Pediatric intracranial pressure monitoring in hypoxic and nonhypoxic brain injury

We reviewed the results of all pediatric patients undergoing intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring in a 2-year period at our institution. The outcome of patients suffering hypoxia or ischemic injuries (HII) is compared to those suffering non-hypoxic or non-ischemic injuries (NHII). Thirty-four patients had ICP monitors placed during the study period. Inconplete patient information led to the exclusion of 5 patients. An additional 5 patients were excluded because no measures to control ICP were taken after the monitor was placed. Twenty-four patients required treatment for raised ICP (hyperventilation, 24; mannitol, 19; barbiturate coma, 6). Admission Glasgow Coma Score in patients suffering HII (median score 5) and NHII (median score 6) were not significantly different (Mann-Whitney U Test). Only 2 of 8 patients with HII were near-drowning vietims. The remaining 6 had HII from other causes (5 survivors of various forms of asphyxia and 1 of cardiac arrest). All 8 patients had poor outcomes (1 severely disabled; 7 died). The 16 patients with NHII had a variety of diagnoses (6 trauma, 5 encephalitis, 4 bacterial meningitis, 1 diabetic ketoacidosis). Among these, 6 had good outcomes and 10 poor outcomes (2 severely disabled, 2 vegetative, and 6 died). The difference in outcome between patients with NHII and HII is significant at P=0.059 (Fischer Exact test). Patients with NHII may benefit from ICP monitoring. Patients with HII from near-drowning and other causes did not appear to benefit from ICP monitoring and interventions directed at controlling ICP.     

Functioning and disability 6–15 years after traumatic brain injuries in northern Sweden

Objectives –  To assess long‐term functioning and disability after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Material and methods –  Individuals (n = 88) in Norrbotten, northern Sweden, who had been transferred for neurosurgical care were assessed with internationally established TBI outcome measures 6–15 years post‐injury. Results –  There was an improvement in overall outcome from discharge from inpatient rehabilitation to follow‐up. Many individuals had a high degree of motor and cognitive functioning, which enabled them to live independently in their own home without assistance, but there remained a disability related to community reintegration and social participation. This affected their productivity and to some degree their marital stability. The remaining disability and reduced productivity were related to the age at injury and the injury severity. Conclusions –  Our data showed that individuals with a TBI can achieve and maintain a high degree of functioning many years after the injury. Increasing age and a greater injury severity contributed to their long‐term disability.     

Three-Dimensional Soft Tissue Prediction Using Finite Elements

Abstract Background and Aim: The prediction of soft tissue esthetics is important for achieving an optimal esthetic outcome in orthodontic treatment planning. Applicable procedures have so far been restricted to two-dimensional profile predictions that have not proven to be very reliable. The goal of this investigation was therefore to develop a novel finite element-based procedure that allows a three-dimensional, easily visualized, quantitative analysis and prediction of soft tissue behavior for the clinician. The procedure to be developed should be easy to handle and not entail any additional radiation exposure for the patient. Material and Methods: Using a three-dimensional scanner, the facial surfaces of 20 probands were digitalized and individual FEM models were generated. Results: After reduction of data redundancy via several conversion steps, a patient-specific simulation model was prepared consisting of 20,000 to 40,000 individual elements to which specific physical properties could be assigned. The average time required for generating a virtual model was 50 minutes. Problems occurring during model generation were rare (mainly shadowing phenomena and movement artifacts). Conclusion: The procedure outlined herein makes the reliable generation of patient-specific simulation models possible for facial soft tissue prediction in orthodontics.     

