Search

Despite maximally motivated and professionally outstanding young talent, the particularly stressful surgical disciplines have recruitment concerns. In recent years various sections and subsidiary societies of the German Society for Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery (DGOU) have developed and distributed personnel and institution-related certificates. Organ-specific and procedure-specific certificates are very popular to confer increased visibility to individuals and institutions. Many specialists for orthopedics and trauma surgery specialized early in fields, such as foot, knee, shoulder, elbow or arthroscopic surgery. General traumatology, treatment of polytrauma and complex traumatology of the chest and abdomen are becoming more and more unattractive. Knife attacks and also the "truck attack" at the Breitscheidplatz in Berlin illustrate the smoldering terror situation in Germany. The Federal Criminal Police Office also recently announced that the incidence of domestic violence increased by 6.5% in 2023 alone. This cannot be mastered with specialization alone. The visibility and the attractiveness of specialized trauma surgery must be increased and structures for appropriate specialization must be achieved. The possible introduction of a qualification "specialized trauma surgery" is discussed. In current considerations of the German Society of Trauma Surgery (DGU), the Academy for Trauma Surgery (AUC) and the Working Group for Osteosynthesis Issues (AO) Trauma Germany, a stepwise acquisition of defined knowledge from the principles on basic contents up to specialization and expert knowledge, could lead to the acquisition of the qualification in "specialized trauma surgery"., Competing Interests: Einhaltung ethischer Richtlinien. Interessenkonflikt: J.C. Katthagen, M.F. Lodde, C.A. Müller, M.J. Raschke und T. Fuchs geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht. Für diesen Beitrag wurden von den Autor/-innen keine Studien an Menschen oder Tieren durchgeführt. Für die aufgeführten Studien gelten die jeweils dort angegebenen ethischen Richtlinien., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Medizin Verlag GmbH, ein Teil von Springer Nature.)

Background: Since 2005, when the Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) system was introduced, an increasing number of surgical procedures have been reported in Germany. In particular, the numbers of elective arthroplasty and spinal surgery procedures have been controversial., Objectives: The focus of this study was analyzing the development of spinal surgery, arthroplasty, and fracture management., Materials and Methods: We analyzed the database for all musculoskeletal operating procedure codes (OPS codes 5‑78 to 5‑86) from 2005 to 2013 collected by the German Federal Statistical Office., Results: With an increase in total patient numbers of 12.8%, there was a rise in in-patient musculoskeletal procedures of 43.5%; the highest increase in procedures was found in spinal surgery (130%). Despite an ageing population, the numbers of hip- and knee arthroplasty procedures initially decreased after 2011 and after 2009 respectively. The number of osteosyntheses showed a slight increase (16%), whereas the number of (elective) implant removals declined (-7%). An increase in novel techniques was noticeable, such as locked plate osteosynthesis (251%), shoulder arthroplasty (402%) or the use of bone substitutes in spinal surgery (+2,011%)., Conclusions: Despite generally increasing volume growth, the numbers of hip and knee arthroplasty cases decreased. In addition to an ageing population and potential economic incentives, technical innovations and new implant systems should be considered when discussing increasing case numbers.

Although currently there are many different recommendations and strategies in the therapy of odontoid fractures in the elderly, there are still no generally accepted guidelines for a structured and standardised treatment. Moreover, the current opinion of spine surgeons regarding the optimal treatment of odontoid fractures Type II of the elderly is unknown. In order to have an objective insight into the diverging strategies for the management of Anderson Type II odontoid fractures and form a basis for future comparisons, this study investigated the current concepts and preferences of orthopaedic, neuro- and trauma surgeons. Spine surgeons from 34 medical schools and 8 hospitals in Germany, 4 university hospitals in Austria and 5 in Switzerland were invited to participate in an online survey using a 12-item 1-sided questionnaire. A total of 44 interviewees from 34 medical institutions participated in the survey, consisting of trauma (50%), orthopaedic (20.5%) and neurosurgeons (27.3%). Out of these, 70.5% treated 1-20 fractures per year; 63.6% favoured the anterior screw fixation as therapy for Type II odontoid fractures, the open posterior Magerl transarticular C1/C2 fusion, the posterior Harms C1/C2 fusion, and conservative immobilisation by cervical orthosis was preferred by 9.1% in each case. 59.1% preferred the anterior odontoid screw fixation as an appropriate treatment of Anderson Type II odontoid fractures in the elderly. 79.5% chose cervical orthosis for postsurgical treatment. Following operative treatment, nonunion rates were reported to be <10% and <20% by 40.9% and 70% of the surgeons, respectively. 56.8% reported changing from primary conservative to secondary operative treatment in <10% of cases. The most favoured technique in revision surgery of nonunions was the open posterior Magerl transarticular fusion technique, chosen by 38.6% of respondents. 18.2% preferred the posterior Harms C1/C2 fusion technique, 11.4% the percutaneous posterior Magerl technique and the anterior odontoid screw fixation in each case. This study discovered major variations in the treatment of Anderson Type II odontoid fractures in the elderly in terms of indication for conservative and operative treatment between several treatment centres in 3 European countries. Difficulty and complexity in formulating general guidelines based on multicenter studies is conceivable., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Demographic changes and rising numbers of implanted prostheses accompanied by increasing demands on mobility and activities of the elderly will lead to an increasing number of periprosthetic fractures in the future. Poor bone quality, geriatric comorbidities and multiple prostheses result in an increased risk for this type of fracture in the old patient. Management of these patients is challenging and demanding and needs an interdisciplinary approach. The present work describes the different aspects of periprosthetic fractures in the geriatric patient with regard to epidemiology, risk factors, prevention and treatment options.

