The diagnostic value of routine intra-oral premaxillary radiographs in orthodontic assessment

Objectives . The purpose of this study was to determine whether significant dental abnormalities are likely to be overlooked in the anterior region of the maxilla if, in the absence of any clinical indication for further views, the only radiograph used during an initial orthodontic assessment is a good-quality orthopantomogram (OPT).
Sample and methods . Two orthodontists examined, retrospectively, the written and radiographic dental hospital records of 1169 consecutive, new, young patients who on their first visit to a dental teaching hospital underwent radiographic examination comprising an OPT and one or more supplementary radiographs of the anterior maxilla.
Results . In five cases (0·43%) significant findings would have been overlooked if the intra-oral views had not been taken. These included periapical lesions and supernumerary teeth, but in three of the cases the image quality of the OPT was poor.
Conclusions . If the OPT is not routinely supplemented by intra-oral views, the chances of completely missing significant findings in the anterior maxilla are small, provided a thorough history and clinical examination have been completed and the image quality of the OPT is good.     

Biomechanical evaluation of fixation of intra-articular fractures of the distal part of the radius in cadavera: Kirschner wires compared with calcium-phosphate bone cement

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare the biomechanical efficacy of an injectable calcium-phosphate bone cement (Skeletal Repair System [SRS]) with that of Kirschner wires for the fixation of intraarticular fractures of the distal part of the radius. METHODS: Colles fractures (AO pattern, C2.1) were produced in ten pairs of fresh-frozen human cadaveric radii. One radius from each pair was randomly chosen for stabilization with SRS bone cement. These ten radii were treated with open incision, impaction of loose cancellous bone with use of a Freer elevator, and placement of the SRS bone cement by injection. In the ten control specimens, the fracture was stabilized with use of two horizontal and two oblique Kirschner wires. The specimens were cyclically loaded to a peak load of 200 newtons for 2000 cycles to evaluate the amount of settling, or radial shortening, under conditions simulating postoperative loading with the limb in a cast. Each specimen then was loaded to failure to determine its ultimate strength. RESULTS: The amount of radial shortening was highly variable among the specimens, but it was consistently higher in the Kirschner-wire constructs than in the bone fixed with SRS bone cement within each pair of radii. The range of shortening for all twenty specimens was 0.18 to 4.51 millimeters. The average amount of shortening in the SRS constructs was 50 percent of that in the Kirschner-wire constructs (0.51+/-0.34 compared with 1.01+/-1.23 millimeters; p = 0.015). With the numbers available, no significant difference in ultimate strength was detected between the two fixation groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that fixation of an intra-articular fracture of the distal part of a cadaveric radius with biocompatible calcium-phosphate bone cement produced results that were biomechanically comparable with those produced by fixation with Kirschner wires. However, the constructs that were fixed with calcium-phosphate bone cement demonstrated less shortening under simulated cyclic load-bearing.     

Accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging stereotactic coordinates with the cosman-roberts-wells frame

Quality assessment on the accuracy of a Cosman-Roberts-Wells (CRW) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) stereotactic ring which had nonferrous stainless steel screws and positioning posts and a localizer with petroleum jelly in the fiducials, purchased in 1994, revealed errors of greater than 4 mm with targets in phantoms. Image fusion of objects within the phantom indicated the central area was accurately depicted by CT or MRI. We then tested a newer CRW- MRI ring (MRIA-IHR with titanium screws and posts) and localizer (MRIA-2-LF with fiducials filled with copper sulfate) and found that the MRI stereotactically calculated target coordinates matched both the known position of these targets in the phantom as well as the CT stereotactically calculated coordinates within approximately 1 mm. We also describe excellent superimposition of CT and MRI stereotactically determined surfaces in a recent clinical case using the new hardware. This shows that recent modifications to the CRW-MRI stereotactic system can make it accurate for small targets, but we emphasize that all systems need to undergo ongoing local quality assessment to ensure acceptable accuracy in practice.     

Risk factors for seizure-related motor vehicle crashes in patients with epilepsy

OBJECTIVE: We identified clinical risk factors for seizure-related motor vehicle crashes in patients with epilepsy. BACKGROUND: Current US laws permit epilepsy patients with controlled seizures to drive. These laws attempt to balance the important economic and social value of driving with the risk to public safety from seizure-related crashes. Various clinical factors are considered in these laws, particularly the seizure-free interval. Driving restrictions range from 3 to 18 months, however, and studies have not established how these various seizure-free intervals and other clinical factors influence the risk for seizure-related motor vehicle crashes. METHODS: We performed a retrospective case-control study to determine the influence of clinical risk factors associated with seizure-related motor vehicle crashes. Both "case" and "control" patients had epilepsy, drove, and were from the same clinic, but the cases differed in having had seizure-related crashes. RESULTS: Fifty patients with epilepsy who crashed during seizures and 50 matched control patients were compared. Factors that significantly decreased the odds of patients with epilepsy having motor vehicle crashes due to seizures were: long seizure-free intervals, reliable auras, few prior nonseizure-related accidents, and having had their antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) reduced or switched. For example, patients who had seizure-free intervals > or = 12 months had a 93% reduced odds for crashing compared to patients with shorter intervals. Other findings were: 25% of patients had more than one seizure-related crash and 20% had missed an AED dose just prior to their crash. The majority (54%) of patients who crashed were driving illegally, with seizure-free intervals shorter than legally permitted. CONCLUSION: Seizure-free intervals, the presence of reliable auras, AED therapy modifications, and a history of nonseizure-induced crashes should be considered when counseling patients with epilepsy on driving and when formulating driving regulatory policy. Case control studies of crashes due to seizures can help in assessing and monitoring such risks.     

