Lisfranc and Chopart amputations

The issue of choosing an amputation level can be difficult for physicians. Every attempt should be made to maintain as much pedal length as possible to increase biomechanical function and ambulatory power. When there is excessive soft tissue loss because of trauma, infection, or vascular compromise, a Lisfranc amputation should be considered as a limb-salvage procedure. A more proximal midfoot amputation than Lisfranc is one at Chopart's articulation. This article addresses Lisfranc and Chopart amputations.     

Increased hand digit length ratio (2D:4D) is associated with increased severity of hypospadias in pre-pubertal boys

Pediatric Surgery International - Hypospadias is a common congenital male disorder, with much research focusing on prenatal androgen exposure as a causative factor. Whilst digit length ratios were...     

Airway hyperresponsiveness in allergic rhinitis. A risk factor for asthma

In order to study whether the methacholine inhalation challenge could predict which patients with allergic rhinitis were at risk to develop asthma, we prospectively studied a group of ragweed-sensitive patients over a four to five year period. On the initial study, 16 of 40 patients (40 percent) were found to be hyperresponsive to methacholine. On the follow-up study, three of these 16 patients (19 percent) were found to have developed asthma from one and one-half to five years after the initial testing. Each had greater methacholine responsiveness on repeat study. The degree of methacholine hyperresponsiveness, judged by the PD20, could not predict which of the initial responders would develop asthma. Twenty-four (60 percent) of our patients showed normal responses to methacholine on initial study; none developed asthma and 88 percent remained nonresponders on repeat study. Our study shows that allergic rhinitis patients hyperresponsive to methacholine are at greater risk to develop asthma than those with normal bronchial challenges (p less than 0.05).     

Vesicoureteral reflux: A historical perspective

The management of vesicoureteral reflux is a mainstay of pediatric urology. This management however, has evolved considerably throughout the years due to a dynamic understanding of both pathology and the relationship between surgical and medical therapies. The purpose of this article is to provide the reader with a historical perspective on management and delineate how its past has shaped current therapies and guidelines.