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Introduction
Although shoulder girdle injuries are frequent, those of the medial part are widely unexplored.
Our aim is to improve the knowledge of this rare injury and its management in Germany
by big data analysis.
Methods
The data are based on ICD-10 codes of all German hospitals as provided by the German
Federal Statistical Office. Based on the ICD-10 codes S42.01 (medial clavicle fracture,
MCF) and S43.2 (sternoclavicular joint dislocation, SCJD), anonymized patient data from
2012 to 2014 were evaluated retrospectively for epidemiologic issues. We analyzed especially
the concomitant injuries and therapy strategies.
Results
A total of 114,003 cases with a clavicle involving shoulder girdle injury were identified with
12.5% of medial clavicle injuries (MCI). These were accompanied by concomitant injuries,
most of which were thoracic and craniocerebral injuries as well as injuries at the shoulder/
upper arm. A significant difference between MCF and SCJD concerning concomitant injuries
only appears for head injuries (p = 0.003). If MCI is the main diagnosis, soft tissue injuries
typically occur as secondary diagnoses. The MCI are significantly more often
associated with concomitant injuries (p < 0.001) for almost each anatomic region compared
with lateral clavicle injuries (LCI). The main differences were found for thoracic and upper
extremity injuries. Different treatment strategies were used, most frequently plate osteosynthesis
in more than 50% of MCF cases. Surgery on SCJD was performed with K-wires,
tension flange or absorbable materials, fewer by plate osteosynthesis.
Conclusions
We proved that MCI are rare injuries, which might be why they are treated by inhomogeneous
treatment strategies. No standard procedure has yet been established. MCI can
occur in cases of severely injured patients, often associated with severe thoracic or other
concomitant injuries. Therefore, MCI appear to be more complex than LCI. Further studies
are required regarding the development of standard treatment strategy and representative
clinical studies.
Clavicle injuries are common, but only few case reports describe combined clavicular injuries (CCI). CCI include combinations between clavicular fractures and acromioclavicular/sternoclavicular joint dislocations (SCJD). We present the first general therapeutic recommendations for CCI based on a new classification and their distribution. A retrospective, epidemiological, big data analysis was based on ICD-10 diagnoses from 2012 to 2014 provided by the German Federal Statistical Office. CCI represent 0.7% of all clavicle-related injuries (n = 814 out of 114,003). SCJD show by far the highest proportion of combination injuries (13.2% of all SCJD were part of CCI) while the proportion of CCI in relation to the other injury entities was significantly less (p < 0.023). CCIs were classified depending on (1) the polarity (monopolar type I, 92.2% versus bipolar type II, 7.8%). Monopolar type I was further differentiated depending on (2) the positional relationship between the combined injuries: Ia two injuries directly at the respective pole versus Ib with an injury at one end plus an additional midshaft clavicle fracture. Type II was further differentiated depending on (3) the injured structures: IIa ligamento-osseous, type IIb purely ligamentous (rarest with 0.6%). According to our classification, the CCI severity increases from type Ia to IIb. CCI are more important than previously believed and seen as an indication for surgery. The exclusion of further, contra-polar injuries in the event of a clavicle injury is clinically relevant and should be focused.
on-healing wounds continue to be a clinical challenge for patients and medical staff.
These wounds have a heterogeneous etiology, including diabetes and surgical trauma wounds. It is
therefore important to decipher molecular signatures that reflect the macroscopic process of wound
healing. To this end, we collected wound sponge dressings routinely used in vacuum assisted therapy
after surgical trauma to generate wound-derived protein profiles via global mass spectrometry.
