Bilateral anterior dislocation of the shoulders at the start of a backstroke competition

Bilateral anterior dislocation of the shoulders is very rare. A 20-year-old man presented with bilateral anterior shoulder dislocation as a result of a diving incident. He complained of pain and restriction of movement in both shoulders with abducted and externally rotated arms. Radiographs revealed that the shoulders were dislocated. The patient was treated with closed reduction and was able to resume swimming 3 months later. To our knowledge, this is the first bilateral anterior dislocation of the shoulders during a backstroke swimming competition that was caused by this mechanism of injury. The rarity of this lesion and its uncommon mechanism prompted us to relate this observation

Prognostic model to predict postoperative acute kidney injury in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery based on a national prospective observational cohort study.

Background: Acute illness, existing co-morbidities and surgical stress response can all contribute to postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery. The aim of this study was prospectively to develop a pragmatic prognostic model to stratify patients according to risk of developing AKI after major gastrointestinal surgery. Methods: This prospective multicentre cohort study included consecutive adults undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection, liver resection or stoma reversal in 2-week blocks over a continuous 3-month period. The primary outcome was the rate of AKI within 7 days of surgery. Bootstrap stability was used to select clinically plausible risk factors into the model. Internal model validation was carried out by bootstrap validation. Results: A total of 4544 patients were included across 173 centres in the UK and Ireland. The overall rate of AKI was 14·2 per cent (646 of 4544) and the 30-day mortality rate was 1·8 per cent (84 of 4544). Stage 1 AKI was significantly associated with 30-day mortality (unadjusted odds ratio 7·61, 95 per cent c.i. 4·49 to 12·90; P < 0·001), with increasing odds of death with each AKI stage. Six variables were selected for inclusion in the prognostic model: age, sex, ASA grade, preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate, planned open surgery and preoperative use of either an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker. Internal validation demonstrated good model discrimination (c-statistic 0·65). Discussion: Following major gastrointestinal surgery, AKI occurred in one in seven patients. This preoperative prognostic model identified patients at high risk of postoperative AKI. Validation in an independent data set is required to ensure generalizability

Synthetic versus plaster of Paris casts in the treatment of fractures of the forearm in children: a randomised trial of clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction

Fractures of the forearm (radius or ulna or both) in children have traditionally been immobilised in plaster of Paris (POP) but synthetic cast materials are becoming more popular. There have been no randomised studies comparing the efficacy of these two materials. The aim of this study was to investigate which cast material is superior for the management of these fractures. We undertook a single-centre prospective randomised trial involving 199 patients with acute fractures of the forearm requiring general anaesthesia for reduction. Patients were randomised by sealed envelope into either a POP or synthetic group and then underwent routine closed reduction and immobilisation in a cast. The patients were reviewed at one and six weeks. A satisfaction questionnaire was completed following the removal of the cast. All clinical complications were recorded and the cast indices were calculated. There was an increase in complications in the POP group. These complications included soft areas of POP requiring revision and loss of reduction with some requiring re-manipulation. There was an increased mean padding index in the fractures that lost reduction. Synthetic casts were preferred by the patients. This study indicates that the clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction are superior using synthetic casts with no reduction in safety.M. Inglis, B. McClelland, L. M. Sutherland, P. J. Cund

Predicting redisplacement after manipulation of paediatric distal radius fractures: the importance of cast moulding.

INTRODUCTION The majority of displaced distal radius fractures are managed by closed reduction and cast immobilisation. Redisplacement is associated with initial displacement, imperfect reduction and quality of cast. The aim of this study was to establish which factors predict the risk of redisplacement. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective analysis between September 2010 and April 2013 of children who underwent closed manipulation and cast immobilisation for a distal third radius fracture was performed. Open fractures, those treated with fixation, and cases with associated dislocations or physeal injuries were excluded. Initial fracture translation and angulation, the distance from the physis and the presence of an ulna fracture were recorded. Intra-operative radiographs were analysed to assess reduction, the cast index and gap index. Clinic records and post-operative radiographs were reviewed to identify redisplacement or further surgical intervention. RESULTS During the study period, 107 children underwent closed reduction and casting: 82 boys (76.6 %) and 25 girls (23.4 %), and the mean age of the group was 10 years. Twenty-nine children (27 %) suffered a radiographic redisplacement although only five children underwent a second surgical intervention. Statistically significant risk factors for redisplacement were initial fracture translation (p < 0.001), success of reduction (p < 0.001) and associated ulna fracture (p = 0.021). Both the mean cast index (0.81 vs. 0.78) and mean gap index (0.16 vs. 0.14) were higher in the redisplaced group, but this did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION Closed reduction and immobilisation of paediatric distal radius fractures is associated with a high redisplacement rate. Initial fracture type and success of reduction are key risk factors