Medical College of Wisconsin
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Polytrauma care. The effect of head injuries and timing of skeletal fixation. Clin Orthop Relat Res 1995 Sep(318):106-16

Date

09/01/1995

Pubmed ID

7671503

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0029128877 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   19 Citations

Abstract

There is a substantial body of literature supporting early ( < 48 hours) fixation of long bone fractures in the patient with polytrauma. Early fixation reduces the complications of traction and recumbency, reduces pain, decreases the stimulus for a systemic inflammatory response, makes nursing care easier, makes the fracture outcome more predictable, and decreases health care costs. If hypotension and hypoxia are avoided, early fixation of long bone fractures does not increase the incidence of adverse cerebral events. The benefits (short and long term), if any, of early fixation of long bone fractures on the recovery from closed head injury remain poorly defined.

Author List

Schmeling GJ, Schwab JP

Authors

Greg J. Schmeling MD Vice Chair, Professor in the Orthopaedic Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Jeffrey P. Schwab MD Adjunct Professor in the Orthopaedic Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin




MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Fractures, Bone
Head Injuries, Closed
Humans
Leg Injuries
Multiple Trauma
Time Factors
Treatment Outcome