, in the treatment of severely injured patients could be found. Differences in laboratory tests, especially base excess, lactate, and coagulation parameters were found. As these parameters are also used as predictors of mortality in trauma patients, gender-specific cut-offs of these laboratory tests might be necessary to avoid underestimating injured women.

Introduction: Traumatic injuries are amongst the leading causes of death worldwide, frequently as a result of uncontrolled hemorrhage. Critical deficiencies in clotting factors have been noted in trauma-induced coagulopathy. However, the exact underlying conditions that result in devastating coagulopathies remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to elucidate these underlying deficiencies., Methods: Blood samples were drawn from 45 severely injured trauma patients on their arrival at the resuscitation room, and the activities of all soluble clotting factors and routine coagulation tests were assessed. The Mann-Whitney-U-test was used to assess differences in coagulation activity between the patients and healthy controls. Furthermore, Spearman's rank correlation was used to analyze the blood work., Results: After severe trauma the levels of serum fibrinogen and calcium were significantly reduced. Furthermore, traumatized patients had a significantly increased International Normalized Ratio (INR) compared to healthy controls. The median activities of all clotting factors were reduced after severe multiple trauma, with the exception of factor VIII, which was increased. Statistically significant differences were observed for factors II (80 vs. 122 %, P < 0.0001), V (76 vs. 123 %, P < 0.0001), VII (90 vs. 114 %, P = 0.002), VIII (200 vs. 108 %, P < 0.0001), and X (86 vs. 122 %, P < 0.0001). Spearman's correlation indicated a significant negative correlation between INR on arrival with fibrinogen and levels of factors II, V, and VII, whereas Partial Thromboplastin Time was significantly negatively correlated with factor VIII (all P < 0.0001)., Conclusions: These findings suggest a general but rather moderate impairment of clotting factor activities following severe multiple trauma. In the concept of a calculated coagulation therapy, this could demand for the use of factor concentrates with higher ratios of clotting factors. Finally, the physiological importance of strongly elevated factor VIII activity remains unclear, but a possible interference with ex vivo measurements of Partial Thromboplastin Time has to be considered.

Background: Prehospital volume therapy remains widely used after trauma, while evidence regarding its disadvantages is growing. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the volume administered in a prehospital setting as an independent risk factor for mortality., Material and Methods: Patients who met the following criteria were analyzed retrospectively: Injury Severity Score=16, primary admission (between 2002 and 2010), and age=16 years. The following data had to be available: volume administered (including packed red cells), blood pressure, Glasgow Coma Scale, therapeutic measures, and laboratory results. Following a univariate analysis, independent risk factors for mortality after trauma were investigated using a multivariate regression analysis., Results: A collective of 7,641 patients met the inclusion criteria, showing that increasing volumes administered in a prehospital setting were an independent risk factor for mortality (odds ratio: 1.34). This tendency was even more pronounced in patients without severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) (odds ratio: 2.71), while the opposite tendency was observed in patients with TBI., Conclusions: Prehospital volume therapy in patients without severe TBI represents an independent risk factor for mortality. In such cases, respiratory and circulatory conditions should be stabilized during permissive hypotension, and patient transfer should not be delayed.