Injuries to the spinal cord and nerve roots continue to pose a major challenge in our field. We are usually able to treat both bony and ligamentous consequences of accidents to the spinal column very well, both conservatively and surgically. Approximately 20 % of patients with spinal injuries have neurological deficits associated with the accident. These often lead to serious physical, psychological and social consequences.

The current special issue "Spinal Trauma " of the journal "Die Unfallchirurgie" (introduction by Prof. S. Sehmisch) deals with this topic in detail.

Experimental Trauma Surgery was once again recognized as a Network Laboratory Musculoskeletal Regeneration in accordance with the guidelines of the Basic Research Section of the German Society for Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery (DGOU).

Research into musculoskeletal regeneration requires a multidisciplinary approach, which is implemented in the research laboratories of the Clinical Departments of Trauma Surgery and Orthopaedics. This field of research is concerned with the regeneration of affected musculoskeletal tissue outside or inside the human body.
By networking the researchers, the MR-Net aims to structure and bundle experimental and clinical research into musculoskeletal diseases in order to implement the latest results in clinical care and thus support the quality of life and mobility of patients.

The Clinical Department of Trauma Surgery at MHH specializes in the treatment of complex injuries and the reconstruction of large bone defects.

In the current issue of "Die Unfallchirurgie" you will find interesting papers on this topic involving our Clinical Department.

Dr. med. vet. Katrin Bundkirchen, Deputy Head of Research and Laboratory of Experimental Trauma Surgery, was successful in obtaining third-party funding from the Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation in the amount of € 257,273 over a period of 36 months.
The project "Analysis of the effect of polytrauma on murine fracture healing in the long-term" is investigating why bone fracture healing is often impaired after the most severe injuries.
A polytrauma is defined here as several injuries which, taken together, represent a life-threatening situation for the patient. As a result, polytrauma is the leading cause of death in patients under the age of 50, and 60% of survivors still suffer from relevant disabilities years later - such as delayed or absent healing of bone fractures. The reasons for this have not yet been sufficiently researched. All that is known is that there is a direct link between polytrauma and bone healing, as the same molecules are released in the inflammatory reaction after polytrauma as after bone fractures. However, there is a lack of studies that examine the healing of bone fractures after polytrauma in a standardized way over time. Therefore, the aim of this project is to investigate the regeneration of bone fractures over a period of 21 days after polytrauma in a mouse model that is comparable to clinical reality.

The Clinical Department of Trauma Surgery at Hannover Medical School, headed by Prof. Dr. med. S. Sehmisch, has always been a national and international point of contact for patients with serious limb injuries. The Reconstructive Limb Surgery team led by Prof. Dr. med. P. Mommsen and Dr. med. T. Omar Pacha has now succeeded for the first time in Europe in implanting a 3D-printed, patient-specific graft cage (TruMATCH Cage®) to treat a long bone defect in the lower leg.

Dr. med. vet. Katrin Bundkirchen, Deputy Head of Research and Laboratory of Experimental Trauma Surgery, was awarded the Abstract Prize for the abstract entitled "Effects of age and alcohol on fracture healing after severe blood loss" at the 70th Annual Meeting of the Association of South German Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeons (VSOU) from 28-30 April 2022 in Baden-Baden. The prize is endowed with €500.

Thursday, 3 p.m.: Christoph 4 lands on the landing deck at Hannover Medical School (MHH) with a dull thump of its rotors. This is the last landing in active service for Volker Hubrich, senior Johanniter emergency paramedic and HEMS-TC (Helicopter Emergency Medical Services Technical Crew Member). After 37 years of service in air rescue, the 64-year-old is ending his active service. "I've flown many a kilometer and mission as an HEMS-TC and emergency rescuer," says Hubrich. "I've flown a total of 18,212 missions."
The Christoph 4 rescue helicopter has been stationed at Hannover Medical School since 1972 and is one of 12 civil defense helicopters in Germany. In addition to the pilot and the emergency paramedic, an emergency physician from the Clinical Department of Trauma Surgery always flies in the Christoph 4. In his 37 years of service, Volker Hubrich has introduced many of our junior physicians to the air rescue service.

"Volker Hubrich is a veteran of active service who has been synonymous with rescue helicopters at Johanniter all these years. This is testament to his great reliability and quality. We would like to thank Volker Hubrich for the many years of cooperation and his commitment to air rescue. In addition, he has also spent decades training the next generation at the Johanniter Academy and passing on his knowledge," says Hannes Wendler, member of the Johanniter regional board of the Lower Saxony/Bremen regional association.

The Clinical Department of Trauma Surgery wishes Volker Hubrich all the best for his retirement!

As part of the change in clinic management and to strengthen cooperation with the employers' liability insurance associations, Professor Stephan Sehmisch invites you to a trauma surgery training course for DGUV clerks on Friday, May 20, 2022. Above all, we would like to demonstrate the possibilities of acute treatment, rehabilitation, interdisciplinary cooperation and research.

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As a supra-regional trauma center, the Clinical Department of Trauma Surgery at Hannover Medical School offers the entire spectrum for the treatment of acute and chronic consequences of accidents.
This expertise exists in particular in the treatment of accident victims who are referred to the MHH as part of the VAV and SAV procedure of the employers' liability insurance associations in the context of accidents at work and commuting accidents.

The event will take place according to the 2G rule, informal registration by e-mail with name, telephone number and vaccination status is required. Please have the relevant proof ready at the entrance.

On Saturday, April 23, 2022, it's that time again!

The 70th Accident Seminar with the topic "Geriatric Traumatology - Challenge and Opportunity" will take place from 9:00 to 15:00 in lecture hall F (building J1) of the MHH.
You can expect exciting presentations, an industry exhibition and the opportunity to discuss with the speakers during the breaks (Speakers' Corner / Meet the Expert).

The event is recognized with 7 continuing education points by the Medical Association of Lower Saxony.

Program flyer for download
Below you will find the presentations of the accident seminar for download

The event will take place according to the 2G rule or 2G+ (depending on the warning level) (limited number of participants, registration, compulsory masks outside the seat), please have appropriate proof ready at the entrance.
Registration by e-mail with name, telephone number and vaccination status is mandatory.

After 2 1/2 years of interdisciplinary and interprofessional preparation, the Trauma Surgery Clinical Department of the MHH has been certified as the only DGU® Trauma Center for the Elderly in the Hanover region. This has created a framework structure for the care of very old patients with accident injuries, which has already led to significant improvements.
The further development of this geriatric trauma center will remain a constant challenge, taking into account demographic conditions and the framework conditions of the healthcare system.

On the occasion of the celebration of the 800,000th mission, they came together in Bonn Dransdorf on 17.07.20, of course in compliance with all hygiene regulations: On 16.04.2020, Christoph 4 had flown the 800,000th mission of the civil defense helicopters. 14-year-old Joshua had to be searched for, found and given medical treatment in rough terrain after a mountain bike fall. Thanks to the help from the air, this was done quickly and the patient is doing well again today.
Several institutions are involved in the Christoph 4 air rescue. Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe e.V. Landesverband Niedersachsen/Bremen is responsible for the operation of the helicopter and provides the emergency paramedics and HEMS-TC. The pilots belong to the Federal Police, Northern Air Force Base Gifhorn, and carry out the maintenance and servicing of the helicopter. The emergency physicians have come from the MHH's Trauma Surgery Clinical Department for almost 50 years. Dr. Christian Macke has been the medical director since 2016. The state of Lower Saxony is responsible for the air rescue base.