Outcomes of polytrauma patients with diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: The impact of diabetes mellitus in patients with multiple system injuries remains obscure. This study was designed to increase knowledge of outcomes of polytrauma in patients who have diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Data from the Trauma Audit and Research Network was used to identify patients who had suffered polytrauma during 2003 to 2011. These patients were filtered to those with known outcomes, then separated into those with diabetes, those known to have other co-morbidities but not diabetes and those known not to have any co-morbidities or diabetes. The data were analyzed to establish if patients with diabetes had differing outcomes associated with their diabetes versus the other groups. RESULTS: In total, 222 patients had diabetes, 2,558 had no past medical co-morbidities (PMC), 2,709 had PMC but no diabetes. The diabetic group of patients was found to be older than the other groups (P <0.05). A higher mortality rate was found in the diabetic group compared to the non-PMC group (32.4% versus 12.9%), P <0.05). Rates of many complications including renal failure, myocardial infarction, acute respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis were all found to be higher in the diabetic group. CONCLUSIONS: Close monitoring of diabetic patients may result in improved outcomes. Tighter glycemic control and earlier intervention for complications may reduce mortality and morbidity

Tratamento da pseudo-artrose do terço distal do rádio Treatment of nounion in the third distal of the radio

Os autores apresentaram um estudo prospectivo de quatro pacientes portadores de pseudo-artrose no terço distal do rádio. Dois eram do sexo feminino e dois do masculino, com idade média de 42,5 anos. O diagnóstico de pseudo-artrose foi realizado em média com 5,3 meses após o trauma. Um paciente apresentava, como antecedente mórbido pessoal, epilepsia e osteoporose, outros dois relataram tabagismo e obesidade e o quarto, fratura exposta. O tratamento consistiu de osteossíntese interna e enxertia com osso autógeno. Todos foram submetidos à avaliação clínica pré e pós-operatória quanto à força de preensão palmar e arco de movimentos do punho. Houve 100% de consolidação das fraturas do terço distal do rádio em pseudo-artrose e retorno dos pacientes às atividades profissionais.<br>The authors presented a prospective study of four patients presenting pseudarthrosis at the distal third of the radius. Two patients were females and two were males, aged between 29 and 51 years with a mean age of 42.5 year old. The diagnosis of pseudarthrosis was provided within an average of 5.3 months after trauma. One patient presented as personal morbid history, epilepsy and osteoporosis, two patients were smokers and obese, and the fourth had an open fracture. The treatment consisted of internal osteosynthesis and autogenous bone graft. All patients were submitted to pre- and post operative clinical evaluation for palmar holding force and movement arch of the wrist. 100% of the radius distal-third fractures in pseudarthrosis have been united, with all patients returning to their respective professional activities