Removal of forearm plate leads to a high risk of refracture: decision regarding implant removal after fixation of the forearm and analysis of risk factors of refracture

Introduction

Plate fixation is the gold standard for the treatment of forearm fractures at present, and whether or not to remove the implant after bone union remains controversial. This study demonstrated some cases of refracture in adult forearm fractures after bone union and discussed the risk factors for decision-making regarding implant removal.

Methods

We reviewed patients with forearm diaphyseal fractures (including the radius, ulna, or both bones) who received open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) from January 2008 to May 2011 in our institute. Fracture type was classified according to the AO/OTA system. All patients were fixed with a 3.5-mm dynamic compression plate. The patients were divided into two main groups: group A received implant removal after bone union, and group B retained the implant.

Results

There were 122 patients (170 bones) included in this study (40 females and 82 males). In group A, 7/51 patients (8/62 bones; 12.9 %) had refracture. As classified by the AO/OTA classification, one patient was classified as type A1, one patient as type A2, two patients as type A3, and three patients as type B3. All patients suffered refracture without high-energy trauma. In group B, the refracture rate was 2.77 %, and all were caused by high-energy trauma. Patients with refracture had a shorter time interval between ORIF and implant removal. The possible risk factors of refracture in this study included a wedge bone defect on plain film, implant removal performed after less than 18 months, and AO/OTA type B fracture.

Conclusion

The incidence of refracture was significantly lower in the group that retained the implant. Routine implant removal after bone union in adult forearm fractures is not recommended due to the higher refracture rate.     

Mutation analysis of Crouzon syndrome in Taiwanese patients

Crouzon syndrome is an autosomal-dominant disorder that causes premature fusion of the cranial suture. Crouzon, Pfeiffer, and Apert syndromes are caused by mutations in the extracellular, third immunoglobulin-like domain, and adjacent linker regions (exons IIIa and IIIc) of the fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) gene. We screened 12 Crouzon syndrome patients for mutations in exons IIIa and IIIc of the FGFR2 gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing. Mutations were detected in nine of 12 patients at amino acid positions 278, 281, 289, 342, and 354. More than half of the studied Crouzon patients carried a mutation resulting in either the loss or gain of a cysteine residue. A novel missense Ser354Phe substitution at exon IIIc of the human FGFR2 gene was found. According to our results, sequencing analysis of IgIII domain of the FGFR2 gene can lead to a genetic diagnosis of Crouzon syndrome.     

29例肾病病人医院感染因素分析及护理对策

目的 :了解肾病住院病人发生医院内感染的特点和危险因素 ,制订有效监控措施和护理对策。方法 :采用回顾性调查方法对 5 96份病历逐一筛查 ,把符合医院感染诊断标准的 2 9份病历 ,用预先设计的统一表格逐份查阅登记。结果 :年龄大于 60岁的住院病人、医院环境、住院时间过长、原发病重、并发症多、抗生素不恰当使用是导致医院内感染的主要因素。结论 :保证病员有良好的环境 ;提高医院医疗护理质量 ,积极治疗原发病 ,预防并发症发生 ;缩短病人住院时间 ;加强基础护理和消毒隔离措施 ;合理使用抗生素是及时防治医院内感染发生的重要手段     

康复治疗缓解晚期癌症患者疼痛症状及对生活质量的影响

目的:观察综合性康复治疗配合肿瘤科常规治疗对晚期癌痛患者的疼痛强度和生活质量的影响。方法:纳入2001-03/2004-12郑州大学第一附属医院肿瘤科住院晚期癌症患者152例,男96,女56例,35～72岁,平均(48±14.7)岁。按随机抽签法分为观察组73例和对照组79例。两组患者均给予肿瘤科常规治疗,患者生命体征稳定。对照组采用WHO推荐世界疼痛学会所提出的“癌性疼痛三级阶梯治疗方案”;观察组联合综合性康复治疗(运动疗法、物理治疗、放松及暗示训练、心理治疗)。按照WHO推荐视觉模拟评分方法评估,采用0～10数字进行镇痛强度分级,完全无痛为0分,难以忍受疼痛为10分;镇痛疗效评定:6～10分为镇痛无效,3～5分为镇痛有效,0～2分为镇痛效果佳;生活质量评估参考国内1990年制定的肿瘤患者生存质量评分草案,由患者对康复治疗或药物治疗镇痛前后的食欲、睡眠、日常生活、精神状态、情绪、与人交往、生活乐趣等进行自我评估(以0～10分表示,0分为无干扰,10分为极度干扰。)。观察两组治疗1个月前后的疼痛强度、生活质量评分的变化和不同治疗的不良反应。结果:参与观察的住院晚期癌症患者152例全部进入结果分析。①治疗后,观察组和对照组患者疼痛评分均明显低于治疗前(2.70±1.91,8.90±1.73,t=3.657,P<0.01;4.60±1.83,9.20±1.50,t=2.132,P<0.05),且观察组显著低于对照组(t=2.631,P<0.01)。②治疗后,观察组患者食欲、睡眠、日常生活、精神状态、情绪、与人交往、生活乐趣评分均明显低于对照组(4.67±1.23,5.86±0.45;4.62±0.73,5.45±1.31;4.92±0.50,5.01±0.67;4.81±0.61,5.70±1.02;4.64±1.26,5.40±0.52;4.61±0.63,5.61±0.47;4.84±1.59,5.50±0.38;t=2.652,2.731,2.807,2.931,2.841,2.874,2.933,P<0.01)。③康复观察组没有明显的不良事件和副反应。三阶梯组有明显的不良反应,如恶心、呕吐、皮肤瘙痒、尿潴留、便秘和呼吸抑制等。结论:综合性康复治疗配合肿瘤科常规治疗,具有较好的有效性、安全性,且不良反应少,能改善晚期癌痛患者的食欲、睡眠、日常生活、精神状态、情绪、与人交往、生活乐趣等生活质量指标。     