A Decision Rule for Predicting Bacterial Meningitis in Children with Cerebrospinal Fluid Pleocytosis When Gram Stain Is Negative or Unavailable

Objectives:  Among children with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pleocytosis, the task of separating aseptic from bacterial meningitis is hampered when the CSF Gram stain result is unavailable, delayed, or negative. In this study, the authors derive and validate a clinical decision rule for use in this setting.
Methods:  This was a review of peripheral blood and CSF test results from 78 children (<19 years) presenting to Children's Hospital Columbus from 1998 to 2002. For those with a CSF leukocyte count of >7/μL, a rule was created for separating bacterial from viral meningitis that was based on routine laboratory tests, but excluded Gram stain. The rule was validated in 158 subjects seen at the same site (Columbus, 2002–2004) and in 871 subjects selected from a separate site (Boston, 1993–1999).
Results:  One point each (maximum, 6 points) was assigned for leukocytes >597/μL, neutrophils >74%, glucose <38 mg/dL, and protein >97 mg/dL in CSF and for leukocytes >17,000/mL and bands to neutrophils >11% in peripheral blood. Areas under receiver-operator-characteristic curves (AROCs) for the resultant score were 0.98 for the derivation set and 0.90 and 0.97, respectively, for validation sets from Columbus and Boston. Sensitivity and specificity pairs for the Boston data set were 100 and 44%, respectively, at a score of 0 and 97 and 81% at a score of 1. Likelihood ratios (LRs) increased from 0 at a score of 0 to 40 at a score of ≥4.
Conclusions:  Among children with CSF pleocytosis, a prediction score based on common tests of CSF and peripheral blood and intended for children with unavailable, negative, or delayed CSF Gram stain results has value for diagnosing bacterial meningitis.     

Primary Hemiarthroplasty for Proximal Humeral Fractures in the Elderly: Long-Term Functional Outcome and Social Implications

Abstract Background: Primary shoulder hemiarthroplasty is an established treatment modality for complex fractures of the proximal humerus. Long-term functional outcome is often disappointing. However, little is known about social implications particularly in the elderly. Methods: A single-institution case series of consecutive geriatric patients (age > 70 years) treated with shoulder hemiarthroplasty for complex fractures of the proximal humerus between 1994 and 1997 was analysed. Postoperative morbidity, long-term function, radiological outcome and social implications were evaluated. Results: Seventy-seven patients fulfilled the study criteria. Median age at the time of operation was 80 years (range 70–93 years). Systemic and local postoperative complications were observed in 8% including 2 patients (3%) with revision surgery. Postoperative mortality was 1%. Forty-eight patients (62%) were available for follow-up (median 49 months, range 25–80 months), 22 (29%) died from causes unrelated to hemiarthroplasty before follow-up and 7 patients (9%) did not attend follow-up examination. Median Constant-Murley score was 41 points (range 17–77 points). Long-term results concerning pain were satisfying. The Oxford shoulder score ranged from 14 to 40 (median 30). Forty-one patients (85%) still lived in their original environment and managed their daily life independently despite poor shoulder function. Four patients (8%) lived in a retirement home and 3 (6%) in a nursery home. Eighty percent of our patients were still able to use public transportation, do the daily shopping and wash their whole body by themselves. Conclusion: Most patients managed their daily life independently despite poor shoulder function.     

Clinical and Actuarial Prediction of Physical Violence in a Forensic Intellectual Disability Hospital: A Longitudinal Study

Background There is a high rate of physical violence in populations with intellectual disabilities, and this has been linked to problems for the victim, the assailant, members of staff and services. Despite the clinical significance of this behaviour, few studies have assessed methods of predicting its occurrence. The present study examined clinical and actuarial methods of predicting violence in a forensic intellectual disability hospital. Methods The sample for the study consisted of people resident in the hospital during a 1‐year period (n = 124). Clinical prediction used a risk rating made by members of the person's clinical team, whereas actuarial prediction used the number of violent incidents in the 6‐months before the date of the clinical risk assessment. Computerized hospital records of violence in the 6 months after the assessment were used to examine the predictive accuracy of the two methods. Results The clinical method produced an area under the curve of 0.74 (95% CI: 0.65–0.83) in a receiver–operating characteristic curve analysis. The value for the actuarial method was 0.77 (95% CI: 0.69–0.86). Both methods performed at levels significantly above chance, but no one method was found to be superior to the other. Conclusions These findings suggest that it is possible to predict who is at risk of violence in forensic populations with intellectual disabilities. Here, the authors discuss the clinical implications of these findings and the clinical application of risk prediction within clinical services.     

