External fixation is widely used in orthopaedic
and trauma surgery. Infections around pin or wire sites, which are usually
localised, non-invasive, and are easily managed, are common. Occasionally,
more serious invasive complications such as necrotising fasciitis
(NF) and toxic shock syndrome (TSS) may occur. We retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent external
fixation between 1997 and 2012 in our limb lengthening and reconstruction
programme. A total of eight patients (seven female and one male)
with a mean age of 20 years (5 to 45) in which pin/wire track infections
became limb- or life-threatening were identified. Of these, four
were due to TSS and four to NF. Their management is described. A
satisfactory outcome was obtained with early diagnosis and aggressive
medical and surgical treatment. Clinicians caring for patients who have external fixation and
in whom infection has developed should be aware of the possibility
of these more serious complications. Early diagnosis and aggressive
treatment are required in order to obtain a satisfactory outcome. Cite this article:
Single-event multilevel surgery (SEMLS) has been used as an effective
intervention in children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (BSCP)
for 30 years. To date there is no evidence for SEMLS in adults with
BSCP and the intervention remains focus of debate. This study analysed the short-term outcome (mean 1.7 years, standard
deviation 0.9) of 97 ambulatory adults with BSCP who performed three-dimensional
gait analysis before and after SEMLS at one institution. Aims
Methods
Currently, there is no animal model in which
to evaluate the underlying physiological processes leading to the heterotopic
ossification (HO) which forms in most combat-related and blast wounds.
We sought to reproduce the ossification that forms under these circumstances
in a rat by emulating patterns of injury seen in patients with severe
injuries resulting from blasts. We investigated whether exposure
to blast overpressure increased the prevalence of HO after transfemoral
amputation performed within the zone of injury. We exposed rats
to a blast overpressure alone (BOP-CTL), crush injury and femoral
fracture followed by amputation through the zone of injury (AMP-CTL)
or a combination of these (BOP-AMP). The presence of HO was evaluated
using radiographs, micro-CT and histology. HO developed in none
of nine BOP-CTL, six of nine AMP-CTL, and in all 20 BOP-AMP rats.
Exposure to blast overpressure increased the prevalence of HO. This model may thus be used to elucidate cellular and molecular
pathways of HO, the effect of varying intensities of blast overpressure,
and to evaluate new means of prophylaxis and treatment of heterotopic
ossification. Cite this article:
