PURPOSE The Ministry of Health and Welfare recently designated 35 major trauma-specified centers (MTSC). The purpose of this study is to determine changes in patient flow and designated hospitals, and to describe the role of the emergency medical information center (EMIC) in a regional trauma care system. METHODS Data of trauma patient inter-facility transfer arrangement by one EMIC were revi...

ConClusions: There is a discrepancy between emergency and elective hand care in New Jersey. Similar findings across Florida, Massachusetts, upstate New York, and Tennessee suggest a concerning trend of gaps in access to hand healthcare. As disproportionate availability between emergency and elective care lead to suboptimal patient care and unnecessary transfers, a nationwide system that can app...

ConClusions: There is a discrepancy between emergency and elective hand care in New Jersey. Similar findings across Florida, Massachusetts, upstate New York, and Tennessee suggest a concerning trend of gaps in access to hand healthcare. As disproportionate availability between emergency and elective care lead to suboptimal patient care and unnecessary transfers, a nationwide system that can app...

In case of patients with spinal cord injury and concomitant acromioclavicular (AC) joint-dislocation the treatment is challenging, as in this special patient group the function of the shoulder joint is critical because patients depend on the upper limb for mobilization and wheelchair-locomotion. Therefore the goal of this study was to examine, if the treatment of chronic AC-joint dislocation us...

CONCLUSIONS: Both locoregional as well as distant tissue transfers have their role in postburn head and neck reconstruction, whereas pre-expansion remains an invaluable tool. Paying attention to the presented principles and keeping the importance of aesthetic facial subunits in mind, range of motion, aesthetics, and patient satisfaction were improved long term in all our patients, while minimiz...

Free flap reconstruction of soft tissue defects in the distal lower extremity presents inherent challenges given the suboptimal vascularity of the distal limb, and continuous weight-bearing forces, movement, and friction. Successful repair in this anatomic region is even more difficult in the posttraumatic patient, as free tissue transfers must contend with additional constraints of possible co...