Treatment of pelvic fractures - a national survey.

INTRODUCTION: This survey was conducted during the 38(th) Brazilian Congress of Orthopaedics and Traumatology to identify the opinion of Brazilian orthopaedic surgeons on the standard treatment of pelvic fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants were randomly selected and invited to voluntarily answer a questionnaire of 10 multiple choice questions addressing the main aspects of the treatment of pelvic fractures: classification, fixation methods in unstable patients, optimal surgical timing in stable patients, and fixation methods in different types of anterior and posterior pelvic injuries. RESULTS/CONCLUSION: Three hundred and fifty-two questionnaires were completed, and the following main observations were made: most orthopaedists prefer to use an external fixator in the iliac crest for the emergency stabilisation of pelvic injuries in haemodynamically unstable patients (79.5%); they consider a period of up to one week as optimal for fixation in stable patients (55.1%); they use a plate for the fixation of fractures of the iliopubic rami through a Pfannenstiel or ilio-inguinal approach (53.9%); and they use reconstruction plates for the fixation of fractures of the iliac wing (63.1%). Regarding other studied aspects, there was no predominance of more than 50% of the choices among respondents.

Tratamento das fraturas da diáfise dos ossos do antebraço em crianças e adolescentes / Treatment of forearm fractures in children and adolescents

OBJETIVO: O tratamento e os desvios angulares tolerados nas fraturas diafisárias do antebraço em crianças evoca opiniões divergentes na literatura. Frente a esta indefinição, idealizamos este trabalho com o objetivo de avaliar transversalmente os métodos terapêuticos preferenciais para esta lesão durante o 39º Congresso Brasileiro de Ortopedia e Traumatologia. MÉTODO: Foram respondidos 759 questionários (13 por cento do total de inscritos). Abordamos os aspectos gerais da amostra estudada para traçar o perfil do ortopedista questionado. Foram expostas duas situações clínicas em indivíduos de 12 (CASO 1) e 5 anos (CASO 2), sendo apresentadas radiografias com fraturas do antebraço destes pacientes. Os dados obtidos foram compilados e submetidos à análise estatística. RESULTADO: O tratamento mais indicado no CASO 1 foi redução incruenta e fixação com fios de Kirschner (26 por cento), enquanto no CASO 2 foi redução incruenta seguida de aparelho gessado (46 por cento). CONCLUSÃO: Entre os ortopedistas com menos de 30 anos, a escolha por tratamentos menos invasivos e aceitação de maiores angulações prevaleceu para ambos os casos. Os traumatologistas aceitam menor angulação e tendem aos tratamentos invasivos, particularmente para o CASO 2. Já o ortopedista pediátrico opta por tratamentos menos invasivos e aceita maiores desvios angulares.

OBJECTIVE: The treatment and the angular deviations tolerated in diaphyseal forearm fractures in children evoke divergent opinions in literature. In view of this controversy, we idealized this study to evaluate the preferred treatment methods for this injury, during the 39th Brazilian Congress on Orthopedics and Traumatology. METHODS: A total 759 questionnaires were answered (13 percent of total entrants). We addressed the general aspects of the study sample to obtain a profile of the orthopedic surgeons questioned. RESULTS: Two clinical subjects were presented, aged 12 (CASE 1) and 5 years old (CASE 2), along with radiographs depicting forearm diaphyseal fractures of these patients. Data was gathered and submitted to statistical analysis. The overall preferred treatment in CASE 1 was closed reduction and fixation with Kirschner wires (26 percent), while in case 2 it was closed reduction followed by plaster cast (46 percent). CONCLUSION: Among orthopedic surgeons less than 30 years old, the choice for less invasive treatments and greater acceptance of angular values prevailed in both cases. The traumatologists accepted lower angular values and tended towards more invasive treatments, particularly for CASE 2. On the other hand, the pediatric orthopedic surgeon prefers less invasive treatments and accepts greater angular deviations.