逆行髓内钉辅助在儿童股骨延长中的应用

目的采用髓内钉辅助延长技术进行儿童股骨大段延长,评估其可行性,并对比同期矫正和分期手术的技术要点,明确此技术在儿童患儿中的应用价值。方法自2014年7月7日至2018年1月16日共规划完成逆行髓内钉辅助延长手术10例,其中男9例,女1例;年龄(13.10±2.18)岁。所有患儿延长截骨点均位于股骨远端干骺端,初诊至末次随访记录内容包括:性别、出生日期、不等长病因及治疗史、术时年龄、延长长度、带架时间、延长段愈合时间、屈膝角度、并发症等。比较同期延长和分期矫正的愈合时间,采用SPSS 22.0软件进行统计分析,提出合理的治疗策略。结果10例患儿患肢平均延长(7.07±1.01)cm,中位带架时间为8.5(4,16)个月,中位随访时间为39(34,54)个月。所有病例均获得了良好的临床和影像学愈合,并全部恢复正常行走功能,无延长后骨折发生。同期矫正与分期手术间在愈合速度为[(1.70±1.10)月/cm vs.(1.16±0.54)月/cm],膝关节功能(136.67°±20.82°vs.125.71°±26.37°)和并发症率方面的差异均无统计学意义。结论外固定架辅助逆行髓内钉技术进行股骨延长治疗儿童股骨短缩畸形是可行的,是股骨延长的有效手术方式之一;较轻的角度畸形和延长手术可同期进行;干骺端截骨延长成骨质量更佳,可有效减少带架时间;内生软骨瘤患儿的病变区延长是安全的。     

Association of Multiple Plasma Biomarker Concentrations with Progression of Prevalent Diabetic Kidney Disease: Findings from the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study

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Radiotherapy-specific interprofessional learning through simulation

IntroductionInterprofessional learning (IPL) is a vital aspect of training in radiation oncology professions, yet is rarely delivered to those professionals who work most closely together in clinical practice. Scenario-based learning using simulation facilities provides a unique opportunity to facilitate this learning and this project aimed to determine the impact and value of this initiative.MethodsSmall groups comprising post-graduate diploma pre-registration therapeutic radiographers, medical physics trainees and radiation oncology registrars were challenged with 4 plausible and challenging radiotherapy scenarios within an academic simulation centre. Pre- and post-event completion of the “Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale” measured impact and a Likert-style survey gathered feedback from participants.ResultsThe session increased participants' teamwork and collaboration skills as well as strengthening professional identities. Participants reported high levels of enjoyment related to collaborative working, communication and observing other professionals deploying their technical skills and specialist knowledge.ConclusionAlthough beneficial, simulated scenarios offering equal opportunities for engagement across the professions are challenging to plan and timetabling issues between the 3 groups present significant difficulties. The safe environment and unique opportunity for these groups to learn together was particularly well received and future oncology-specific simulated scenario sessions are planned with larger cohorts.Implications for practiceSimulated scenario training can be used to improve team working across the radiotherapy interprofessional team and may have wider use in other specialist interdisciplinary team development.     

Non-weightbearing imaging and standard knee radiographs are inferior to formal alignment radiographs for calculating coronal alignment of the knee

IntroductionRealignment knee osteotomy relies on accurate preoperative assessment of coronal alignment. Weightbearing (WB) ‘long-leg’ (LL) radiographs are the accepted gold-standard investigation, though in practice standard knee radiographs (short leg; SL) and non-weightbearing (NWB) cross-sectional imaging such as computed tomography (CT) scanograms have been used. We compare the accuracy of SL and NWB radiographs to formal LL alignment radiographs.MethodsA prospectively maintained osteotomy database was reviewed to identify the study population. All patients underwent standardised weightbearing long-leg alignment radiographs. The series was screened consecutively until 30 patients who also underwent WB SL radiographs (‘WB cohort’), and 30 with NWB SL (‘NWB cohort’) radiographs, were identified. Anatomic tibiofemoral angle was calculated by independent reviewers using a validated technique from both radiographs and contrasted.Results60 patients were identified as outlined in the study protocol. There were no differences in baseline demographics. Coronal alignment calculated from SL and LL radiographs differed significantly (median difference 2.1°, p < 0.001). Alignment values from weightbearing SL radiographs demonstrated markedly greater agreement with LL values than those from NWB radiographs (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.878 vs 0.657), with the NWB cohort also exhibiting greater outlier and extreme outlier incidence.ConclusionOur data adds to the growing evidence that SL radiographs are inadequate in the interpretation of knee alignment. In addition, we demonstrate that NWB radiographs (and by extension other NWB modalities such CT scanograms) demonstrate poorer agreement to gold-standard than WB methods. Coronal alignment of the knee cannot be reliably measured from non-weightbearing imaging modalities.Implications for practiceThough potentially useful as an adjunct, non-weightbearing cross-sectional imaging and standard knee radiographs should not be used as a proxy for formal weightbearing long-leg radiographs in osteotomy planning.     

