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Acute Compartment Syndrome of Thigh: Ten-Year Experiences from a Level I Trauma Center
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Hyung Keun Song, Won-Tae Cho, Wan-Sun Choi, Seung-Yeob Sakong, Sumin Im
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J Musculoskelet Trauma 2024;37(4):171-174. Published online October 25, 2024
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.12671/jmt.2024.37.4.171
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 Abstract
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- Purpose
To assess the demographics, injury mechanisms, treatments, and outcomes of traumatic acute compartment syndrome in the thigh.
Materials and Methods
Patients diagnosed with thigh compartment syndrome were analyzed retrospectively at the authors’ level I trauma center from March 2012 to February 2022. Data were collected from medical and radiological records, focusing on demographics, injury details, treatment timelines, and clinical outcomes.
Results
The cohort included 13 patients (11 males and 2 females) with a mean age of 46 years. Injuries primarily resulted from falls (6 patients) and vehicle accidents (5 patients). Fractures were noted in 11 patients, with seven involving the lower extremities and seven having open fractures; three of these were severe enough to be classified as Gustilo–Anderson type IIIc with associated femoral artery injuries. Time from the injury to fasciotomy ranged from within six hours to more than 24 hours. Fasciotomies were mainly single-sided (10 patients), targeting primarily the anterior compartments, and bilateral in three cases. Wound closures were performed using delayed primary closure (four patients) and partial- thickness skin grafts (five patients). Two patients died from multi-organ failure; other complications included infections (three patients), amputations (three patients), and long-term disabilities like drop foot (two patients), sensory deficits, joint stiffness (eight patients), and fracture non-unions requiring additional surgery (two patients).
Conclusion
Thigh-compartment syndrome, though infrequent, poses significant risks of mortality and chronic disability. This underscores the importance of prompt diagnosis and intervention.
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Treatment of Scaphoid Fractures and Nonunions
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Wan-Sun Choi
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J Korean Fract Soc 2022;35(4):182-189. Published online October 31, 2022
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.12671/jkfs.2022.35.4.182
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Abstract
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- A scaphoid fracture is one of the most common types of wrist fractures, and if treatment is delayed, there is a high possibility of nonunion due to anatomical factors such as limited blood supply to the injured bone. Therefore, it is important to suspect a scaphoid fracture based on the mechanism of wrist injury and physical examination of the patient. A computed tomography scan or magnetic resonance imaging can also aid early diagnosis of the fracture. Stable acute fractures can be treated conservatively, but unstable fractures require surgical treatment, and percutaneous screw fixation is usually performed. Nonunions require bone grafts and are treated with non-vascularized bone grafts and screw fixation. However, if the nonunion is located at the proximal pole, a vascularized bone graft may be considered because there is a possibility of avascular necrosis. Pedicled vascularized and free vascularized medial femoral condyle bone grafts are mainly used in such cases. The treatment of a proximal pole nonunion with impaired blood flow remains controversial. There are conflicting opinions on whether a nonvascularized bone graft is sufficient or whether a vascularized bone graft is necessary.
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