Evaluation of cruciate ligament injuries. A review

A good system for evaluating the degree of impairment, disability, and handicap of the patient with a cruciate ligament injury includes functional score, activity grading, stability testing, and measurements of performance and strength, all of which are relevant to different aspects of knee function. The symptom-related knee score gives a more differentiated picture of the disability than does a binomial rating of symptoms. A way of grading the disability in an objective way is to use a performance test. This test could also be used for monitoring rehabilitation before full activity has been resumed. The activity grading scale is very useful for grading the handicap.     

Solitary lichen planus simulating malignant lesions.

Four patients with similar cutaneous lesions clinically simulating Bowen's disease or basal cell carcinoma revealed histopathological changes of lichen planus. Examination by direct immunofluorescence was performed in two of the patients, showing ovoid bodies containing IgM, IgA and fibrinogen in one patient and IgM and fibrinogen in the other patient.     

Seborrhoeic dermatitis of the face induced by PUVA treatment

Seborrhoeic dermatitis of the face was observed in 28 of 347 patients treated with PUVA for psoriasis. The facial lesions appeared after discontinuation of PUVA, and had not been present at the start of PUVA treatment. They were prevented by masking the face during irradiation.     

PUVA and cancer risk: the Swedish follow-up study

There is concern about the long-term carcinogenic effects of psoralen and ultraviolet A radiation (PUVA) for treatment of skin disorders. Many authors have found an increased risk for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Except in anecdotal reports, malignant melanoma had not been observed in patients treated with PUVA until recently. In the U.S.A., a 16-centre prospective study of 1380 patients showed for the first time that there might also be an increased risk for malignant melanoma in patients treated with high cumulative dosages of PUVA. We have therefore followed up the Swedish PUVA cohort until 1994. This cohort had previously been followed up until 1985. Information from 4799 Swedish patients (2343 men, 2456 women) who had received PUVA between 1974 and 1985 was linked to the compulsory Swedish Cancer Registry in order to identify individuals with cancer. The average follow-up period was 15.9 years for men and 16.2 for women. We did not find any increased risk for malignant melanoma in our total cohort of 4799 patients treated with PUVA or in a subcohort comprising 1867 patients followed for 15-21 years. For cutaneous SCC there was an increase in the risk: the relative risk was 5.6 (95% confidence interval, CI 4. 4-7.1) for men and 3.6 (95% CI 2.1-5.8) for women. Significant (P < 0.05) increases were also found in the incidence of respiratory cancer in men and women and of kidney cancer in women. In conclusion, we did not find any increased risk for malignant melanoma in our patients treated with high doses of PUVA and followed up for a long time. We confirm previous reports of an increase in the incidence of cutaneous SCC in patients treated with PUVA, and recommend that patients should be carefully selected for PUVA and rigorously followed up.     

The avoidability of head and neck injuries in ice hockey: an historical review

The number of minor traumatic brain injury (mTBI), cerebral concussions, is increasing and cannot be eliminated by any kind of equipment. Prevention strategies, such as the introduction of "checking from behind" rules have become effective in decreasing the number of severe spinal injuries. A new "head checking" rule should reduce mTBI in the same way in the following years. Mouthguards should be mandatory as an effective device for the prevention of dental and orofacial injuries, as well as reducing the incidence and severity of mTBI. A new internet database system, the International Sports Injury System (ISIS) should improve epidemiological analysis of head, face, and spinal injuries worldwide. ISIS should provide an internationally compatible system for continuous monitoring of risk factors, protective effects of equipment, and protective effects of equipment and effects of changes in rules through the years.     

PUVA treatment of chronic eczematous dermatitis of the palms and soles

Thirty-eight patients were treated with PUVA for chronic eczematous dermatitis of the palms. Twenty (53%) were completely free from lesions when treatment was stopped, and 11 (29%) were improved. Patients who showed healing remained in remission for an average of greater than or equal to 11 months (range 3 weeks to greater than or equal to 36 months). When the rash recurred it was often milder than before PUVA. Sixteen of the 38 patients also had chronic plantar dermatitis; PUVA treatment resulted in complete clearing in 7 (41%), and remission persisted for an average of greater than or equal to 16 months.