We confidently identified 311 proteins in exudates. Among them were expected targets belonging to
the immunoglobulin superfamily, complement, and skin-derived proteins, such as keratins. Next to
several S100 proteins, chaperones, heat shock proteins, and immune modulators, the exudates
presented a number of redox proteins as well as a discrete neutrophil proteomic signature, including
for example cathepsin G, elastase, myeloperoxidase, CD66c, and lipocalin 2. We mapped over 200
post-translational modifications (PTMs; cysteine/methionine oxidation, tyrosine nitration, cysteine
trioxidation) to the proteomic profile, for example, in peroxiredoxin 1. Investigating manually
collected exudates, we confirmed presence of neutrophils and their products, such as microparticles
and fragments containing myeloperoxidase and DNA. These data confirmed known and identified
less known wound proteins and their PTMs, which may serve as resource for future studies on
human wound healing
AbstractCold physical plasma is a partially ionized gas that generates various components identified as potential anticancer compounds. Due to its topical application, cold plasmas are suitable, especially in dermatological applications. We, therefore, tested the cold plasma effects in skin cancer cells in vitro. An atmospheric pressure argon plasma jet was used as the plasma source. The plasma exposure alone reduced the metabolic activity and induced lethal effects in a treatment time-dependent fashion in both cell lines investigated. This was accompanied by executioner caspases 3 and 7, cleavage indicative of apoptosis and reduced cell migration and proliferation. Recent research also indicated roles of novel indirubin derivatives with potent anticancer effects. Three candidates were tested, and reduced metabolic activity and viability in a dose-dependent manner were found. Strikingly, one compound exerted notable synergistic toxicity when combined with plasma in skin cancer cells, which may be promising for future in vivo experiments.
Severe trauma results in alterations in immune functions, correlated with a dysbalanced cytokine synthesis. This imbalance endangers severely injured patients for post-traumatic complications such as MODS, liver failure, renal dysfunction and ARDS. IL-10, a powerful immunosuppressive cytokine, plays a central role in the immune response after severe trauma. The relevance of IL-10 for single and multiple organ failure was studied in a prospective study at a level I trauma center. Blood was systematically obtained from a total of 118 severely injured [median (IQR) ISS=34 (27-34)] patients. IL-10 plasma levels were measured by ELISA. Patients showed elevated IL-10 levels throughout the whole observation period of 5 days. IL-10 plasma levels rose rapidly after trauma and gradually declined towards day 5. Patients who developed complications demonstrated significantly elevated IL-10 levels compared with patients who did not. The odds of developing MODS were 9.6 times greater in patients with IL-10 plasma levels higher than 124 pg/mL 6 hours after arrival at the ICU. Multivariate analysis showed that IL-10 plasma levels >124 pg/mL at time-point 6h, severe head injury and an arterial pH <7.34 were simultaneously significant predictors of the development of MODS in severely injured patients. The dynamic with rapid increase and gradual decline in IL-10 plasma levels indicated that IL-10 is a marker of the initial damage to the organism caused by trauma, rather than a marker of somatic dysregulations.
Case Report: Intraarticular Iliopsoas Tendon causes Groin Pain Following Periacetabular Osteotomy
(2022)
A 43-year-old female patient reported persistent iliopsoas-related groin pain following periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) combined with femoroplasty via a direct anterior approach due to CAM morphology. Concomitantly with the planned removal of screws, hip arthroscopy was performed, and the iliopsoas tendon was found to run intraarticularly, resulting in the tendon being impaired in its mobility and being entrapped. The tendon was arthroscopically released. The patient reported relief of the groin pain after the arthroscopic tendon debridement. During PAO combined with capsulotomy, the postoperatively observed intraarticular position of the iliopsoas tendon should be prevented by careful closure of the joint capsule.
: Human osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignant bone tumor occurring
most commonly in adolescents and young adults. Major improvements in disease-free survival have
been achieved by implementing a combination therapy consisting of radical surgical resection of the
tumor and systemic multi-agent chemotherapy. However, long-term survival remains poor, so novel
targeted therapies to improve outcomes for patients with osteosarcoma remains an area of active
research. This includes immunotherapy, photodynamic therapy, or treatment with nanoparticles.
Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), a highly reactive (partially) ionized physical state, has been shown
to inherit a significant anticancer capacity, leading to a new field in medicine called “plasma oncology.”
The current article summarizes the potential of CAP in the treatment of human OS and reviews the
underlying molecular mode of action.
