Immediate effects of the central posteroanterior mobilization technique on pain and range of motion in patients with mechanical neck pain

Purpose.?To determine the immediate effects of the central posteroanterior (PA) mobilization technique on both pain and active cervical range of motion in patients with mechanical neck pain presenting with central or bilateral symptoms.

Methods.?A randomized controlled trial was conducted in 60 patients who were randomly allocated into either ‘central PA’ or ‘random’ mobilization group. Two physical therapists and one assessor participated. Outcome measures included neck pain at rest, pain on the most painful movement, and active cervical range of motion taken before and immediately 5?min after the mobilization treatment.

Results.?Significant reductions in pain at rest and on the most painful movement were noted within-group comparisons (p?<?0.001). However, the ‘central PA’ mobilization group obtained a significantly greater reduction in pain on the most painful movement than the ‘random’ mobilization group (p?<?0.05). Both mobilization techniques had no effects on the active cervical range of motion. However, the differences in the means of pain reduction between both mobilization techniques were modest (<10?mm).

Conclusion.?The clinical recommendation regarding the selection of the central PA mobilization technique for treating patients with central or bilateral mechanical neck pain is therefore arguably.     

Treating the N0 neck in early stage oral cancer: a pause for re-assessment?

The incidence of metastases following neck dissection in the apparent lymph node negative neck in oral cancer is between 7% and 33%; early resection of cervical metastases may well increase survival. Modern imaging techniques can reduce the yield of previously undiagnosed metastatic nodes in elective neck dissection (END). An audit of 112 consecutive cases was conducted to determine the proportion of undiagnosed nodal metastases, after END. There were neck metastases in 10 cases (9%), which were mainly (but not all) micrometastic. The 20% likelihood of nodal metastases was only apparent in primary tumours greater than 6 mm thick. The length of inpatient stay was increased from 3.7 to 16.5 days with free vascularised transfer. There were complications including cranial nerve damage. There were two peri-operative deaths. No ipsilateral neck failures occurred, median follow up was 937 days. To reduce unnecessary END, resection can be undertaken as a prior procedure, subsequently only carrying out END on tumours greater than 6 mm, or with unfavourable tumour characteristics.     

Novel use of a Sengstaken–Blakemore tube during a neck exploration of a carotid injury: A case report

Penetrating neck trauma can injure the major blood vessels, airway, gastrointestinal system, and neurological system. We present a case where a Sengstaken–Blakemore tube was emergently placed during surgical exploration of a stab wound to the neck to tamponade bleeding until surgical control was obtained and the vascular injuries were managed.     

Blood transfusions and hip fracture mortality - A retrospective cohort study

BackgroundHip fractures are associated with serious morbidity and mortality. Low haemoglobin at presentation has been shown to be associated with increased mortality in hip fracture patients. This comorbid patient group commonly receives packed red cell blood transfusions during their hospital admission, the impact of which is less clear.Aims and objectivesWe aim to assess the rate, appropriateness and impact of blood transfusions on one-year mortality in hip fracture patients. We also aim to assess the impact of patients taking anticoagulant medications at presentation on the rates of blood transfusions in this patient group.MethodsA retrospective cohort study of 324 consecutive hip fracture patients. Data was collected from the national hip fracture database, electronic patient records and PACS.Results75 patients received a blood transfusion. Receiving a blood transfusion increased absolute risk of one-year mortality by 2.466 (p < 0.05). Adjusted for age, sex, comorbidities, residence prior to admission and time from presentation to surgery increased the risk of one-year mortality was 2.790 (p < 0.05).28% of patients who went on to receive a transfusion had a haemoglobin of less than 100 g/L at presentation. 94.6% of transfused patients had a pre-transfusion haemoglobin of less than 90 g/L. There was no increased risk of requiring a blood transfusion if anticoagulant medication was being taken at presentation.ConclusionReceiving a blood transfusion during an admission for hip fracture carried an increased risk of one-year mortality of almost two and a half times. With appropriate preoperative optimisation, taking an anticoagulant medication at presentation did not increase the risk of requiring a transfusion. Most blood transfusions were administered appropriately using thresholds. Just over a quarter of patients who received a transfusion had an admission haemoglobin of less than 100 g/L, showing it as a poor predictor of blood transfusion requirement during admission.     

Metastatic Lymph Node Ratio of Central Neck Compartment Has Predictive Values for Locoregional Recurrence in Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma

ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate the significance of metastatic lymph node ratio (the ratio between the metastatic lymph node and the harvested lymph nodes; MLNR) in the central neck for the prediction of locoregional recurrence in patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.MethodsAfter reviewing medical records of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma patients who received total thyroidectomy with central neck node dissection, 573 consecutive adult patients were enrolled in this study, with a follow-up period of more than 36 months. Regarding the risk of recurrence, multivariate analyses were performed with the following variables; sex, age, multiplicity of the primary tumor, presence of pathological extrathyroidal extension, the level of postoperative stimulated serum thyroglobulin, the number of harvested lymph nodes, the number of lymph node metastasis and MLNR.ResultsThe MLNR showed a predictive significance for the locoregional recurrence (P<0.05). Most recurrences were occurred in the lateral neck (n=12, 80%) with a median interval of 20 months. The lowest cutoff value of the MLNR for a meaningful separation of disease recurrence was 0.44 (hazard ratio, 8.86; 95% confidence interval, 1.49 to 52.58; P=0.001).ConclusionWhen the MLNR is higher than 0.44, there is an increased risk of locoregional recurrence mostly in the lateral neck. Therefore, MLNR of the central neck in a permanent or frozen biopsy may be helpful in decision making in the extent of thyroidectomy and/or the need for contralateral central neck lymph nodes dissection.     

Psychometric properties of the Neck OutcOme Score,Neck Disability Index,and Short Form–36 were evaluated in patients with neck pain

ObjectiveTo assess reliability, construct validity, responsiveness, and interpretability for Neck OutcOme Score (NOOS), Neck Disability Index (NDI), and Short Form–36 (SF-36) in neck pain patients.Study Design and SettingInternal consistency was assessed by Cronbach alpha. Test-retest reliability was evaluated by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and measurement error was estimated from the standard error of measurement. Responsiveness was assessed as standardized response mean (SRM) and interpretability from the minimal important difference (MID). Construct validity was tested correlating subscale scores from NOOS and SF-36 and NDI items.ResultsAt baseline, 196 neck pain patients were included. Cronbach α was adequate for most NOOS subscales, NDI, and SF-36 with few exceptions. Good to excellent reliability was found for NOOS subscales (ICC 0.88–0.95), for NDI, and for SF-36 with few exceptions. For NOOS, minimal detectable changes varied between 1.1 and 1.9, and construct validity was supported. SRMs were higher for NOOS subscales (0.19–0.42), compared to SF-36 and NDI. MID values varied between 15.0 and 24.1 for NOOS subscales.ConclusionsIn conclusion, the NOOS is a reliable, valid, and responsive measure of self-reported disability in neck pain patients, performing at least as well or better than the commonly used SF-36 and NDI.     

经颈胸腹三切口行食管癌切除术的配合体会

食管癌是我国常见的恶性肿瘤之一,手术是食管癌的首选.有作者报道,胸段食管癌采取右侧开胸,颈、胸、腹三切口的"三野"清扫术,能明显提高食管癌的远期疗效[1].我院2009—2011年6月对32例食管癌患者采取该术式,由于该手术时间较长,要求护士准备充分,术中配合熟练,精力集中,反应敏捷,以保证手术安全和顺利,现将体会介绍如下.