When disaster strikes in the ring: a 20-year study of head and neck injuries secondary to boxing

The purpose of this study was to explore the patterns of head and neck injuries secondary to boxing. We conducted a 20-year retrospective cross-sectional study using the National Electronic Injury Submission System (NEISS). We derived the predictor variables from both patient and injury characteristics. The principal outcome variable was the probability of hospital admission from the ED. We used bivariate analysis to determine if an association existed between two variables of interest. We created a multiple logistic regression model to model the probability of admission using all significant univariate predictors. The final sample consisted of 1,919 patients. Children were most likely to injure their heads (p < 0.01). Young adults were also most likely to injure their heads (p < 0.05). Adults were most likely to injure their faces (p < 0.01). Children were most likely to incur facial contusions (p < 0.01) and internal organ injuries (p < 0.01). Young adults were most likely to suffer concussions (p < 0.01). Adults were most likely to suffer lacerations (p < 0.01). Certain age groups were more/less likely to injure a particular anatomical site and more/less likely to incur a particular type of injury. Relative to young adults, seniors had an increased odd of admission. Head injuries had an increased odds of admission relative to mouth injuries. Fractures and internal organ injuries proved to be the most dangerous injuries.     

Asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic COVID-19 patients with craniomaxillofacial injuries have an increased risk of surgical site infection

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the association between ‘asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic’ severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection (AS/MS-COVID) and surgical site infection (SSI) after repair of craniomaxillofacial injury (CMFI). Using a case-control study design with a match ratio of 1:4, we enrolled a cohort of AS/MS-COVID cases with immediately treated CMFI during a one-year period. The main predictor variable was SARS-CoV-2 infection (yes/no), and the outcome of interest was SSI (yes/no). The other variables were demographic, clinical, and operative. Appropriate statistics were computed, and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. The study group comprised 257 cases (28.8% female; 13.2% aged ≥ 60 years; 10.5% with fractures; 39.7% with involvement of nasal/oral/orbital tissue [viral reservoir organs, VROs]; 81.3% with blunt trauma; 19.1% developed an SSI [vs 6.8% in the control group]) with a mean (SD) age of 39.8 (16.6) years (range 19–87). There was a significant relation between SARS-CoV-2 infection and SSI events (p<0.0001; odds ratio 3.22; 95% confidence interval 2.17 to 4.78). On subgroup analysis, SSIs significantly increased with age ≥ 60 years, presence and treatment of fracture, contact with VROs, and prolonged antibiotic use (PAU). However, multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed a positive effect only from old age, contact with VROs, and PAU (relative risk = 1.56, 2.52, and 2.03, respectively; r = 0.49; p = 0.0001). There was a significant 2.8-fold increase in SSIs among AS/MS-COVID cases, especially in those aged ≥ 60 years, or those with injuries to VROs, or both, who therefore required PAU.     

Impact on Health-Related Quality of Life of Induction Chemotherapy Compared With Concurrent Cisplatin and Radiation Therapy in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer

AimsOrgan preservation, an important goal in the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), may include induction chemotherapy and cisplatin with radiation therapy (CRT). To our knowledge, no reports have directly compared the impact of induction chemotherapy with that of CRT on health-related quality of life (HRQOL).Materials and methodsIn a phase II trial, we assessed the HRQOL of patients treated with induction chemotherapy followed by CRT. Eligible patients had stage III–IV HNSCC. HRQOL questionnaires were administered at baseline, the end of induction (EOI), the end of CRT (EOCRT) and after CRT. Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT version 4) assessed HRQOL. We carried out a comparison of changes in HRQOL from baseline to EOI and from EOI to EOCRT. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01566435).ResultsThirty patients were enrolled in the study. Most HRQOL questionnaires were completed (88%). The mean total FACT scores did not differ from baseline to EOI (general: 83.8 versus 79.1, P = 0.08; head and neck: 109.7 versus 105.8, P = 0.33; Total Outcome Index: 69.7 versus 62.3, P = 0.03; respectively, using P ≤ 0.01 to adjust for multiple simultaneous tests of differences). However, total FACT scores significantly worsened from EOI to EOCRT (79.1 versus 62.3, P = 0.01; 105.8 versus 74.2, P < 0.01; 62.3 versus 34.2, P = 0.01; respectively). Within domains, the head and neck cancer subscale score did not differ from baseline to EOI (median 28.5 versus 27.0, P = 0.69), but significantly worsened from EOI to EOCRT (27.0 versus 9.5, P < 0.01). Swallowing, oral pain and voice quality improved from baseline to EOI, but worsened from EOI to EOCRT. Physical and functional scores worsened from baseline to EOI and from EOI to EOCRT. The emotional well-being score improved from baseline to EOI but worsened from EOI to EOCRT.ConclusionsOverall, HRQOL did not significantly change from baseline to EOI but dramatically worsened from EOI to EOCRT.     

中文版慢性荨麻疹生活质量问卷（CU-Q2oL）信效度验证

【摘要】 目的 检验中文版慢性荨麻疹生活质量问卷（CU-Q2oL）的信效度。方法 翻译英文原版CU-Q2oL以及回译和文化调试，确定中文版CU-Q2oL的条目。2019年1 - 12月对北京大学第一医院皮肤性病科就诊的195例慢性自发性荨麻疹伴或不伴慢性诱导性荨麻疹患者每2周进行1次随访，随访时填写CU-Q2oL、皮肤病生活质量指数问卷（DLQI）以及1周疾病活动度问卷评分（UAS7），共随访2次。每次随访后，医生依据患者病情为每例患者调整治疗方案。通过探索性因子分析，提取问卷因子数目，并通过分析CU-Q2oL与DLQI、UAS7的相关性判断聚合效度，通过计算Cronbach α系数检测CU-Q2oL的内在一致性信度；通过分析UAS7的变化量与CU-Q2oL评分变化量的相关系数判断CU-Q2oL的敏感度。结果 自中文版CU-Q2oL问卷中提取出4个因子，分别为“症状”、“日常功能活动”、“睡眠问题”及“限制”因子，共23个条目，累计方差贡献率为74.011%。CU-Q2oL所有条目的Cronbach α系数为0.961，4个因子Cronbach α系数为0.804 ~ 0.933，提示极好的内部一致性。CU-Q2oL问卷总分和DLQI评分、UAS7分别呈中度相关，相关系数分别为0.437、0.560（均P＜0.01）。71例患者参与第2次随访，CU-Q2oL问卷总分变化量与UAS7评分变化量呈中度相关，相关系数为0.392（P＜0.01）。结论 中文版CU-Q2oL具有极好的内部一致性信度和良好的信效度，可用于评估我国慢性自发性荨麻疹患者的生活质量。