Osteosarcoma and Ewing’s sarcoma are the most common malignant bone tumors.Conventional therapies such as polychemotherapy, local surgery, and radiotherapy improve theclinical outcome for patients. However, they are accompanied by acute and chronic side effectsthat affect the quality of life of patients, motivating novel research lines on therapeutic optionsfor the treatment of sarcomas. Previous experimental work with physical plasma operated atbody temperature (cold atmospheric plasma, CAP) demonstrated anti-oncogenic effects on differentcancer cell types. This study investigated the anti-cancer effect of CAP on two bone sarcomaentities, osteosarcoma and Ewing’s sarcoma, which were represented by four cell lines (U2-OS,MNNG/HOS, A673, and RD-ES). A time-dependent anti-proliferative effect of CAP on all cell lineswas observed. CAP-induced alterations in cell membrane functionality were detected by performinga fluorescein diacetate (FDA) release assay and an ATP release assay. Additionally, modifications ofthe cell membrane and modifications in the actin cytoskeleton composition were examined usingfluorescence microscopy monitoring dextran-uptake assay and G-/F-actin distribution. Furthermore,the CAP-induced induction of apoptosis was determined by TUNEL and active caspases assays.The observations suggest that a single CAP treatment of bone sarcoma cells may have significantanti-oncogenic effects and thus may be a promising extension to existing applications.
Background: Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is increasingly used in the field of oncology.
Many of the mechanisms of action of CAP, such as inhibiting proliferation, DNA breakage, or the
destruction of cell membrane integrity, have been investigated in many different types of tumors.
In this regard, data are available from both in vivo and in vitro studies. Not only the direct treatment
of a tumor but also the influence on its blood supply play a decisive role in the success of the therapy
and the patient’s further prognosis. Whether the CAP influences this process is unknown, and the
first indications in this regard are addressed in this study. Methods: Two different devices, kINPen
and MiniJet, were used as CAP sources. Human endothelial cell line HDMEC were treated directly
and indirectly with CAP, and growth kinetics were performed. To indicate apoptotic processes,
caspase-3/7 assay and TUNEL assay were used. The influence of CAP on cellular metabolism
was examined using the MTT and glucose assay. After CAP exposure, tube formation assay was
performed to examine the capillary tube formation abilities of HDMEC and their migration was
messured in separate assays. To investigate in a possible mutagenic effect of CAP treatment,
a hypoxanthine-guanine-phosphoribosyl-transferase assay with non malignant cell (CCL-93) line was
performed. Results: The direct CAP treatment of the HDMEC showed a robust growth-inhibiting
effect, but the indirect one did not. The MMT assay showed an apparent reduction in cell metabolism
in the first 24 h after CAP treatment, which appeared to normalize 48 h and 72 h after CAP application.
These results were also confirmed by the glucose assay. The caspase 3/7 assay and TUNEL assay
showed a significant increase in apoptotic processes in the HDMEC after CAP treatment. These results
were independent of the CAP device. Both the migration and tube formation of HDMEC were
significant inhibited after CAP-treatment. No malignant effects could be demonstrated by the CAP
treatment on a non-malignant cell line.
Chondrosarcoma is the second most common malign bone tumor in adults. Surgical
resection of the tumor is recommended because of its resistance to clinical treatment such as
chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Thus, the prognosis for patients mainly depends on sufficient
surgical resection. Due to this, research on alternative therapies is needed. Cold atmospheric plasma
(CAP) is an ionized gas that contains various reactive species. Previous studies have shown an
anti-oncogenic potential of CAP on different cancer cell types. The current study examined the effects
of treatment with CAP on two chondrosarcoma cell lines (CAL-78, SW1353). Through proliferation
assay, the cell growth after CAP-treatment was determined. A strong antiproliferative effect for
both cell lines was detected. By fluorescein diacetate (FDA) assay and ATP release assay, alterations
in the cell membrane and associated translocation of low molecular weight particles through the
cytoplasmic membrane were observed. In supernatant, the non-membrane-permeable FDA and
endogenously synthesized ATP detected suggest an increased membrane permeability after CAP
treatment. Similar results were shown by the dextran-uptake assay. Furthermore, fluorescence
microscopic G-/F-actin assay was performed. G- and F-actin were selectively dyed, and the ratio
was measured. The presented results indicate CAP-induced changes in cell membrane function and
possible alterations in actin-cytoskeleton, which may contribute to the antiproliferative effects of CAP.