Association of the platelet glycoprotein IIb HPA-3 polymorphism with survival after acute ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The role of polymorphisms of the platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor in the development of cardiovascular disease has been the subject of intensive research. The aim of this study was to determine the association of the HPA-3 polymorphism of platelet GPIIb with ischemic stroke and subsequent survival and to identify possible interactions of HPA-3 with classic risk factors. METHODS: HPA-3 genotype was determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism in 515 patients with ischemic stroke and 423 healthy, age-matched control subjects. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the genotype distribution of patients and controls, nor was there any difference when patients were subclassified into small- and large-vessel disease. The genotype distribution of the 231 patients subsequently dying during 2.8 years of follow-up (aa=45.0%, ab=46.8%, bb=8.2%) was significantly different from that of those still alive (aa=37.0%, ab=48.2%, bb=14. 8%) (P=0.03). In a Cox regression model, the relative risks for poststroke mortality in patients of aa and ab genotype compared with those of bb genotype were 2.42 (95% CI, 1.24 to 4.71) and 2.13 (95% CI, 1.09 to 4.17), respectively, after we accounted for confounding factors. In addition, significant interactions of HPA-3 with the Pl(A) polymorphism of GPIIIa (P=0.002) and with fibrinogen (P=0.01) were identified in relation to mortality. CONCLUSIONS: HPA-3 is related to poststroke mortality, and the significant interaction of HPA-3 with Pl(A) and fibrinogen suggests that it may in some way influence the interaction of GPIIb/IIIa with fibrinogen, particularly in the presence of high fibrinogen.     

Effectiveness of antipsychotic therapy in a naturalistic setting: a comparison between risperidone, perphenazine, and haloperidol

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic ineffectiveness and noncompliance with antipsychotic agents are major contributors to rehospitalization in patients with psychotic disorders. It is unknown whether risperidone's favorable side effect profile compared with that of the conventional antipsychotics results in improved compliance and reduced hospitalizations in a naturalistic setting. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that treatment with risperidone reduces readmission rates and associated costs when compared with treatment with perphenazine or haloperidol. METHOD: Inpatients prescribed either risperidone, perphenazine, or haloperidol between January 1, 1995, and December 31, 1995, as a single oral antipsychotic at discharge were retrospectively identified. Data were collected for that index hospitalization and for a 1-year follow-up period. Primary outcome measures included re-admission rates, changes in antipsychotic therapy, anticholinergic drug use, and costs. RESULTS: There were 202 evaluable patients (81 treated with risperidone, 78 with perphenazine, and 43 with haloperidol). Baseline demographics were similar between groups except that more patients in the risperidone group had a primary diagnosis of psychotic disorder or had been hospitalized in the year prior to study. The percentage of patients readmitted during the 1-year follow-up period was similar among drug groups (41% risperidone, 26% perphenazine, and 35% haloperidol) when controlled for baseline differences in diagnosis and hospitalization history (p = .32). Anticholinergic drug use was more common in the haloperidol group (p = .004). Mean yearly cost (drug + hospitalization) in the risperidone group was $20,317, nearly double that in the other treatment groups (p < .001). CONCLUSION: The results from this naturalistic study indicate that the high cost of risperidone is not offset by a reduction in readmission rates when compared with conventional antipsychotics.     

Pediatric eighth cranial nerve schwannoma without evidence of neurofibromatosis

Schwannomas of the eighth cranial nerve are rare in children. We report a 4 10/12 - year-old girl with no evidence of neurofibromatosis who presented with facial droop. Radiographic studies revealed a large cerebellopontine angle tumor. At surgery, the tumor was attached to the eighth cranial nerve and histologically was a schwannoma. This is the youngest reported case of unilateral eighth cranial nerve schwannoma in a patient without the stigmata of neurofibromatosis.     

Economic evaluation of the cochlear implant

OBJECTIVE: To examine the economic efficiency of current cochlear implant technology under Australian conditions in profoundly deaf adults, partially deafened adults, and children. METHODS: Cost-utility study, with weights based on judgments from persons experienced with the technology, and cost data from Australian sources. RESULTS: Quality-of-life improvements due to functional consequences of hearing improvement were greater than those due to amelioration of hearing disability. Costs in Australian dollars per QALY (15-year assessment) ranged from $5,070-$11,100 for children, $11,790-$38,150 for profoundly deaf adults, and $14,410-$41,000 for partially deaf adults. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest cochlear implantation is acceptable value for money when compared with other health programs to which resources are committed in Australia.