ABSTRACT
AIM: Aim of the study was to determine the rate of injuries detectable by ultrasonography in patients suffering from blunt thoracic trauma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ultrasonography of the thorax was prospectively performed in patients with blunt chest trauma additionally to the routine radiological diagnostic procedures. A comparison between ultrasonography and chest x-ray findings referring to the rate of detection of fractures and pleural effusions was performed. RESULTS: 100 patients were enrolled in the study. 23 of them were examined within 24 hours after the trauma, the remaining 77 were examined with a delay of more than 24 hours. The findings detectable by ultrasonography were the following: fractured rib 65%, fracture of sternum 7%, fracture of clavicle 1%, rib fracture with callus 3%, haematoma of the chest wall 11%, pleural effusion 37%, pneumothorax 1%, atelectasis 8%, pneumonia 1%, lung contusion 18%, splenic rupture 3%. Rib fractures were detected in 36% of the patients and pleural effusions were detected in 11%, respectively, by chest x-ray. CONCLUSION: Rib fractures and pleural effusions are commonly diagnosed by ultrasonography in patients with blunt thoracic trauma. Concerning the diagnosis of rib fractures (65% versus 36%) and pleural effusions (37% versus 11%), ultrasonography is superior to chest-x-ray. A new and remarkable result is that subpleural infiltrates which are supposed to be lung contusions are also detectable by ultrasonography.
Subject(s)
Fractures, Bone/diagnostic imaging , Thoracic Injuries/diagnostic imaging , Wounds, Nonpenetrating/diagnostic imaging , Clavicle/diagnostic imaging , Humans , Lung/diagnostic imaging , Reproducibility of Results , Rib Fractures/diagnostic imaging , Sternum/diagnostic imaging , Sternum/injuries , Time Factors , UltrasonographyABSTRACT
Since 1984 we have done over the top repair of the acutely torn anterior cruciate ligament combined with augmentation by McIntosh lateral-substitution over the top procedure with iliotibial band in view of frequent instabilities following simple reconstruction. After treatment by continuous passive motion and early weight bearing is possible. The results at review were good. This method is recommended to avoid the risk of rerupture.
Subject(s)
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries , Athletic Injuries/surgery , Joint Instability/surgery , Knee Injuries/surgery , Anterior Cruciate Ligament/surgery , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Postoperative Complications/surgery , Range of Motion, Articular/physiology , ReoperationABSTRACT
Of 174 patients suffering from an insufficiency of the anterior cruciate ligament who had been treated between 1974 and 1987 at the Hohenems hospital by ligament plasty, 33 (18.9%) showed a significant dilation and raising of the median tubercle of the intercondylar eminence without any other arthrotic changes. Of the 35 cases where the trauma had occurred more than three years ago, 21 (39.6%) showed this sign, which, therefore, can be considered as a diagnostic pointer.
