Budućnost hrvatske zajednice i hrvatskog identiteta u Australiji

The Croatian community in Australia is in a state of demographic transition because it is adjusting to the establishment of Croatian sovereignty. The Croatian-born population in Australia is ageing and, consequently, during the next decade the number of Croatian-born in Australia will dramatically decrease. Previously, the Croatian community effort in Australia was focused on achieving Croatian independence, as well as establishing clubs, sporting venues and Catholic parishes throughout Australia. The focus now is on preserving the Croatian community and identity in Australia. There are also efforts at building links with Croatian institutions in Croatia. This article analyses the current status of the Croatian community in Australia and investigates what can be learnt from the experience of other Croatian communities in the diaspora. It argues that to ensure a strong Croatian community in Australia in the future the second and subsequent generations of Croatians will need to take a more active role in preserving the Croatian community and identity in Australia. This has already begun through second-generation Croatians taking a more active role in club activities. This article also recommends strategies to help preserve the Croatian community and identity in Australia beyond this generational transition.Sažetak Hrvatska zajednica u Australiji u stanju je demografske tranzicije jer se prilagođava uspostavljanju hrvatske državnosti. Australska populacija Hrvata rođenih u Hrvatskoj starije je životne dobi pa će shodno tome tijekom sljedećeg desetljeća njihov broj biti u dramatičnom opadanju. Ranija su nastojanja hrvatske zajednice u Australiji bila usredotočena na postizanje hrvatske nezavisnosti, kao i na osnivanje klubova, sportskih objekata i katoličkih župa diljem Australije. Današnja su nastojanja usmjerena ka očuvanju hrvatske zajednice i identiteta u Australiji. Trud se također ulaže u izgradnju veza s hrvatskim institucijama u Hrvatskoj. Ovaj članak razmatra trenutni status hrvatske zajednice u Australiji te istražuje što se može naučiti iz iskustava drugih hrvatskih zajednica dijaspore. Sugerira da će u svrhu održanja čvrste hrvatske zajednice u Australiji i u budućnosti, druga i sljedeće generacije Hrvata morati preuzeti aktivniju ulogu u očuvanju hrvatske zajednice i identiteta u Australiji. Taj je proces već započeo od strane druge generacije Hrvata koji su aktivniji u klupskim programima. Ovaj članak također preporuča strategije koje bi pomogle očuvanju hrvatske zajednice i identiteta u Australiji, bez obzira na ovu generacijsku tranziciju

An assessment of outcomes with intramedullary fixation of fractured ribs

BACKGROUND: Surgical management of fractured ribs with internal fixation is an increasingly accepted therapy. Concurrently, specific rib fixation prostheses are being developed which should improve results and minimise hardware and rib/splint construct failures. The Synthes titanium intramedullary splint lends itself to difficult to access areas such as posterior rib fractures and fractures under the scapula. We analyse a case series of patients in whom this rib fixation prosthesis has been used. METHODS: Fifteen patients received 35 intramedullary splints. Follow up at 3 and 6 months was performed with three dimensional computed tomography scanning to assess for bone alignment, callus formation and healing, residual deformity, hardware failure or cut through. Computerized finite element analysis (FEA) was used to model forces acting on a posterior fracture with and without an intramedullary fixation splint in situ. RESULTS: Complete healing (bony union) was noted in only 3 (9 %) of the fractures fixed with splints by 3 months. Partial healing (cartilaginous union) was noted in 28 of the 33 fractures (85 %), and non healing was noted in only 2 (6 %). In both those two patients, failure at the rib / splint interface was noted after both patients reported sneezing. No hardware failures were noted. By 6 months the fractures which had shown partial healing, had all completely healed. There were no late failures (between 3 and 6 months) of either hardware or rib/splint interfaces. FEA modelling identified sites of increased stress in the rib at the rib / splint interface and in a modelled intramedullary splint where it spans the fracture. CONCLUSIONS: Further analysis of outcomes with intramedullary splints is warranted as well as further development of intramedullary rib fixation solutions

Stress analysis of a centrally fractured rib fixated by an intramedullary screw

The stress on an intramedullary screw rib fixation device holding together a centrally fractured human rib under in vivo force loadings was studied using finite element analysis (FEA). Validation of the FEA modelling using pullout from porcine ribs proved FEA to be suitable for assessing the structural integrity of screw/bone systems such as rib fixated by a screw. In the human rib fixation investigation, it was found that intramedullary bioresorbable Bioretec screws can fixate centrally fractured human ribs under normal breathing conditions. However, under coughing conditions, simulation showed Bioretec fixating screws to bend substantially. High stresses in the screw are mainly the result of flexion induced by the force loading, and are restricted to thin regions on the outside of the screw shaft. Stiffer screws result in less locally intense stress concentrations in bone, indicating that bone failure in the bone/screw contact regions can be averted with improvements in screw stiffness