A practical method was developed to assess the extent of burns suffered by elephants caught in bush fires. In developing this method, the surface areas of the different body parts of juvenile, subadult and adult elephants were first determined using standard equations, and then expressed as a percentage of the total body surface area. When viewed from a distance, the burnt proportion of all body segments is estimated, converted to percentages of total body surface area, and then summed to determine the extent of burns suffered

Various methods for anterior pelvic ring fixation have been described in the literature, each with specific advantages and disadvantages. We describe a modified minimally invasive subcutaneous technique for anterior fixation: the Bridging Infix. It combines the benefits of internal plate fixation with external fixator principles. We merged and modified features of the existing INFIX and Pelvic Bridge techniques during the design. Similar to these techniques, we use plate-rods typically used during occipitocervical fusions. The design changes allow for less discomfort due to prominent hardware in thin patients and eliminate the need for an intact medial pubic rami for fixation. There is also no risk of bladder injury due to accidental screw perforation through the pubic rami. The Bridging Infix is ideal for patients who are physiologically too frail for extensive open reduction and plate osteosynthesis, such as elderly patients with pelvic fragility fractures who are failing to mobilise due to pain. It can also be used for patients in whom external fixators may be impractical or poorly tolerated, such as obese patients or those with increased nursing demands. This technique does not provide adequate posterior pelvic ring stability, thus it requires an intact posterior tension band or the addition of separate posterior fixation. Patients can commence in-bed mobilisation the same day as the procedure, with weight-bearing as tolerated allowed for most cases, and toe-touching reserved for highly unstable injury patterns only. The implants are not routinely removed unless requested by the patient, especially in the elderly to avoid additional anaesthetic exposure. Potential complaints include lateral thigh pain, due to lateral femoral nerve compression, and mechanical discomfort during exercise activities. Level of evidence: Level 5

Histological examination of burn injuries in elephants revealed that the depth was not as severe as expected from clinical observation. Although the actual burn depth was deep, the thickness of elephant skin, especially the dermis, resulted in the lesions being classified as less severe than expected. Examination of skin samples from selected areas showed that most lesions were either superficial (1st degree) or superficial partial-thickness (superficial 2nd degree) burns with the occasional deep partial thickness (deep 2nd degree) wound. These lesions however, resulted in severe complications that eventually led to the death of a number of the elephants.

BACKGROUND: As our population ages, the incidence of pelvic fragility fractures will rise accordingly. Despite these fractures having similar mortality rates to proximal femur fractures, there exist discrepancies between the management of these injuries. Although a number of pelvic fragility fractures can be treated successfully with conservative means, early treatment with appropriate surgical means should be considered in those failing conservative treatment or with unstable fracture patterns. CASE REPORT: We present an 84-year-old female who sustained a pelvic fragility fracture after a low-energy fall. Despite adequate conservative treatment, she was unable to mobilise. She was taken for anterior and posterior fixation, using our modified minimally invasive subcutaneous technique (the Bridging Infix) for anterior fixation. At the six-week follow-up she had regained full independent mobility. She had three syncope-related falls during this period, but radiographs revealed no sign of implant displacement. One year after her surgery she had complete union of her fracture, good function and no desire to have the implant removed. DISCUSSION: With the expected increase in pelvic fragility fractures due to the growing elderly population, our understanding of these injuries has begun to change. Occult posterior ring injuries have been described in up to 80% of cases, while fracture progression to unstable patterns can occur in up to 15% of stable patterns. Despite conservative management being the primary treatment of choice, these patients suffer morbidity and mortality rates comparable to proximal femur fractures. Early appropriate surgical management should be considered in patients failing to mobilise. Various surgical techniques have been described, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Newer minimally invasive techniques are gaining favour, especially for use in elderly patients. These constructs combine the low profile benefits of internal plate fixation with ex-fix principles. CONCLUSION: The Bridging Infix is a modified technique for minimally invasive subcutaneous anterior pelvic fixation. Its use can strongly be considered by even the general orthopaedic surgeon in cases where patients are too frail for extensive or invasive surgeries, such as open reduction and internal fixation with plate and screws. Level of evidence: Level 5 Keywords: pelvic fracture, anterior pelvic fixation, elderly, minimally invasive