Frakturen des Processus coronoideus ulnae

Trauma und Berufskrankheit - Zusammenfassung Der Processus coronoideus ist der wichtigste knöcherne Stabilisator des Ellbogengelenks, der vordere Anteil des Lig. collaterale ulnae, welcher am...     

A comparative study of the tissue-destroying effect of the laser and electrocoagulation

The effect of the laser on compact, glandular tissue at the dosage employed for the local palliative treatment of tumors, can largely be mimicked with the aid of high-frequency current (HF-current), applied with the aid of an electro-hydro-thermo-probe: The experiments described in the present study were performed on the livers of 70 male Wistar rats. The laser was applied for 2 seconds at an output of 80 J at a distance to the tissue of 0.5 cm. In the first stage, in the acute experiment, the effect of the HF-current was matched to that of the laser by varying the modulated and unmodulated current components. It was found that the depths of penetration into the tissue at the given laser settings could be achieved with modulated HF-current (so-called coagulation current) at an output of more than 72 watts (equipment setting K 10) coagulation being performed for 10 seconds. The admixture of modulated HF-current (so-called cutting current) reduces the depth of penetration into the tissue. In the first 5 days, the depth of penetration increases after both laser irradiation and HF-coagulation, by a factor of 2 to 3. With respect to the depths of penetration (DP), the scatter ranges, and the histological changes, no difference is to be seen between laser and HF lesions: Laser DP = 5.7 mm (confidence range: 4.4-7.0 mm); HF DP (equipment setting K 10) = 4.8 mm (confidence range: 3.6-5.4 mm).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Fluoroscopic percutaneous lumbar zygapophyseal joint cyst rupture: a clinical outcome study

Background contextLumbar zygapophyseal joint (Z-joint) synovial cysts can cause low back pain (LBP), spinal stenosis, and lower extremity radiculopathy. In the literature, there are several minimally invasive techniques described with mixed results. Typical recommended treatment is surgical resection of the cyst. Currently, there is little information available concerning the efficacy and outcome with treatment of Z-joint synovial cyst by percutaneous, fluoroscopic, contrast-enhanced distention, and rupture.PurposeTo evaluate the therapeutic value and safety of Z-joint cyst rupture in symptomatic patients.Study design/settingRetrospective cohort study in an academic outpatient physiatric spine practice.Patient sampleThirty-two patients with moderate-to-severe LBP and leg pain (18 women and 14 men with an age range of 46–86 y; mean age, 66 y) with an average preprocedure symptom duration of 5 months. The patient's clinical symptoms correlated with magnetic resonance imaging studies documenting the presence of a synovial cyst at the corresponding level and side of symptoms. Patients had at least 6 months follow-up (range, 6–24).Outcome measuresNumerical Pain Rating Scale, Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, North American Spine Society four-point patient satisfaction survey, recurrence of synovial cyst requiring repeat rupture, and need for surgical intervention.MethodsPatients with symptomatic lumbar Z-joint synovial cyst were identified and their charts were reviewed. Patients included in the study either had symptomatic lumbar LBP or LBP with associated lower extremity radiculopathy. All patients in the study had magnetic resonance imaging's documenting Z-joint synovial cyst that corresponded with the patients' clinical symptoms. All patients received fluoroscopically guided, contrast-enhanced, percutaneous facet cyst distention and rupture followed by an intra-articular facet joint injection of 1 cc kenalog and 1 cc of 1% lidocaine. Seventeen of the patients also received a transforaminal epidural steroid injection just before facet cyst rupture. Telephone follow-up was conducted on all patients.ResultsExcellent long-term (average follow-up 1 y; range, 6–24 mo) pain relief was achieved in 23 (72%) of 32 patients undergoing facet cyst rupture. Twelve patients (37.5%) had synovial cyst recurrence and 11 chose to undergo repeat rupture, which resulted in 5 patients (45%) obtaining complete relief of symptoms and 6 patients (55%) requiring surgical intervention for cyst removal. Fisher exact test demonstrated that all patients who did not have a cyst recurrence were a success and obtained complete relief of symptoms (p<.0002). Patients who underwent a repeat rupture had a 50% chance of a successful outcome. There was no statistical significance between a successful outcome and level of facet cyst rupture, the presence of spondylolisthesis, sex, age, or having a transforaminal epidural steroid injection at the time of the procedure. Wilcoxon signed-rank test demonstrated that the difference in Numerical Pain Rating Scale and Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire scores before and after the procedure was statistically significant (p<.0001). No complications were reported.ConclusionsFluoroscopic percutaneous Z-joint cyst rupture appears to be a safe and effective minimally invasive treatment option. This procedure should be considered before surgical intervention.     

Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma pneumoniae in children with and without pharyngitis

The prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus, and other treatable organisms was studied in children with and without pharyngitis. Children aged 2 to 12 years were evaluated between November 1985 and April 1986 in three family practice offices in the Salt Lake City area. Chlamydia trachomatis was not detected in the pharynx of any of the children studied. Mycoplasma pneumoniae was cultured from 5 percent of the 242 children studied, group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus from 30 percent, non-group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus from 5 percent, Hemophilus influenzae from 4 percent, and Staphylococcus aureus from 14 percent. The symptoms reported were not statistically associated with any organism isolated, and clinical signs of pharyngitis were associated only with the presence of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus. Based on these results, management of pharyngitis in children should continue to be based on the detection and treatment of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus.     

The probability of treatment success,failure and duration—what can be learned from empirical data to support decision making in clinical practice?

Empirical methods have been found to be superior to clinical judgment for the purpose of correctly identifying patients at risk for treatment failure and, hence, to enhance psychotherapy outcomes. The development and evaluation of an empirical approach aimed at supporting clinical decisions during the course of psychotherapy is described. The tool provides predictions based on a patient‐specific sampling strategy called the nearest neighbors method and on growth curve approaches to model an expected treatment course for each patient. Using session‐by‐session data from an outpatient center in the US (N = 4365), this new empirically derived decision model was evaluated and compared with a clinically based approach loosely based on an adaptation of clinically significant change concepts. The empirically derived decision system was found to be superior to the rational clinically based one in almost all measures of prediction accuracy, indicating its potential to identify patients at risk for treatment failure. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characteristics of therapy of heart diseases in old age

Cardiac insufficiency, coronary heart disease, and arrhythmia are not only more frequent in elderly patients, they are very often combined. By reason of cardiac morbidity and general morbidity as well as changed physiological and pathophysiological conditions, diagnosis of cardiac disease in elderly patients is more difficult. These conditions also apply to modifications in the therapy of cardiac diseases in advanced age. Especially pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic effects in advanced age combined with multimorbidity also account for the risk of interactions because of the simultaneous application of different pharmacological groups.     

Diagnosis and management of abscesses in the basal ganglia and thalamus: A survey

Summary A review is made of the current management strategies of abscesses in basal ganglia and thalamus, based on a review of the literature and three of our own cases. Clinical picture, aetiology, diagnostic, surgical treatment and outcome are discussed. Stereotactic abscess puncture in combination with temporary drainage and rinsing of the abscess cavity in combination with systemic medication of antibiotics has become the management of choice with satisfactory results.