Clot Burden Score and Collateral Status and Their Impact on Functional Outcome in Acute Ischemic Stroke

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:Collateral status and thrombus length have been independently associated with functional outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke. It has been suggested that thrombus length would influence functional outcome via interaction with the collateral circulation. We investigated the individual and combined effects of thrombus length assessed by the clot burden score and collateral status assessed by a FLAIR vascular hyperintensity–ASPECTS rating system on functional outcome (mRS).MATERIALS AND METHODS:Patients with anterior circulation acute ischemic stroke due to large-vessel occlusion from the ASTER and THRACE trials treated with endovascular thrombectomy were pooled. The clot burden score and FLAIR vascular hyperintensity score were determined on MR imaging obtained before endovascular thrombectomy. Favorable outcome was defined as an mRS score of 0–2 at 90 days. Association of the clot burden score and the FLAIR vascular hyperintensity score with favorable outcome (individual effect and interaction) was examined using logistic regression models.RESULTS:Of the 326 patients treated by endovascular thrombectomy with both the clot burden score and FLAIR vascular hyperintensity assessment, favorable outcome was observed in 165 (51%). The rate of favorable outcome increased with clot burden score (smaller clots) and FLAIR vascular hyperintensity (better collaterals) values. The association between clot burden score and functional outcome was significantly modified by the FLAIR vascular hyperintensity score, and this association was stronger in patients with good collaterals, with an adjusted OR = 6.15 (95% CI, 1.03–36.81).CONCLUSIONS:The association between the clot burden score and functional outcome varied for different collateral scores. The FLAIR vascular hyperintensity score might be a valuable prognostic factor, especially when contrast-based vascular imaging is not available.

Therapeutic reperfusion with endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is consistently associated with a better long-term functional outcome in anterior circulation acute ischemic stroke (AIS).¹ Early reperfusion is the mainstay of therapy because it strongly predicts functional outcome.² Many factors impact clinical outcomes, including the extent of clot and collateral supply.^3–7The clot burden score (CBS) assessed by the T2* MR imaging sequence (T2*-CBS), which was adapted from the CTA-CBS,⁸ has been used to assess the extent of the clot⁹ and has been independently associated with functional outcome in patients undergoing EVT.¹⁰Good collaterals have been related to better clinical outcome through 2 distinct mechanisms. First, collaterals are thought to contribute to prolonged penumbra sustenance.^11,12 Second, good retrograde collateral filling beyond the occlusion could promote successful reperfusion by providing more access to thrombolytics at the distal end of the clot and robust collaterals dissolving clot fragments in the distal vasculature.^13,14 The Highly Effective Reperfusion evaluated in Multiple Endovascular Stroke Trials (HERMES) collaboration analysis suggested a benefit with EVT across all strata of collateral circulation status;¹⁵ however, patients with poor collaterals are less likely to benefit from EVT than those with better collaterals.Most interesting, FLAIR vascular hyperintensity (FVH) on baseline MR imaging could indicate the formation of a leptomeningeal collateral circulation and serve as a prognostic marker for patients with AIS.^16-18 Both collaterals and the CBS were separately associated with functional outcome in patients undergoing EVT,^10,16 but their combined effect regarding clinical outcome is still poorly understood and has been assessed and quantified only with CTA or contrast-enhanced MRA in patients with AIS.^14,15 Furthermore, the lack of adjustment for possible confounders because of the small number of patients with very low collateral scores might also have influenced results in these studies.The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is an association between the CBS and FVH score and whether the association between the CBS and functional outcome is modified by the FVH score for patients who were treated by EVT for large-vessel occlusion within the framework of the Contact Aspiration versus Stent Retriever for Successful Revascularization (ASTER) and the THRombectomie des Artères CErebrales (THRACE) randomized trials.^19,20     

Epilepsy and pregnancy: What should the neurologists do?

Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic disorders affecting women of childbearing age. Unfortunately, many women with epilepsy (WWE) still report not receiving key information about pregnancy. They obviously need information about epilepsy and pregnancy prior to conception with a particular emphasis on effective birth control (i.e. contraception), necessity to plan pregnancy, antiepileptic drugs optimization, and folate supplementation. The risks associated with use of antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy have to be balanced against fetal and maternal risks associated with uncontrolled seizures. This report reviews evidence-based counseling and management strategies concerning maternal and fetal risks associated with seizures, teratogenic risks associated with antiepileptic drug exposure with a special emphasis on developmental and behavioural outcomes of children exposed to intra utero antiepileptic drugs.     

Sleeping with the Enemy: Everything You Need to Know about the Biology,Clinical Significance,and Laboratory Identification of Bed Bugs

The world has experienced a major global resurgence of bed bug infestations over the past 2 decades. While bed bugs do not serve as vectors of disease, their bites and household infestations result in significant psychological distress, clinical manifestations, and economic costs. Most human bed bug infestations are caused by the “common bed bug,” Cimex lectularius, or the “tropical bed bug,” C. hemipterus. Zoonotic cimicids also occasionally feed on humans. Bites are the most commonly reported manifestation of infestations, although findings may be subtle and overlooked for some time. The bugs can be submitted to the laboratory for identification, and therefore, clinical microbiologists should be familiar with their key identifying features and how they can be differentiated from similar-appearing arthropods. This review covers the biology and epidemiology of bed bugs; aspects of laboratory collection, identification, and reporting; and the clinical implications of bed bug infestations.