Abstract
Recently, secondary life-threatening inflammatory reactions have been identified with molecular biological techniques in patients with multi-system injuries who were submitted to immediate or early intramedullary fixation of their fractured femora. This phenomenon was called “The second hit”, and it caused ARDS, PE, and Renal Failure.
In a consecutive series of 135 trauma patients with high energy long bone fractures, 40 had sustained multiple-injuries. All fractures were reduced and stabilized on admission by AO-Tubular External Fixation systems. After 72–96 hours, this system was converted to an hybrid-ring-tubular system, which had three dimensional stability. They commenced partial weight bearing 24 hours later, and were followed by bony union.
One patient developed DVT, none developed ARDS, PE, Renal Failure.
Superficial pin-tract infection was common, but no-deep infection and’or osteomyelitis were encountered.
With this minimal-invasive surgical technique, life threatening complications were avoided while preserving the integrity of the soft tissue envelope, the critical contributing biological factor for fracture healing.
The abstracts were prepared by Ms Orah Naor. Correspondence should be addressed to Israel Orthopaedic Association at PO Box 7845, Haifa 31074, Israel.
