Questionnaire analysis of the swallowing‐related outcomes following total laryngectomy

Objective: To determine the effects of a total laryngectomy on the swallow and subsequent quality of life in head and neck cancer patients. Design: Cross‐sectional single centre cohort study. Setting: Head and Neck Oncology Unit, Tertiary Referral Unit. Patients: Sixty‐two patients who underwent total laryngectomy at our centre participated in the study. Methods: Subjects were stratified by age, sex, tumour stage, other procedures such as myotomy and nerve re‐implantation. Pharyngectomy, glossectomy, flap reconstruction, neck dissection and previous radio‐ and chemotherapy were also assessed to see if they affected swallow and subsequent quality of life. Main outcome was measured using the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory questionnaire. Results: Responses were received from 46 males and 16 females (response rate of 80.5%) with a mean age of 64.7 years (SD 9.4). Median follow‐up in patients was 90 months (range 1–276). The mean MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory total score in our series of patients was 77.7 (SD 16.6). MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory global score was 79.4 (SD 22.6), Emotional score was 77.7 (SD 17.8), Functional score 81.3 (SD 15.9) and Physical score was 74.1(SD 18). Statistically significant differences were seen between the emotional scores of glossectomised and non‐glossectomised patients (Mann Whitney, P = 0.04). No significant correlation was seen between the subscale scores and the remaining treatment variables such as age, gender, site, tumour stage, myotomy, nerve implantation, radiotherapy, reconstruction and major complications. Conclusion: This questionnaire study is the largest of its type to assess the swallow of patients who have undergone laryngectomy at a single centre. The overall result confirmed that most patients had a subjectively good swallow. Only glossectomy and the method of PE segment closure were shown to significantly affect swallowing outcomes following surgery. We recommend further work especially prospective studies pre and post surgery using this or similarly validated instruments to fully assess swallow in the laryngectomy population.     

Anterior decompression and stabilization of the spine as a treatment for vertebral collapse and spinal cord compression from metastatic malignancy

During a ten-year period, 77 patients with spinal instability caused by metastatic pathologic fractures of one or more vertebrae were treated with anterior decompression and stabilization by replacement of the affected vertebral bodies with methylmethacrylate, polymerizing in situ, augmented by Knodt distraction rods positioned anteriorly. No postoperative external support was required, and the fixation achieved by this method was not affected adversely by subsequent irradiation at a mean of 4020 rads. Sixty-two patients had major neurologic impairments preoperatively and required spinal cord and/or nerve root decompression anteriorly prior to fixation. Of these, 26 had complete neurologic recovery postoperatively, 16 others improved significantly, 20 remained unchanged, and one patient deteriorated neurologically. Five patients suffered failures of fixation, although two were successfully restabilized after a second operation. The remaining 72 patients enjoyed good or excellent resolution of spine pain postoperatively, and, in patients surviving their underlying malignancies, stability did not deteriorate during the follow-up period ranging from 42 to 146 months. Six patients developed spinal instability from tumor lysis at a different level between five and 95 months postoperatively. All were treated with successful decompression and stabilization. There was one wound infection among the 83 anterior stabilization procedures. However, three of the six patients requiring secondary posterior stabilization suffered wound dehiscences, and three of these became infected.     

Torsional properties of the Canal Master instrument.

The torsional properties of a new type of endodontic hand instrument, the Canal Master, were compared with conventional machined K-type endodontic files. Sizes 20 through 50 were tested in clockwise (CW) and counterclockwise (CCW) directions. Canal Master instruments exhibited significantly less torque at yield and at failure in both the CW and CCW directions. Rotation at failure was significantly greater for the Canal Master instruments in both CW and CCW directions. There was no significant difference in either torque or the amount of rotation for the Canal Master instruments when comparing CW versus CCW rotation. There was no clinically visible evidence of deformation of the Canal Master instruments prior to torsional failure.     

Outcome analysis in 654 surgically treated lumbar disc herniations.

This article reports the outcomes of 654 consecutive patients treated during a 4.5-year period. Patients had a microdiscectomy, a laminectomy plus microdiscectomy, or a decompressive laminectomy with a microdiscectomy. The causes of ruptured discs were lifting (31.4%), falls (10.2%), and sports (10.0%). Almost all patients had complained of leg pain (99%), and 79% had radicular pain in a dermatomal distribution. Thirty-three percent of the patients had been involved in industrial accidents, and 6% had legal claims pending during the surgical period. Almost 11% of the patients had complications, and there was one death caused by abdominal arterial bleeding. Patients were also rated according to the Prolo Functional-Economic Outcome Rating Scale to improve the ability to compare series in the future. Almost 80% of the patients had good outcomes as defined by scores on this scale of 8 (16.2%), 9 (33.2%), and 10 (26.9%). Several conclusions can be drawn from the results of this series: 1) most patients had good outcomes; 2) patients with nonindustrial injuries had better outcomes than did patients with industrial injuries; 3) professionals with legal concerns and laborers with industrial insurance had good outcomes; and 4) the Functional-Economic Outcome Rating Scale appears to be a useful tool for comparing different procedures more objectively and for comparing the outcomes across series.     

The use of hemipelvic allografts or autoclaved grafts for reconstruction after wide resections of malignant tumors of the pelvis.

Fourteen patients who had a malignant tumor of the pelvic bone, adjacent to the acetabulum, were managed with a wide en bloc resection that included most of the hemipelvis as well as the hip. Reconstruction was done with either a massive allograft or replacement of the resected bone after it had been autoclaved. The duration of follow-up ranged from four to eleven years, with a mean of seven years. One osteosarcoma recurred locally, and a repeat excision was done. Two patients who had had a solitary supra-acetabular metastasis preoperatively had systemic metastases much later, but no local recurrence. At the most recent follow-up examination, twelve patients had no evidence of tumor, and all had a functioning lower limb. After a minimum of two years, all grafts had healed and were structurally normal as seen roentgenographically. Later, however, three of the fourteen grafts had failed by fracture, and numerous other complications were evident. The described regimens offer superior functional results compared with other options for management, despite the complications.     

Blood donation behavior of Hispanics in the lower Rio Grande Valley

This study was designed to determine the blood donation behavior and attitudes of Hispanic residents of the Lower Rio Grande Valley for the purpose of developing promotional and educational approaches to enhance levels of donor participation. Personal interviews of 545 respondents were conducted in English and Spanish using quota sampling and standard intercept techniques at lower- and middle-income supermarkets in five cities during a payday weekend. A number of research hypotheses were established to test for demographic, behavioral, and attitudinal differences that were observed in donors and nondonors using chi-square analysis and multiple discriminant analysis. After analyzing the difference between Hispanics and non-Hispanics for blood donation rates, all non-Hispanics were eliminated from analysis, and the remaining 419 Hispanics were evaluated on the basis of their donor behavior. Donation among Hispanics was most likely to be by better- educated, English-speaking, higher-job-status individuals who had participated in a blood donation drive. Donors tend to have parent(s) who were donors, and they were also more likely to carry an organ donor card. Donors were found to vary in their behaviors as well as their attitudes and beliefs. Perceptions of a lack of safety in donating, the risk of contracting acquired immune deficiency syndrome, and the financial motivation of donors were most pronounced among Hispanics, which indicated a need for improved education on these issues.