Demographics of Osteoporotic Fragility Fractures Fragility fracture refers to those fractures that result from a fall from standing height or less and frequently occur in the hip, wrist, and spine. Osteoporosis is characterized by a combination of both a decrease…
Introduction Pathologic fractures can be a source of diagnostic and therapeutic challenge to the practicing orthopaedic surgeon. These fractures can be a significant cause of anxiety for patients, who are told they have a tumor, as well as for surgeons,…
Introduction Although violent crime continues to decline, approximately 74,000 nonfatal gunshot injuries were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States in 2011, an increase of 10,000 compared with 2004. Estimates of total cost…
Introduction and General Principles Introduction The optimal soft tissue characteristics required for coverage of defects involving the upper and lower extremity vary according to the site and location of the defect. Characteristics of interest include pliability, durability, sensibility, the ability…
Introduction Approximately 6 million fractures and 7.5 million open wounds occur annually in the United States. Extrapolating from European studies, about 4% of all fractures are open, or about 250,000 open fractures annually in the United States. Other studies note…
Introduction Acute compartment syndrome (ACS) can be a devastating injury if diagnosis and treatment are delayed or missed. Physicians evaluating patients with acute long bone fractures, especially of the tibia, should keep ACS in the forefront of their mind when…
Disclaimer: The views in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense, or the US government. I am a military service member.…
Introduction For as long as the practice of medicine has existed, physicians have attempted to develop a tool to accurately measure pain. We now realize that it is not possible to measure pain because pain is not a quantifiable or…
Introduction Disasters are large-scale destructive events that disrupt the infrastructure and normal functioning of a community. Disasters are both natural (e.g., earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes) and manmade or anthropogenic. Anthropogenic disasters can be either unintentional (e.g., industrial spills, structural collapse) or…
Introduction Orthopaedic trauma patients presenting with hemodynamic instability and associated multisystem injuries represent challenging cases, particularly with respect to their initial management. Several treatment algorithms exist, yet there is no clear consensus regarding appropriate patient stratification. When confronted with the…