The Effects of Race and Other Socioeconomic Factors on Health Service Use Among American Military Veterans

This study examined the extent to which racial disparities in service utilization exist in veterans (VA) and non-VA health care systems. An observational study design was used with a nationally representative sample of veterans. Logistic regression models were constructed using sociodemographic characteristics, health insurance and benefits, and health status as predictors of health service use in both VA and non-VA health care systems. A population weighted sample of 19,270 veterans from the 2001 National Survey of Veterans was used, which included 17,004 (88.24 %) White, 1,864 (9.15 %) African American, 414 (2.15 %) Native American/Alaskan Native, and 87 (0.45 %) Asian American/Pacific Islander veterans. Results showed that use of the VA health care system was not associated with race, but was associated with VA disability compensation, lack of private health insurance, and greater health care need. Contrarily, in non-VA healthcare systems, veterans who were racial minorities, less educated, and without private health insurance were less likely to use services. Together, these findings demonstrate the socioeconomic context in which health disparities exist and suggest the influence of health insurance on racial disparities in service utilization.     

High Serum Levels of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A and Transforming Growth Factor-β1 Before Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Predict Poor Outcomes in Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Receiving Combined Modality Therapy

Background and Purpose

This study was aimed at using proximity ligation assay (PLA) followed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to identify serum biomarkers that predict treatment response and survival for patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) undergoing neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) followed by esophagectomy.

Methods

Seventy-nine patients with ESCC receiving CCRT of taxane-based/5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy and 40 Gy followed by surgery were enrolled. Serum samples were collected before and <1 month after CCRT. Fifteen biomarkers were analyzed using PLA. Biomarkers significantly correlating with pathological response/survival were verified by ELISA. Associations of the serum level of biomarkers and clinical factors with pathological response, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) were evaluated by analysis of variance and log-rank tests.

Results

Thirty patients had complete response (38 %), 37 had microscopic residual disease (47 %), and 12 had macroscopic residual disease (15 %). With a median follow-up of 52.8 months, the median DFS was 43 months. Among the 15 biomarkers screened by PLA, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 were significantly associated with pathological response and/or DFS. These biomarkers were further analyzed by ELISA to confirm initial biomarker findings by PLA. After ELISA of these two markers, only VEGF-A levels were significantly correlated with pathological response. On multivariate analysis, patients with combined high pre-CCRT VEGF-A and TGF-β1 levels (greater than or equal to the median), independent of pathological response, had significantly worse DFS (11 months vs. median not reached; p = 0.007) and OS (16 vs. 46 months; p = 0.07).

Conclusions

Pre-CCRT serum VEGF-A and TGF-β1 levels may be used to predict pathological response and survivals for ESCC patients receiving combined-modality therapy.     

Factors Associated with the Development of Chronic Pain after Surgery for Breast Cancer: A Prospective Cohort from a Tertiary Center in the United States

Chronic pain has been shown to affect up to 60% of patients undergoing surgery for breast cancer. Besides younger age, other risk factors for the development of chronic pain have not been consistent in previous studies. The objective of the current investigation was to detect the prevalence and risk factors for the development of chronic pain after breast cancer surgery by examining a patient population from a tertiary cancer center in the United States. The study was a prospective observational cohort study. Subjects were evaluated at least 6 months after the surgical procedure. Subjects responded to the modified short form Brief pain inventory and the short form McGill pain questionnaire to identify and characterize pain. Demographic, surgery, cancer treatment, and perioperative characteristics were recorded. Propensity matching regression analysis were used to examine risk factors associated with the development of chronic pain. 300 patients were included in the study. 110 reported the presence of chronic pain. Subjects with chronic pain reported median (interquartile range [IQR]) rating of worst pain in the last 24 hours of 4 (2–5) and a median (IQR) rating on average pain in the last 24 hours of 3 (1–4) on a 0–10 numeric rating scale. Independent risk factors associated with the development of chronic pain were age, OR (95% CI) of 0.95 (0.93–0.98) and axillary lymph node dissection, 7.7 (4.3–13.9) but not radiation therapy, 1.05(0.56–1.95). After propensity matching for confounding covariates, radiation was still not associated with the development of chronic pain. Chronic pain after mastectomy continues to have a high prevalence in breast cancer patients. Younger age and axillary lymph node dissection but not radiation therapy are risk factors for the development of chronic pain. Preventive strategies to minimize the development of chronic pain are highly desirable.