Primary Pan-CT is associated with improved clinical course and outcome in polytrauma patients
(2012)
The early clinical management of patients with polytrauma remains challenging. Clinical examination is unreliable in identifying the presence and severity of injuries, and diagnostic imaging plays a central role in the evaluation of the injury pattern. In the last decade, whole body multi slice computed tomography (Pan-CT) performed immediately after admission gained recognition in Europe and United States. Its utility and value, given the lack of accuracy data and concerns about unnecessary exposure to radiation, is undefined. The primary objective of this retrospective cohort study was to compare survival of multiple trauma (polytrauma) patients (Injury Severity Score [ISS] ≥ 16) prior to (1999 - 2002) and after (2002 - 2004) the introduction of a Pan-CT-based trauma resuscitation algorithm at a maximum care university medical centre. Secondary objectives were to compare the complication rates and duration of intensive care treatment. The study included 123 patients (mean age 34.6 years [SD 16.8], mean ISS 26.7 [SD 8.7]) in the control and 104 (mean age 39.8 years [SD 20.0], mean ISS 28.6 [SD 10.5]) patients in the intervention period. Die Baseline criteria were well balanced amongst both cohorts except for age (34.6 versus 39.8 years, p = 0.034). Both cohorts had a similar predicted probability of survival using the TRISS method (77.5 versus 77.6%, p = 0.979). Raw mortality decreased markedly but not statistically significantly in Pan-CT cohort (17.9 versus 11.5%, risk ratio (RR) 0.65, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.34 - 1.24). However, after adjustment for injury severity, by mortality odds ratio of 0.40 (95% CI 0.17 – 0.95, p = 0.038) Pan-CT patients were 2.5 times more likely to survive. The mean difference in the duration of ICU treatment (5.1, 95% CI 1.2 – 9.0 days), days on respirator (5.3, 95% CI 2.0 - 8.6), and number of complications (0.4, 95% CI 0.2 – 0.8) was statistically significant and in favour of the Pan-CT-period.
Wound antisepsis has undergone a renaissance due to the introduction of highly effective wound-compatible antimicrobial agents and the spread of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). However, a strict indication must be set for the application of these agents. An infected or critically colonized wound must be treated antiseptically. In addition, systemic antibiotic therapy is required in case the infection spreads. If applied preventively, the Wounds-at-Risk Score allows an assessment of the risk for infection and thus appropriateness of the indication. The content of this updated consensus recommendation still largely consists of discussing properties of octenidine dihydrochloride (OCT), polihexanide, and iodophores. The evaluations of hypochlorite, taurolidine, and silver ions have been updated. For critically colonized and infected chronic wounds as well as for burns, polihexanide is classified as the active agent of choice. The combination 0.1% OCT/phenoxyethanol (PE) solution is suitable for acute, contaminated, and traumatic wounds, including MRSA-colonized wounds due to its deep action. For chronic wounds, preparations with 0.05% OCT are preferable. For bite, stab/puncture, and gunshot wounds, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-iodine is the first choice, while polihexanide and hypochlorite are superior to PVP-iodine for the treatment of contaminated acute and chronic wounds. For the decolonization of wounds colonized or infected with MDROs, the combination of OCT/PE is preferred. For peritoneal rinsing or rinsing of other cavities with a lack of drainage potential as well as the risk of central nervous system exposure, hypochlorite is the superior active agent. Silver-sulfadiazine is classified as dispensable, while dyes, organic mercury compounds, and hydrogen peroxide alone are classified as obsolete. As promising prospects, acetic acid, the combination of negative pressure wound therapy with the instillation of antiseptics (NPWTi), and cold atmospheric plasma are also subjects of this assessment.