Meniscal repair: Outcomes and clinical follow-up

A retrospective study of arthroscopic meniscal repair in 101 consecutive patients was conducted. Sixty-three patients constituted our study group. The arthroscopic technique used for meniscal repair was the inside-out method using malleable cannulas. Forty-five patients were available for clinical examination, with a mean follow-up of 27 months. Tegner and Lysholm scores were comparable to those previously reported for arthroscopic meniscal repair. The HSQ (similar to the SF-36) scores were equal to those from an age- and sex-matched normal population, indicating that individuals with repaired menisci do not have any residual negative effects on global health at mean 26.9 months' follow-up. The physical functioning subscale of the HSQ was found to be sensitive to patient perception of results. Complications included one case of restricted knee range of motion requiring arthroscopy and lysis of adhesions. Overall clinical results were 64% excellent, 27% good, and 9% failure. Age, sex, and length of the meniscal tear had no affect on clinical outcome.     

急性胰腺炎病因和诊治十年变迁(附725例报道)

急性胰腺炎的病因和早期诊治一直是临床医师关注的问题。目的：探讨近十年来急性胰腺炎病因、诊断和治疗的变迁及其对预后和住院费用的影响，总结急性胰腺炎的治疗经验。方法：采用回顾性临床研究方法，将725例人选患者分为两组．1993年4月～1998年12月就诊的患者为第一组，1999年1月～2002年8月就诊的患者为第二组：分析两组患者病因、诊断指标、治疗方案、并发症、预后、住院费用方面的变化。结果：比较两组病因，两组患胆囊炎胆结石者分别占72．3％和75．8％，高脂血症者分别占25．3％和25．8％，酗酒者分别占10．6％和9．7％。血清淀粉酶水平高于正常上限3倍的总检出率为66．9％．CT诊断总阳性率为92．0％。第一组46．9％的患者应用生长抑素，31．1％的重症患者发生胰腺假性囊肿，2．2％发生胰腺脓肿，死亡率为15．6％。第二组72-3％的患者应用生长抑素，13．2％的重症患者发生胰腺假性囊肿，2．2％发生胰腺脓肿，死亡率为6．5％。第二组的住院费用与第一组相比呈下降趋势，但无显著差异。结论：胆道疾病仍为急性胰腺炎的主要病因，血清淀粉酶和CT是急性胰腺炎较常用和可靠的检查手段。通过早期足量应用胰酶抑制剂(尤其是生长抑素)、肠道去污和改善胰腺微循环，可改善急性胰腺炎的预后，降低并发症发生率、死亡率和住院费用。     

Ultrasound-determined fetal subcutaneous tissue thickness for a birthweight prediction model

AIM: The aim of this study was to explore a birthweight prediction model using ultrasound determined tissue thickness (SCTT) parameters. METHODS: We measured routine ultrasonographic biometric parameters and in addition, fetal SCTT in 201 healthy singleton pregnancies. Mid-arm fat and lean mass, mid-thigh fat and lean mass, subscapular fat mass and abdominal fat mass (AFM) were measured in order to calculate a birthweight prediction model. Ultrasound measurements were analyzed using an 'anovarepeated measures model'. The growth rate (beta-slope) of the selected parameters was computed and the correlation coefficient with the birthweight and the Kendall rank correlation tau, were calculated. RESULTS: From the ultrasound determined SCTT parameters, only abdominal circumference (AC), AFM, and MTLM showed a statistically significant trend. The beta-slope of mid-thigh lean mass was excluded since it exhibited significant correlation with the beta-slope of AFM. The final regression model could be calculated as: birthweight (gr.) = intercept +alpha(1)(AFM beta-slope) + alpha(2)(AC beta-slope), where alpha(1), alpha(2) represent regression coefficients. CONCLUSIONS: We provide a graphical birthweight prediction model for clinical practice using conventional and specific ultrasound measurements of fetal subcutaneous tissue thickness. This model is based upon an overall analysis of the ultrasound estimated body components.