Ulna neuropathy after elbow injury in children

Six children developed seven cases of ulna neuropathy between 7 days and 6 years after significant elbow injury. None had evidence of acute nerve damage at the time of initial trauma. This complication, which develops soon after injury, has not been well documented. For this reason, the mode of presentation, treatment options, and review of the literature is presented.     

Management of the injured colon: evolving practice at an urban trauma center

The records of 239 patients surviving more than 24 hours with full-thickness intraperitoneal colonic injuries over a 7-year period were reviewed. During the first 3 years, 29% (31/106) of the patients were managed by primary repair without colostomy. In the next 4 years, almost twice as many patients, 56% (75/133), with similar colonic trauma were treated without fecal diversion (p less than 0.05). Although there was no difference in the mean Trauma Score in the patients with primary repair in the two time periods, the Injury Severity Score (mean +/- sd) in the patients without colostomy in the later periods was significantly higher (17.8 +/- 2.1 vs. 20.2 +/- 5.1) (p less than 0.001). No patient suffered because of the increased incidence of primary repairs. These patients had five abdominal abscesses and only one leak, whereas the patients with colostomy had 15 intraperitoneal abscesses. Because of the safety when primary repair is performed, more liberal use of primary colonic repair following penetrating trauma is warranted.     

Trends and district variations in the hospital care of childhood asthma: results of a regional study 1970-85.

Trends and district variations in the pre-hospital and hospital care of children aged 0-14 years admitted with acute asthma were surveyed in all 13 districts of a health region by examining case notes for 1970, 1978, and 1985. From 1970 to 1985 there was a substantial increase in admissions and some reduction of hospital stay. Over this time adrenergic drugs remained the most frequently used treatment with a large shift towards selective beta2 agonists administered by nebulisation. Use of corticosteroids fell in the under 5s with a decrease in the parenteral route of administration but rose in the 5-14 age group with an increase in the oral route of administration. There was an increase the use of oral xanthines but this was outweighed by falls in the use of suppositories and in parenteral administration. The use of antibiotics became less frequent and that of sedatives and antihistamines fell to almost nil. There were also important changes in other aspects of management, notably an increase in the use of lung function tests (from 3% to 70%) and falls in the use of chest radiographs, blood tests, bacteriology, and physiotherapy. In nearly all aspects of management there were significant and often very extreme variations in practice between districts, which were unlikely to be explained by differences in morbidity. These variations would be a suitable focus for medical audit, with the aim of establishing which treatment regimens have the best outcome and avoiding unnecessary cost and discomfort. Because early hospital drug treatment is closely related to the type of treatment given before admission such audit activities would need to include general practitioners.     

Risks and complications of total parenteral nutrition. Personal experience

Total parenteral nutrition is now a broadly used method whose efficacy is confirmed, even if it is still not free from risk of complications. The Authors report their own clinical experience on 130 cases in the period 1981-1988. Complications were registered in 4.6% of the observed cases. They underline the problems relating to this subject.     

Aminotriazole effects on lung and heart H2O2 detoxifying enzymes and TBA-RS at two pO2

In order to clarify the physiological role in vivo of H2O2-detoxifying enzymes at low and high levels of O2 tension we studied catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidases (GP), and in vivo peroxidation (TBA-RS) in the lung and heart of Rana perezi frogs chronically treated with hyperoxia, aminotriazole (AT) -a CAT inhibitor-, or both. Hyperoxia did not change CAT, GP or TBA-RS. Aminotriazole caused an almost complete depletion of CAT, a 30% decrease of GP and a 132% (lung) to 200% (heart) increase of TBA-RS. Changes similar to these were found in the group treated with AT in hyperoxia. No mortality or changes in total or organ weight occurred in the experimental groups. Main conclusions are: (1) The maximal hyperoxia tolerance showed by frogs among vertebrates does not need antioxidant enzyme induction from lung or heart and is probably related to the presence of high constitutive levels of GP in relation to metabolic rate. (2) Even in normoxia the tissues present significant amounts of H2O2, and CAT is needed to avoid oxidative damage. GP does not compensate its absence. The implications of these results in relation to oxygen toxicity in man is discussed.     

Cloacal exstrophy: individualized management through a staged surgical approach

Cloacal exstrophy, centered on the maldevelopment of the primitive streak mesoderm and cloacal membrane, results in bladder and intestinal exstrophy, omphalocele, gender confusion, and hindgut deformity. The surgical management and outcome of 10 of 14 survivors (1965 to 1988) are described. Genotypic males (6) were assigned male (2) or female (4) phenotype. Genotypic females (4) were unchanged. All had omphalocele closure in the newborn period. Two had loop stomas. Eight had end stomas (ileostomy [6], ileocolostomy [2]). Toddler and adolescent reconstruction differed in each. Early in the study, abdominoperineal pull-through failed in four patients, necessitating permanent stoma. Four patients had a stoma from the outset. Augmentation using colon remnant improved water loss and nutrition in two infants. Exstrophy turn-in for urinary reservoir was considered in all, but was impossible in three who required urinary diversion. Six patients had exstrophy turn-in and now void by clean intermittent catheterization (4), continent vesicostomy (1), and incontinent (1). Hindgut augmentation improved urinary capacity in two. Two genotypic-phenotypic males had penile lengthening. Four genotypic male-phenotypic females had early orchiectomy with subsequent clitoroplasty or vaginoplasty. Four genotypic-phenotypic females had clitoroplasty or vaginoplasty. Cloacal exstrophy is compatible with a useful life and sound psychologic development, but requires staged reconstruction with long-term support and follow-up.