Compared to gun control legislation in Germany, which is supposed to be one of the most stringent in Europe, gun control legislation in Vietnam is by far stricter. Private possession of guns is not possible in Vietnam. One key point in the German weapons act is the allowance for certain facilitations for airguns that impart kinetic energy of less than 7.5 J to the projectile. These airguns are freely available for purchase by persons 18 years of age or older. The 7.5 J limit is applied to airguns without further efinition of projectile characteristics like projectile head, projectile shape or projectile mass. In the course of a possible relaxation of gun control and facilitation of private gun ownership (especially of airguns) in Vietnam, an implementation of a kinetic energy limit, similar to the German 7.5 J limit, is conceivable. It was the aim of this cumulative doctoral thesis to investigate if this energy limit was a sufficient threshold to estimate the dangerousness of a weapon or projectile, especially in cases where the characteristics of the projectiles are fundamentally different from the “standard” projectiles which were basis for the implementation of this energy threshold in the German weapons act in 1968. The first study investigated basic ballistic parameters of plastic-sleeved composite projectiles in comparison to standard diabolo pellets. Although overall results were inconsistent, for some projectile–weapon combinations (particularly for spring-piston air guns), a significant change of the kinetic energy (− 53 up to + 48 %) to the reference projectile was observed. For some projectile types the legal limit of 7.5 J was exceeded by far. The second study focused on an uncommon discarding sabot airgun projectile (SUSSEX SABO). It was demonstrated, that the sabot principle works properly in high power airguns (E > 17 J), but separation of the core projectile from the sabot cup was also observed in mid- (E = 12.5 J) and low-energy (E < 7.5 J) airguns. While muzzle velocity and kinetic energy values of discarded sabot projectiles are comparable to conventional diabolo pellets, energy density (ED) and penetration capacity are significantly higher. Finally, the ballistic performance of a carbon dioxide-actuated arrow pistol (Arcus Arrowstar) was investigated. Compared to conventional diabolo pellets of a similar kinetic energy level, the penetration depth of this arrow projectile was increased by approximately 35 %. This high penetration capacity was mainly caused by the uncommon projectile characteristics (high cross-sectional density q and pointed arrow head). The findings of this work reveal that special projectile types, like the plastic-sleeved composite pellets, might substantially increase the muzzle energy of airguns. Other uncommon projectile types (like the SUSSEX SABO projectile or the Arcus Arrowstar projectile) exert a higher penetration capacity whereas kinetic energy is similar to standard diabolo pellets and is still beneath the legal limit. For these uncommon projectile types, the 7.5 J limit implemented in the German weapons act is not a sufficient threshold. As demonstrated, next to kinetic energy E and energy density ED, the characteristics of the projectile influence their ballistic parameters. So it is strongly recommended to specify legal kinetic energy limits in gun control legislation in greater detail. The design characteristics of the projectiles (cross-sectional density q and design of the projectile head) should be appropriately taken into consideration.
(1) Background: Chondrosarcoma (CS) is a malignant primary bone tumor with a cartilaginous origin. Its slow cell division and severely restricted vascularization are responsible for its poor responsiveness to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The decisive factor for the prognosis of CS patients is the only adequate therapy—surgical resection. Cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAP) is emerging as a new option in anti-cancer therapy. Its effect on chondrosarcomas has been poorly investigated. (2) Methods: Two CS cell lines—SW 1353 and CAL 78—were used. Various assays, such as cell growth kinetics, glucose uptake, and metabolic activity assay, along with two different apoptosis assays were performed after CAP treatment. A radius cell migration assay was used to examine cell motility. (3) Results: Both cell lines showed different growth behavior, which was taken into account when using the assays. After CAP treatment, a reduction in metabolic activity was observed in both cell lines. The immediate effect of CAP showed a reduction in cell numbers and in influence on this cell line’s growth rate. The measurement of the glucose concentration in the cell culture medium showed an increase after CAP treatment. Live-dead cell imaging shows an increase in the proportion of dead cells over the incubation time for both cell lines. There was a significant increase in apoptotic signals after 48 h and 72 h for both cell lines in both assays. The migration assay showed that CAP treatment inhibited the motility of chondrosarcoma cells. The effects in all experiments were related to the duration of CAP exposure. (4) Conclusions: The CAP treatment of CS cells inhibits their growth, motility, and metabolism by initiating apoptotic processes.
