Gun violence is on the rise in some European countries, however most of the literature on gunshot injuries pertains to military weaponry and is difficult to apply to civilians, due to dissimilarities in wound contamination and wounding potential of firearms and ammunition. Gunshot injuries in civilians have more focal injury patterns and should be considered distinct entities.

Background and Purpose: Acetabular fractures are often combined with associated injuries to the hip joint. Some of these associated injuries seem to be responsible for poor long-term results and these injuries seem to affect the outcome independent of the quality of the acetabular reduction. The aim of our study was to analyze the outcome of both column acetabular fractures and the influence of osseous cofactors such as initial fracture displacement, hip dislocation, femoral head lesions and injuries of the acetabular joint surface.Methods: A retrospective cohort study in patients with both column acetabular fractures treated over a 30 year period was performed. Patients with a follow-up of more than two years were invited for a clinical and radiological examination. Displacement was analyzed on initial and postoperative radiographs. Contusion and impaction of the femoral head was grouped. Injuries of the acetabular joint surface consisting of impaction, contusion and comminution were recorded. The Merle d’Aubigné Score was documented and radiographs were analysed for arthritis (Helfet classification), femoral head avascular necrosis (Ficat/Arlet classification) and heterotopic ossifications (Brooker classification).Results: 115 patients were included in the follow up examination. Anatomic reduction (malreduction ≤ 1mm) was associated with a significantly better clinical outcome than nonanatomical reduction (p = 0.001). Initial displacement of more than 10mm (p = 0.031) and initial intraarticular fragments (p = 0.041) were associated with worse outcome. Other associated injuries, such as the presence of a femoral head dislocation, femoral head injuries and injuries to the acetabular joint surface showed no significant difference in outcome individually, but in fractures with more than two associated local injuries the risk for joint degeneration was significant higher (p < 0.001) than in cases with less than two of them.In the subgroup of anatomically reconstructed fractures no significant influence of the analyzed cofactors could be observed.Conclusion: Anatomical reduction appears to be an important parameter for a good clinical outcome in patients with both column acetabular fractures. Additional fracture characteristics such as the initial displacement and intraarticular fragments seem to influence the results. Patients should also be advised that both column acetabular fractures with more than two additional associated factors have a significantly higher risk of joint degeneration.

Autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis (AMIC) has been advocated for the management of talar osteochondral lesions (OCLs). This systematic review, which was conducted according to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, investigated the clinical and imaging efficacy and safety of the AMIC technique in the management of OCLs of the talus. Only studies investigating AMIC for talar chondral defects that were published in peer-reviewed journals were considered. In September 2022, the following databases were accessed: PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Embase. Data on the visual analogue scale (VAS), American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Score (AOFAS), Tegner activity scale, and Foot Function Index (FFI) were retrieved. To evaluate the morphological MRI findings, data obtained from the magnetic resonance observation of cartilage repair tissue (MOCART) scores were evaluated. Data on hypertrophy, failures, and revision surgeries were also collected. Data from 778 patients (39% women, 61% men) were collected. The mean length of the follow-up was 37.4 ± 16.1 months. The mean age of the patients was 36.4 ± 5.1 years, and the mean BMI was 26.1 ± 1.6 kg/m². The mean defect size was 2.1 ± 1.9 cm². Following the AMIC technique, patients demonstrated an improved VAS (p < 0.001), AOFAS (p < 0.001), and FFI (p = 0.02) score. The MOCART score also improved from the baseline (p = 0.03). No difference was observed in the Tegner score (p = 0.08). No graft delamination and hypertrophy were reported in 353 patients. 7.8% (44 of 564) of patients required revision surgeries, and 6.2% (32 of 515) of patients were considered failures. The AMIC technique could be effective in improving symptoms and the function of chondral defects of the talus.

Several large studies have identified factors associated with long-term outcome after orthopaedic injuries. However, long-term social and economic implications have not been published so far. The aim of this investigation is to study the long-term socio-economic consequences of patients sustaining severe trauma. Patients treated at a level one trauma center were invited for a follow-up (at least 10 years) examination. There were 637 patients who responded and were examined. Inclusion criteria included injury severity score (ISS) ≥ 16 points, presence of lower and upper extremity fractures, and age between 3 and 60 years. Exclusion criteria included the presence of amputations and paraplegia. The socio-economic outcome was evaluated in three age groups: group I (< 18 years), group II (19 - 50 years), and group III (> 50 years). The following parameters were analyzed using a standardized questionnaire: financial losses, net income losses, pension precaution losses, need for a bank loan, and the decrease in number of friends. 510 patients matched all study criteria, and breakdown of groups were as follows: 140 patients in group I, 341 patients in group II, and 29 patients in group III. Financial losses were reported in all age groups (20%-44%). Younger patients (group I) were associated with less income losses when compared with other groups (p < 0.05). Financial deterioration was more frequently reported in age group II (p < 0.05). Social consequences (number of friends decreased) were predominantly stated in patients younger than 18 years old (p < 0.05). Economic consequences are reported by polytraumatized patients even ten or more years after injury. Financial losses appear to be common in patients between 19 and 50 years. In contrast, social deprivation appears to be most pronounced in the younger age groups. Early socio-economic support and measures of injury prevention should focus on these specific age groups.