A Seat Belt Injury Causing a Large Breast Hematoma: A Case Report

Seat belts with shoulder restraints have decreased the frequency of life-threatening severe chest trauma caused by car accidents. However, the introduction of seat belt legislation has led to an increase in a specific pattern of blunt trauma known as seat belt syndrome, which includes rib, clavicle, spine, and sternum fractures, as well as rupture of hollow pelvic and abdominal viscera, mesenteric tears, and major vessel injuries. The shoulder restraint part of the three-point seat belt commonly rests near or over the female and male breast. A 54-year-old female presented to our emergency department complaining of swelling and pain in her left breast immediately after a traffic accident. The patient had used a seat belt with a shoulder restraint. Bruising was noted along her chest where there had been seat belt contact. Her breast hematoma was most likely caused by breast tissue compression between her rib and the seat belt. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography demonstrated a sizable breast hematoma with active arterial contrast material extravasation, as well as multiple left rib fractures. The patient was conservatively treated with analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs. Complete resolution was achieved, and her breast returned to its normal appearance. Although endovascular treatment and surgical hemostasis have been proposed for the treatment of breast injuries with active bleeding, conservative treatment such as compression hemostasis may be feasible

Osteosynthesis for Geriatric Acetabular Fractures: An Epidemiological and Clinico-Radiological Study Related to Marginal or Roof Impaction

This retrospective study sought to elucidate the incidence rates of roof impaction (RI) and marginal impaction (MI) and radiological and clinical outcomes of open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for RI and MI in geriatric acetabular fractures. The cases of 68 patients aged ≥ 65 years (mean 71 years) treated with ORIF were analyzed. MI was present in 12 fractures (67%) and an RI of the weight-bearing surface was present in 24 (46%) of the potential fracture types. Regarding the reduction quality, 54% of the reductions were graded as anatomical, 37% as imperfect, and 9% as poor. In the clinical evaluations of the 45 patients who had > 1-year follow-up (follow-up rate: 66.2%), 18% were graded as excellent, 53% as good, 16% as fair, and 13% as poor. An anatomic reduction was strongly associated with good or excellent clinical and radiological outcomes. CT was superior to radiographs for detecting the residual displacement postoperatively. Postoperative deep infection occurred in four patients. Three patients (6.7%) underwent a total hip arthroplasty conversion due to secondary osteoarthritis of the hip. We recommend ORIF as the preferred surgical treatment option for displaced acetabular fractures in elderly patients

The Masquelet technique for septic arthritis of the small joint in the hands: Case reports

Septic arthritis in distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints sometimes occurs in association with mucous cysts or after the surgical treatment of mallet fingers. Recently, several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of the Masquelet technique in the treatment of bone defects caused by trauma or infection. However, only few studies have reported the use of this technique for septic arthritis in small joints of the hand, and its effectiveness in treating septic arthritis in DIP joints remains unclear. We report the clinical and radiological outcomes of three patients who were treated with the Masquelet technique for septic arthritis in DIP joints. One patient had uncontrolled diabetes and another had rheumatoid arthritis treated with methotrexate and prednisolone. The first surgical stage involved thorough debridement of the infection site, including the middle and distal phalanx. We placed an external fixator from the middle to the distal phalanx and then packed the cavity of the DIP joint with antibiotic cement bead of polymethylmethacrylate (40 g) including 2 g of vancomycin and 200 mg of minocycline. At 4-6 weeks after the first surgical stage, the infection had cleared, and the second surgical stage was performed. The external fixator and cement bead were carefully removed while carefully preserving the surrounding osteo-induced membrane. The membrane was smooth and nonadherent to the cement block. In the second surgical stage, an autogenous bone graft was harvested from the iliac bone and inserted into the joint space, within the membrane. The bone graft, distal phalanx, and middle phalanx were fixed with Kirschner wires and/or a soft wire. Despite the high risk of infection, bone union was achieved in all patients without recurrence of infection. Although the Masquelet technique requires two surgeries, it can lead to favorable clinical and radiological outcomes for infected small joints of the hand.Septic arthritis in distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints sometimes occurs in association with mucous cysts or after the surgical treatment of mallet fingers. Recently, several studies have demonstrated..

Associations among Preoperative Malnutrition, Muscle Loss, and Postoperative Walking Ability in Intertrochanteric Fractures: A Retrospective Study

Sarcopenia and malnutrition are increasing in older adults and are reported risk factors for functional impairment after hip fracture surgery. This study aimed to investigate the associations between skeletal muscle mass loss, malnutrition, and postoperative walking ability in patients with hip fracture. We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent intertrochanteric fracture surgery at our institute. The psoas muscle index, controlling nutritional status score, and functional ambulation category (FAC) were used to evaluate skeletal muscle mass, nutritional status, and walking ability, respectively. Six months after surgery, walking ability was assessed as either “gait disturbance” or “independent gait”. Multivariate binomial logistic regression analysis, with skeletal muscle mass, nutritional status, and other factors, was used to predict the risk of being assigned to the gait disturbance group. This study included 95 patients (mean age, 85.2 years; 70 women). Sixty-six patients had low skeletal muscle mass, 35 suffered from malnutrition, and 28 had both. Malnutrition and low skeletal muscle mass were significantly associated with postoperative gait disturbance (FAC < 3). Preoperative low skeletal muscle mass and malnutrition were risk factors for postoperative poor walking ability. Further preventive interventions focusing on skeletal muscle mass and nutritional status are required

Association between emergency medical service transport time and survival in patients with traumatic cardiac arrest: a Nationwide retrospective observational study

