ABSTRACT
A retrospective study of 55 patients with sternal fractures is presented in an attempt to determine which investigations are predictive of complications. We conclude that isolated sternal fractures, in the absence of clinical evidence of cardiac or respiratory complications, and with a normal electrocardiogram and postero-anterior chest radiograph, require no further investigation.
Subject(s)
Fractures, Bone/complications , Sternum/injuries , Thoracic Injuries/diagnosis , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Child , Child, Preschool , Electrocardiography , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Middle Aged , Radiography, Thoracic , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
The response to major trauma in Britain has been demonstrated to be inadequate. One of the suggested approaches to tackling the problem has been the setting up of rapid response trauma teams at district general hospitals. We set up such a team in Brighton and report on its first year of operation. Numbers of patients were not sufficient to draw any firm conclusions, though no dramatic improvement in outcome was evident. Problems in setting up such a team are discussed.
Subject(s)
Emergency Medicine , Emergency Service, Hospital/organization & administration , Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care , Patient Care Team , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , England , Hospitals, District/organization & administration , Hospitals, General/organization & administration , Humans , Middle Aged , Survival , Trauma Severity IndicesABSTRACT
Vascular injuries after total hip arthroplasty are occasionally reported, but we have found only two cases of major arterial occlusion, and none at all involving the common femoral artery. We report two cases of occlusion of the common femoral artery after Charnley arthroplasties, one of which resulted in a below-knee amputation.
