Abstract
The concept of damage control orthopaedics (DCO) especially in a polytrauma patient compounded with other medical conditions being vigorously advocated by orthopaedic trauma surgeons. Presenting a case of a polytrauma patient with thyroid storm. The decision on DCO in this patient being discussed. The decision about the timing of surgery should be based on the patients’ condition as a whole. Careful planning and definition of priorities in each individual patient is essential. This holistic approach will see that patient safety care improves.
Highlights
The concept of damage control orthopaedics (DCO) especially in a polytrauma patient compounded with other medical conditions being vigorously advocated by orthopaedic trauma surgeons
We report a case of bilateral femur fracture associated with occipital skull fracture, subdural hemorrhage over right frontal and left frontotemporal complicated by thyroid storm on admission
Patient was resistant for the thyroid storm treatment, where it took almost one month under medical treatment to recover
Summary
‘Operate, operate and operate now’ was the mantra of the orthopedic surgeons until the introduction of concepts of damage control orthopedics (DCO) in the early 1990s. We report a case of bilateral femur fracture associated with occipital skull fracture, subdural hemorrhage over right frontal and left frontotemporal complicated by thyroid storm on admission. Mr L (patient) was a 24-year-old Chinese male, who was involved in a motor vehicles accident, in which the motorbike was hit and run by a lorry He was brought to the Trauma and Emergency department presented with headache, swelling and deformity over both the thighs. Patient was resistant for the thyroid storm treatment, where it took almost one month under medical treatment to recover During this period, as he was immobile, he developed 1st degree sacral sore which was treated with daily dressing and two hourly turning. Tibial pin was removed and wheelchair transfer was educated He was planning for operation to correct the deformity of the left femur once medically fit for surgery
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