Rubber band as external assist device to provide simple grip for quadriplegic patients

The rubber band as an external assist device provides an effective grip for the hand of high spinal cord injury quadriplegic patients. This technique can also be useful for preoperative patients who are undergoing physical and occupational therapy or to assess patients' needs for surgery. The rubber band as an adaptive device is preferred because of its availability, low visibility, and ease of application. We attempt to provide a more standardized method of the rubber band technique and to popularize it.     

Atypical skull base paragangliomas.

We present two cases of unusually large skull base paragangliomas. The first tumor was accompanied by marked bony destruction of the central skull base and multiple associated cysts. The second tumor arose along the petrous ridge, with a large intracranial component. The CT, MR imaging, angiographic, histologic, and electron microscopic findings of these unusual lesions are described.     

Fracture of the lateral process of the talus: computed tomographic scan diagnosis.

Fracture of the lateral process of the talus is rare but can be mistaken for a simple ankle sprain. A case with normal conventional radiographs is presented to draw attention to this diagnosis in the resistant ankle sprain, and to highlight some of the problems that may be encountered with treatment.     

Nutritional considerations in intravenous drug misusers: a review of the literature and current issues for dietitians

Poor nutritional status and inadequate dietary intake in intravenous drug misusers (IVDMs) is a well-recognized problem among those involved in their care. However, there are very few published studies to substantiate these observations. This paper provides a review of the current literature and outlines the aims of dietary advice for IVDMs.     

Orbital volume measurement in the management of pure blowout fractures of the orbital floor.

With the recent advent of accurate orbital volume assessment by computed tomography, a retrospective analysis was made of 31 patients with 'pure' blowout fracture of the orbital floor, managed either surgically or conservatively, to determine whether orbital volume measurement could provide an additional parameter of use in the management of such fractures. There was a significant difference in orbital volume discrepancy between patients managed surgically or conservatively suggesting that this investigation may be of use in decision making on surgical intervention in patients with orbital blowout fractures.     

Effect of intravenous ketanserin on the human action potential duration at fixed heart rate

Summary In this study any changes in action potential duration or Q-T interval due to acute doses of ketanserin were monitored. The effect of a bolus dose (10 or 20 mg) followed by an infusion (10 or 20 mg over 20 minutes) of ketanserin on the Q-T interval and action potential duration was studied in six patients undergoing routine cardiac catheterization. Action potential duration was measured with a silver-silver chloride electrode catheter while heart rate was kept constant by atrial pacing and reflex effects avoided by -adrenergic blockade. There were some prolongations of the action potential duration but they were not in excess of 40 msec and did not reach statistical significance (control 263±46.0 msec; bolus 269±52.1 msec; infusion 262±53.6 msec; nor were there any significant changes in Q-T interval. Thus acute intravenous doses of ketanserin, in the absence of hypokalaemia or other Q-T interval-prolonging drugs, have no consistent effect on Q-T interval or action potential duration; prolongation of the action potential, when it occurs, is small.