Surgical treatment of displaced olecranon fractures by tension band wiring technique

Forty-five displaced olecranon fractures including 14 accompanying dislocated radial heads and seven radial head fractures were treated over a 13-year period by the tension band wiring technique. The use of supplemental internal fixation when necessary allows excellent results with the use of this technique, even in the presence of severe comminution or radial head dislocation. Primary silicone radial head implants fractured in all three patients in which they were used, necessitating repeat surgery in two patients to date. While loss of motion in terminal extension was a common aftermath of displaced olecranon fracture (59%), it was usually minor and functionally insignificant. True Kirschner-wire migration was not a common problem and can probably be eliminated by proper technique. The presence of gaps in the intraarticular surface of the semilunar notch of the ulna produced no ill effects and was compatible with excellent results. If only those cases with isolated olecranon fractures in this series are considered, there were good and excellent results in 29 of 30 cases (97%). Excision of the olecranon fragment(s) should be reserved for those cases when anatomic restoration cannot be achieved with internal fixation.     

Changes in sexual behavior during a safety and feasibility trial of a microbicide/diaphragm combination: an integrated qualitative and quantitative analysis.

If proven effective, vaginal microbicides and diaphragms will likely be part of a larger HIV prevention model that includes condoms and other prevention strategies. It is, therefore, important to understand how introducing new prevention methods may affect overall patterns of sexual risk behavior. Data presented were collected as part of a safety and feasibility study of ACIDFORM gel with a diaphragm among 120 women in South Africa. Interviews were administered at enrollment and months 1, 3, 5, and 6 of the trial. Focus groups were conducted at trial exit. Frequency of sex increased significantly after enrollment. This increase appears to be owing to perceived protection from HIV and greater sexual pleasure afforded by the gel. Male condom use was high overall but increased significantly from enrollment. Data suggest this is because of increased partner involvement, increased negotiating power afforded by study participation, and provision of free condoms perceived to be of high quality.     

Bone Mineral Density Determinations by Dual-Energy x-ray Absorptiometry in the Management of Patients with Marfan Syndrome—Some Factors Which Affect the Measurement

Reduced bone mineral density (BMD) was sporadically reported in patients with Marfan syndrome. This may or may not place the Marfan patient at increased risk for bone fracture. In comparing the BMDs of our patients with those reported in the literature, it seemed that agreement between values, and hence the degree of osteoporosis or osteopenia reported, was dependent on the instrumentation used. The objective of this study was to statistically assess this impression. Bone mineral density measurements from our previously published study of 30 adults with Marfan syndrome performed on a Lunar DPXL machine were compared with studies published between 1993–2000 measured using either Lunar or Hologic bone densitometry instruments. The differences of our measurements compared with those made on other Lunar machines were not statistically significant, but did differ significantly with published results from Hologic machines (P < 0.001). Before progress can be made in the assessment of BMD and fracture risk in Marfan patients and in the evidence-based orthopedic management of these patients, standardization of instrumental bone density determinations will be required along with considerations of height, obesity, age, and sex.     

Surveillance for quality assessment: IV. Surveillance using a hospital information system

Hospital surveillance for infection control purposes is a well-accepted method of following nosocomial infections in U.S. hospitals. However, hospital surveillance is being increasingly performed for nosocomial events in noninfectious areas, such as quality assurance and other areas of outcomes research. For the continued development of hospital surveillance in all these areas, dramatic growth in the amount of information collected will occur. To accommodate this growth and to validate new approaches in these areas, large amounts of data collection will be necessary. Collection of these data will be quite difficult without the creation of clinical hospital data bases in which large amounts of information are collected as a routine part of patient care, not as an elaborate addition to patient care. Automated hospital information systems, such as the HELP system, can facilitate the conduct of ongoing hospital surveillance not only in infection control but also in a broad range of areas, such as quality improvement outcomes research and cost-containment areas.     

Health care heats up as potential presidential campaign issue

Health care professionals and election analysts agree that health care will be a bigger issue in the 1992 election than it was in 1988. Among the reasons: Some prominent members of Congress are active in health care issues, media coverage of health insurance problems is growing, and several major health care reform bills have been introduced in Congress.