Lump sum reimbursement and the resulting concentration of medical treatment in maximum care clinics have led to substantial increase in economic pressure on university hospitals. Nearly all hospitals have introduced business ratios to economically judge each department. In order to evaluate the validity and comparability the business ratios of seven university traumatology departments were evaluated. Structural data as well as cost calculation results in different cost groups were evaluated. Major differences could be identified despite the fact that the cost calculations were all based on the same method (InEK method). In particular the costs for distribution to other medical specialties such as radiology or anesthesiology differed widely. Costs for infrastructure also showed a great variation. Differences in efficiency cannot be the only cause for these discrepancies and lacking standardization of cost calculation methodology is also another major cause. All the business ratios analyzed must be looked at critically and unless a thoroughly standardized methodology of cost calculation is implemented, cost ratios will have a limited potential for hospital benchmarking.

Aim: As an increasing number of patients suffer from osteoporosis-related disorders worldwide, the medical as well as the socioeconomic impact of this problem is significant. Although evidence-based guidelines for diagnosis and treatment are available, their application in daily practice is insufficient. The aim of our initiative was to develop a strategy for supporting this transfer., Methods: An expert group of the German Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (DGOU) has analysed the current scientific as well as health-care data bases regarding diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis. Then a set of recommendations has been developed in order to improve this situation., Results: The identified support strategy will focus on better identification of patients with osteoporosis and frailty, enhanced interdisciplinary approaches and increased activity to disseminate available guidelines. Additionally, more research activities are necessary in order to highlight the socioeconomic burden of the disease and to continuously improve surgical treatment strategies in the future., Conclusion: To ensure a successful application of the recommendations, continuous support of involved health professionals as well as political institutions, national health insurance systems, scientific societies and patient organisations is necessary., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart, New York.)

Background: Since the introduction of a per-case reimbursement system in Germany (German Diagnosis-Related Groups, G-DRG), the correct reimbursement for the treatment of severely injured patients has been much debated. While the classification of a patient in a polytrauma DRG follows different rules than the usual clinical definition, leading to a high number of patients not grouped as severely injured by the system, the system was also criticized in 2005 for its shortcomings in financing the treatment of severely injured patients. The development of financial reimbursement will be discussed in this paper., Method: 167 patients treated in 2006 and 2007 due to a severe injury at the University-Hospital Münster and grouped into a polytrauma-DRG were included in this study. For each patient, cost-equivalents were estimated. For those patients treated in 2007 (n=110), exact costs were calculated following the InEK cost-calculation method. The reimbursement was calculated using the G-DRG-Systems of 2007, 2008 and 2009. Cost-equivalents/costs and clinical parameters were correlated., Results: A total of 167 patients treated in 2006 and 2007 for a severe injury at the Münster University Hospital and grouped into a polytrauma DRG were included in this study. Cost equivalents were estimated for each patient. For those patients treated in 2007 (n=110), exact costs were calculated following the InEK (Institute for the Hospital Remuneration System) cost calculation method. Reimbursement was calculated using the G-DRG systems of 2007, 2008 and 2009. Cost equivalents/costs and clinical parameters were correlated., Discussion: With the ongoing development of the G-DRG system, reimbursement for the treatment of severely injured patient has improved, but the amount of underfinancing remains substantial. As treatment of severely injured patients must be reimbursed using the G-DRG system, this system must be further adapted to better meet the needs of severely injured patients. Parameters such as total surgery time, injury severity score (ISS) and LOS in ICU could be used for this purpose. In future, data obtained in trauma networks can help optimize reimbursement for the treatment of these patients.

Each year, 20,000 people in Germany die because of a traffic accident. Altogether, yearly productivity loss caused by these injuries is estimated to be around 5 billion Euros. International and national studies revealed the trauma center level of the primary hospital as the major predictor for trauma related mortality. In 2006 the German Society for Trauma Surgery (DGU) called its members to form regionally based networks for the exchange of data among hospitals engaged in trauma care. In April 2008 the north-west region of Germany with 49 hospitals, three hospitals in the Netherlands, and local emergency services founded the "TraumaNetwork NorthWest (TNNW). The major goals of the TNNW are: 1) to shorten the time between accident and admission to the appropriate hospital, 2) to create effective means of communication, and 3) to implement common pre- and in-hospital standards for trauma care. Since the needed application software is not commercially available, a team of computer and medical specialists has been formed for its development. Once the software is in place, a pre- and post-analysis will be performed to study the consequences of the application on transportation time and injury-related mortality within the region. The project is recognized as a pilot project by the DGU and if it is successful is meant to be adapted across Germany.