Although serious accidents remain the leading cause of pediatric mortality, protocols to orient diagnostic procedures towards a certain type of initial imaging are widely needed. Since 2007, we have performed whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WBMR) and whole-body computed tomography (WBCT) for diagnoses of severely injured children. We retrospectively reviewed 134 WBMR and 158 WBCT in patients younger than 16 years that were performed at two trauma centers between 2007 and 2018. A higher Injury Severity Score (ISS) was found in WBCT vs. WBMR (10.6 vs. 5.8; p = 0.001), but without any significant difference in mortality. The WBMR was significantly preferred at younger ages (9.6 vs. 12.8 years; p < 0.001). The time between patient’s arrival until diagnosis was 2.5 times longer for WBCT (92.1 vs. 37.1 min; p < 0.001). More patients in the CT group received analgesic sedation and/or intubation at 37.3% vs. 21.6% in the MRI group. Of these patients, 86.4% (CT) and 27.6% (MRI) were already preclinically sedated (p < 0.001). Correspondingly, 72.4% of the patients were first sedated in-hospital for MRIs. In conclusion, WBMR is an alternative and radiation-free imaging method for high-energy-traumatized children. Although the selected diagnostics seemed appropriate, limitations regarding longer duration or additional analgesic sedation are present, and further studies are needed.
Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based untargeted metabolomics experiments have become increasingly popular because of the wide range of metabolites that can be analyzed and the possibility to measure novel compounds. LC-MS instrumentation and analysis conditions can differ substantially among laboratories and experiments, thus resulting in non-standardized datasets demanding customized annotation workflows. We present an ecosystem of R packages, centered around the MetaboCoreUtils, MetaboAnnotation and CompoundDb packages that together provide a modular infrastructure for the annotation of untargeted metabolomics data. Initial annotation can be performed based on MS1 properties such as m/z and retention times, followed by an MS2-based annotation in which experimental fragment spectra are compared against a reference library. Such reference databases can be created and managed with the CompoundDb package. The ecosystem supports data from a variety of formats, including, but not limited to, MSP, MGF, mzML, mzXML, netCDF as well as MassBank text files and SQL databases. Through its highly customizable functionality, the presented infrastructure allows to build reproducible annotation workflows tailored for and adapted to most untargeted LC-MS-based datasets. All core functionality, which supports base R data types, is exported, also facilitating its re-use in other R packages. Finally, all packages are thoroughly unit-tested and documented and are available on GitHub and through Bioconductor.
The aim of this study was to compare three sensorimotor training forms in patients with chronic low back pain to determine their effects on the reduction of pain-related impairment and changes in posturography. Over two weeks, during the multimodal pain therapy (MMPT) period, six sessions of sensorimotor physiotherapy or training in the Galileo® or Posturomed® (n = 25 per group) were performed. A significant reduction in pain-related impairment after the intervention phase was shown across all groups (time effect: p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.415). There was no change in postural stability (time effect: p = 0.666; ηp2 = 0.003), but there was a significant improvement in the peripheral vestibular system (time effect: p = 0.014; ηp2 = 0.081). An interaction effect was calculated for the forefoot-hindfoot ratio (p = 0.014; ηp2 = 0.111). Only the Posturomed® group showed an improvement in anterior-posterior weight distribution (heel load: 47% vs. 49%). These findings suggest that these forms of sensorimotor training in the context of MMPT are suitable for reducing pain-related impairment. Posturography demonstrated stimulation of a subsystem, but no improvement in postural stability.
Non-invasive physical plasma (NIPP) achieves biomedical effects primarily through the formation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. In clinical use, these species interact with cells of the treated tissue, affecting the cytoplasmic membrane first. The present study investigated the permeability of the cytoplasmic membrane of breast cancer cells with different fluorescent dyes after NIPP treatment and determined the subsequent effects on cell viability. After NIPP treatment and the associated formation of reactive oxygen species, low molecular weight compounds were able to pass through the cytoplasmic membrane in both directions to a higher extent. Consequently, a loss of cellular ATP into the extracellular space was induced. Due to these limitations in cell physiology, apoptosis was induced in the cancer cells and the entire cell population exhibited decreased cell growth. It can be concluded that NIPP treatment disturbs the biochemical functionality of the cytoplasmic membrane of cancer cells, which massively impairs their viability. This observation opens a vast application horizon of NIPP therapy to treat precancerous and malignant diseases beyond breast cancer therapy.