Background Patients with traumatic cardiac arrest (TCA) are known to have poor prognoses. In 2003, the joint committee of the National Association of EMS Physicians and the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma proposed stopping unsuccessful cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) sustained for > 15 min after TCA. However, in 2013, a specific time-limit for terminating resuscitation was dropped, due to the lack of conclusive studies or data. We aimed to define the association between emergency medical services transport time and survival to demonstrate the survival curve of TCA. Methods A retrospective review of the Japan Trauma Data Bank. Inclusion criteria were age >= 16, at least one trauma with Abbreviated Injury Scale score (AIS) >= 3, and CPR performed in a prehospital setting. Exclusion criteria were burn injury, AIS score of 6 in any region, and missing data. Estimated survival rate and risk ratio for survival were analyzed according to transport time for all patients. Analysis was also performed separately on patients with sustained TCA at arrival. Results Of 292,027 patients in the database, 5336 were included in the study with 4141 sustained TCA. Their median age was 53 years (interquartile range (IQR) 36-70), and 67.2% were male. Their median Injury Severity Score was 29 (IQR 22-41), and median transport time was 11 min (IQR 6-17). Overall survival after TCA was 4.5%; however, survival of patients with sustained TCA at arrival was only 1.2%. The estimated survival rate and risk ratio for sustained TCA rapidly decreased after 15 min of transport time, with estimated survival falling below 1%. Conclusion The chances of survival for sustained TCA declined rapidly while the patient is transported with CPR support. Time should be one reasonable factor for considering termination of resuscitation in patients with sustained TCA, although clinical signs of life, and type and severity of trauma should be taken into account clinically

External iliac artery thrombosis following open reduction of acetabular fracture: a case report and literature review

BACKGROUND: Postoperative thrombosis of the external iliac artery (EIA) following open reduction and internal fixation for acetabular fracture is extremely rare. PURPOSE: To report a patient with EIA thrombosis following open reduction and internal fixation using the modified ilioinguinal approach for acetabular fractures. STUDY DESIGN: This is a case report of a 69-year-old male with a left acetabular fracture who was treated surgically. METHODS: A 69-year-old male presented with left hip pain after a 1.5-m fall. Radiographs revealed left acetabular anterior wall and posterior hemitransverse fractures with dome impaction. Computed tomography (CT) showed atherosclerotic changes in many arteries. Open reduction and internal fixation were performed using the modified ilioinguinal approach. Adhesion around the external iliac vessels was severe, and the external iliac vein (EIV) ruptured during exposure. After EIV repair, anatomical reduction was achieved and the fracture was fixed using a reconstruction plate. Nine hours after surgery, the left lower limb showed acute ischemic symptoms. Contrast-enhanced CT indicated complete occlusion of the left EIA. The patient was immediately taken for a thrombectomy via EIA cut-down using a Fogarty catheter. Postoperatively, he had palpable dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses; however, post-reperfusion compartment syndrome developed. Fasciotomy of the left leg was performed. RESULTS: At the 2-year and 4-month follow-up, he was pain-free in his hip and leg. Although he was walking with a cane, activity was limited due to a mild foot drop. CONCLUSIONS: It is very important for surgeons to consider EIA thrombosis as a potential complication following open reduction and internal fixation. In this case, EIA thrombosis could be explained by preoperative atherosclerotic changes and intraoperative vascular handling procedures. Preoperative screening and management, and meticulous surgical procedures are necessary for patients with a high risk of thrombosis

Immunotherapy for Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcomas

Although multimodal therapies including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy have improved clinical outcomes of patients with bone and soft tissue sarcomas, the prognosis of patients has plateaued over these 20 years. Immunotherapies have shown the effectiveness for several types of advanced tumors. Immunotherapies, such as cytokine therapies, vaccinations, and adoptive cell transfers, have also been investigated for bone and soft tissue sarcomas. Cytokine therapies with interleukin-2 or interferons have limited efficacy because of their cytotoxicities. Liposomal muramyl tripeptide phosphatidylethanolamine (L-MTP-PE), an activator of the innate immune system, has been approved as adjuvant therapeutics in combination with conventional chemotherapy in Europe, which has improved the 5-year overall survival of patients. Vaccinations and transfer of T cells transduced to express chimeric antigen receptors have shown some efficacy for sarcomas. Ipilimumab and nivolumab are monoclonal antibodies designed to inhibit immune checkpoint mechanisms. These antibodies have recently been shown to be effective for patients with melanoma and also investigated for patients with sarcomas. In this review, we provide an overview of various trials of immunotherapies for bone and soft tissue sarcomas, and discuss their potential as adjuvant therapies in combination with conventional therapies

Immunotherapy for Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcomas

Although multimodal therapies including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy have improved clinical outcomes of patients with bone and soft tissue sarcomas, the prognosis of patients has plateaued over these 20 years. Immunotherapies have shown the effectiveness for several types of advanced tumors. Immunotherapies, such as cytokine therapies, vaccinations, and adoptive cell transfers, have also been investigated for bone and soft tissue sarcomas. Cytokine therapies with interleukin-2 or interferons have limited efficacy because of their cytotoxicities. Liposomal muramyl tripeptide phosphatidylethanolamine (L-MTP-PE), an activator of the innate immune system, has been approved as adjuvant therapeutics in combination with conventional chemotherapy in Europe, which has improved the 5-year overall survival of patients. Vaccinations and transfer of T cells transduced to express chimeric antigen receptors have shown some efficacy for sarcomas. Ipilimumab and nivolumab are monoclonal antibodies designed to inhibit immune checkpoint mechanisms. These antibodies have recently been shown to be effective for patients with melanoma and also investigated for patients with sarcomas. In this review, we provide an overview of various trials of immunotherapies for bone and soft tissue sarcomas, and discuss their potential as adjuvant therapies in combination with conventional therapies