Blunt high-energy chest trauma is often associated with thoracic and abdominal organ injuries. Literature for a hyperextension-distraction mechanism resulting in a costal arch fracture combined with a thoracic spine fracture is sparse. A 65-year-old male suffered a fall from a height of six meters. Initial X-ray of the chest shows left-sided high-riding diaphragm and CT scan proves anterior cartilage fracture, posterolateral serial rib fractures, traumatic intercostal pulmonary hernia, avulsion of the diaphragm, and 7th thoracic vertebral fracture. An exploratory thoracotomy was performed and the rupture of the diaphragm, creating a two-cavity injury, had been re-fixed, the pulmonary hernia was closed, and locking plate osteosyntheses of the fractured ribs including the costal arch were performed. We generally recommend surgical therapy of the thorax to restore stability in this severe injury entity. The spine was fixed dorsally using a screw-rod system. In conclusion, this thoracovertebral injury entity is associated with high overall injury severity and life-threatening thoracoabdominal injuries. Since two-cavity traumata and particularly diaphragmatic injuries are often diagnosed delayed, injuries to the costal arch can act as an indicator of severe trauma. They should be detected through clinical examination and assessment of the trauma CT in the soft tissue window.
Background
Sepsis is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths in hospitals. This study presents the evaluation of a quality collaborative, which aimed to decrease sepsis-related hospital mortality.
Methods
The German Quality Network Sepsis (GQNS) offers quality reporting based on claims data, peer reviews, and support for establishing continuous quality management and staff education. This study evaluates the effects of participating in the GQNS during the intervention period (April 2016–June 2018) in comparison to a retrospective baseline (January 2014–March 2016). The primary outcome was all-cause risk-adjusted hospital mortality among cases with sepsis. Sepsis was identified by International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes in claims data. A controlled time series analysis was conducted to analyze changes from the baseline to the intervention period comparing GQNS hospitals with the population of all German hospitals assessed via the national diagnosis-related groups (DRGs)-statistics. Tests were conducted using piecewise hierarchical models. Implementation processes and barriers were assessed by surveys of local leaders of quality improvement teams.
Results
Seventy-four hospitals participated, of which 17 were university hospitals and 18 were tertiary care facilities. Observed mortality was 43.5% during baseline period and 42.7% during intervention period. Interrupted time-series analyses did not show effects on course or level of risk-adjusted mortality of cases with sepsis compared to the national DRG-statistics after the beginning of the intervention period (p = 0.632 and p = 0.512, respectively). There was no significant mortality decrease in the subgroups of patients with septic shock or ventilation >24 h or predefined subgroups of hospitals. A standardized survey among 49 local quality improvement leaders in autumn of 2018 revealed that most hospitals did not succeed in implementing a continuous quality management program or relevant measures to improve early recognition and treatment of sepsis. Barriers perceived most commonly were lack of time (77.6%), staff shortage (59.2%), and lack of participation of relevant departments (38.8%).
Conclusion
As long as hospital-wide sepsis quality improvement efforts will not become a high priority for the hospital leadership by assuring adequate resources and involvement of all pertinent stakeholders, voluntary initiatives to improve the quality of sepsis care will remain prone to failure.
Post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) has been described as ‘the pandemic after the pandemic’ with more than 65 million people worldwide being affected. The enormous range of symptoms makes both diagnosis complex and treatment difficult. In a post-COVID rehabilitation outpatient clinic, 184 patients, mostly non-hospitalized, received a comprehensive, interdisciplinary diagnostic assessment with fixed follow-up appointments. At baseline, three in four patients reported more than 10 symptoms, the most frequent symptoms were fatigue (84.9%), decreased physical capacity (83.0%), tiredness (81.1%), poor concentration (73.6%), sleeping problems (66.7%) and shortness of breath (67.3%). Abnormalities were found in the mean values of scores for fatigue (FAS = 34.3), cognition (MoCA = 25.5), psychological alterations (anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder), limitation of lung function (CAT) and severity scores for PCS (PCFS, MCRS). Clinical abnormalities were found in elevated values of heart rate, breathing rate at rest, blood pressure and NT-proBNP levels. As the frequency of the described symptoms decreases only slowly but most often significantly over the course, it is important to monitor the patients over a longer period of time. Many of them suffer from an immense symptom burden, often without pre-existing clinical correlates. Our results show a clear association with objectifiable assessments and tests as well as pronounced symptoms.