-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: We propose this ratio as a useful radiological index of PCL attenuation in the presence of normal morphological appearance
on MRI scan.
Irish Journal of Medical Science 04/2012; 171:70-70. · 0.58 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: We conclude that the named clinical tests and signs are reliable in diagnosing ACL rupture. Joint line tenderness is the most
reliable sign of meniscal injury.
Irish Journal of Medical Science 04/2012; 171:71-72. · 0.58 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: To report outcomes in 10 patients who underwent dynamic "S" Quattro external fixation for complex fractures of the base of the thumb.
Nine men and one woman aged 18 to 69 (mean, 31) years underwent "S" Quattro external fixation for complex fractures of the base of the thumb. The dominant hand was involved in 8 patients. Three patients had Bennett fractures, 5 had Rolando fractures, one had an open multi-fragmented fracture, and one had a fracture-subluxation. Four of them had had prior (failed) treatment with splints and/or Kirschner wires. The "S" Quattro external fixator was applied for a mean of 4.9 weeks. Patients were followed up in an out-patient setting for a mean of 10.7 months until bone union and removal of the external fixator. Finger flexor function was assessed based on total active movement (TAM). Functional outcomes were assessed using the Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire.
No pin-site infection, malunion, or non-union was encountered. Mean loss of TAM was 7.5 degrees. Five patients lost 10 degrees or more, 2 of whom lost 20 degrees (one with an open comminuted fracture and one was elderly). Four patients regained full TAM and 6 attained more than 75% TAM compared to the contralateral thumb. At the 3-year follow-up, the mean DASH score was 3.4. Four patients reported no functional disability. Poorer outcomes were reported in the 2 patients who once had lost 20 degrees of TAM.
The "S" Quattro external fixator is recommended as a primary and definitive treatment modality for complex intra-articular thumb fractures when conservative and other surgical interventions have failed.
Journal of orthopaedic surgery (Hong Kong) 09/2008; 16(2):170-4.
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Providing a long-lasting total hip arthroplasty for patients younger than 50 years remains one of the greatest challenges for modern arthroplasty surgery. We retrospectively reviewed 221 patients younger than 50 years who underwent 299 uncemented total hip arthroplasties from 1983 to 2000. We assessed 5- to 15-year survival with revision as the endpoint. Femoral stem survival was 99.3% (range, 98.4-100%), 98.9% (range, 97.7-100%), and 96.8% (92.5-100%) at 5, 10, and 15 years, respectively. Including all component designs acetabular survival was 98.7% (range, 97.4-100%), 84.6% (78.8-90.4%), and 52.5% (40.7-64.3%) at 5, 10, and 15 years, respectively. Overall survival was 46.8% (33.5-58.1%) at 15 years. Total hip arthroplasties performed for hip dysplasia had lower 10-year and 15-year survival. Zirconium-on-polyethylene articulations had lower acetabular revision rates compared with cobalt-chrome-on-polyethylene. Sixty-nine revisions were performed, most commonly for polyethylene wear. Uncemented femoral stems resulted in 90% survival at 15 years followup in patients younger than 50 years at index operation. Contemporary bearing surfaces in association with such stems may provide long-lasting total hip arthroplasties, even in young, active patients.
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research 01/2007; 453:103-9. · 2.53 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Haematomata caused by blunt trauma may potentially induce a compartment syndrome by raising intra-compartmental pressure. We report a case of acute posterior compartment syndrome following minimal trauma to the leg of an elderly patient on the antiplatelet agent clopidogrel. This case highlights the high index of clinical suspicion required to detect compartment syndrome in those on long term antiplatelet therapy and prompt surgical decompression is recommended.
Emergency Medicine Journal 10/2006; 23(9):697-8. · 1.44 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Compartment syndrome is a unique form of ischaemia of skeletal muscle which occurs despite patency of the large vessels. Decompression allows the influx of activated leucocytes which cause further injury. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant which concentrates preferentially in leucocytes and attenuates reperfusion-induced muscle injury. We have evaluated the use of pretreatment with oral vitamin C in the prevention of injury caused by compartment syndrome in a rat cremasteric muscle model. Acute and delayed effects of pretreatment with vitamin C were assessed at one and 24 hours after decompression of compartment syndrome. Muscle function was assessed electrophysiologically. Vascular, cellular and tissue inflammation was assessed by staining of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and by determination of the activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) in neutrophils and tissue oedema. Compartment syndrome impaired skeletal muscle function and increased the expression of ICAM-1, activity of MPO and muscle weight increased significantly. Pretreatment with vitamin C preserved muscle function and reduced the expression of ICAM-1, infiltration of the neutrophils and oedema.
Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery - British Volume 09/2004; 86(6):906-11. · 2.83 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Paediatric subacute osteomyelitis (SAO) presents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge to clinicians. Typically located in the metaphysis of long bones, diaphyseal SAO of the upper limb is rare. We present the case of a three-year-old girl referred to our fracture clinic as an occult fracture following trauma to her forearm with normal initial radiographs. Follow-up radiographs one week later showed cortical erosion of the distal ulna, while a subsequent MRI scan showed soft tissue swelling with an area of high signal in the distal ulna. A limited biopsy diagnosed staphylococcal subacute osteomyelitis of the ulna. The patient responded to high dose antibiotic therapy and made a full recovery. We present this case to highlight the high index of suspicion required to diagnose and appropriately manage this insidious condition, which may easily be confused with any number of benign and malignant bony lesions and provide a review of the relevant literature.
Irish medical journal 02/2004; 97(1):19-20.
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: We present four cases and a review of the literature regarding nail-gun related limb injury. Nail guns have significant potential to cause limb and other major injuries. In most cases improper use of the nail-gun is the single most important factor in causing such types of injuries. Treatment of these injuries requires careful assessment of the limb and the type of nail involved in order to enable safe extraction. We recommend the introduction of training in the workforce to encourage awareness of the danger of such devices. We also emphasize the continuing requirements for improved workplace safety and adequate safety equipment when working with such dangerous devices.
Irish medical journal 03/2002; 95(2):50-1.
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is caused by endothelial and subendothelial damage by neutrophil-derived oxidants. Vitamin C is an antioxidant which attenuates endothelial injury after IRI. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of oral vitamin C in the prevention of IRI in skeletal muscle. We used a model of cross-clamping (3 hours) and reperfusion (1 hour) of the cremaster muscle in rats. Muscle function was assessed electrophysiologically by electrical field stimulation. Infiltration by neutrophils was determined by the activity of tissue myeloperoxidase (MPO) and tissue oedema by the wet-to-dry ratio. Neutrophil respiratory burst activity was measured in control animals and groups pretreated with vitamin C. IRI significantly decreased muscle function and increased muscle neutrophil MPO activity and muscle oedema. Pretreatment with vitamin C preserved muscle function and reduced tissue oedema and neutrophil infiltration. Neutrophil respiratory burst activity was reduced in the group treated with vitamin C compared with the control group. We conclude that pretreatment with oral vitamin C protects against acute muscle IRI, possibly by attenuating neutrophil respiratory burst activity.
Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery - British Volume 12/2001; 83(8):1202-6. · 2.83 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Electrocautery is used increasingly for tissue dissection, although fears of excessive scarring and poor wound healing have curtailed its widespread use for skin incision. This study compared electrosurgical incision with traditional scalpel incision.
One hundred patients requiring elective midline laparotomy were randomized prospectively to either scalpel or diathermy incision. Parameters measured included incision time, wound size, wound blood loss, total intraoperative blood loss and postoperative wound pain. All wound complications were recorded.
The two groups did not differ significantly in relation to patient or wound characteristics. Laparotomy incisions using diathermy were significantly quicker than scalpel incisions (mean(s. e.m.) 6.1(0.4) versus 7.5(0.5) s/cm2; P < 0.04). There was significantly less blood loss in the diathermy group compared with the scalpel group (0.8(0.1) versus 1.7(0.3) ml/cm2; P = 0.002). Postoperative pain scores were significantly lower in the diathermy group for the first 48 h after operation (P < 0.05). Morphine requirements were also significantly lower over the first 5 postoperative days in the diathermy incision group (P < 0.04). There was no difference between groups in wound complications before discharge and at the 1-month follow-up.
Electrosurgical midline incision in elective surgery has significant advantages over scalpel use on the basis of incision time, blood loss, early postoperative pain and analgesia requirements.
British Journal of Surgery 02/2001; 88(1):41-4. · 4.61 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: A 66-year-old woman presented with a 3-day history of classical features of large bowel obstruction. At emergency laparotomy, the transverse colon and splenic flexure were located in the left hemithorax. The entire left hemidiaphragm was absent, and there were no diaphragmatic remnants visible. This is the oldest reported case of an absent hemidiaphragm. Previous cases of "agenesis" of the hemidiaphragm in adults either reported diaphragmatic remnants intraoperatively or failed to rule them out radiologically when managed conservatively. We would suggest that this is the first reported case of an adult presenting with true agenesis of the hemidiaphragm.
Chest 04/2000; 117(3):901-2. · 5.25 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: to evaluate vitamin C supplementation in the prevention of ischaemia-reperfusion (I-R) induced acute lung injury.
Sprague-Dawley rats (n =6/group) were randomised into Control, I-R and I-R pretreated with vitamin C (3.3 g over 5 days). Ischaemia-reperfusion injury was induced by 30 minutes infrarenal aortic cross-clamping and 120 minutes reperfusion.
pulmonary microvascular injury was measured by broncho-alveolar lavage protein concentration, pulmonary neutrophil infiltration by tissue myeloperoxidase activity and bronchoalveolar lavage neutrophil counts. In a second experiment (n =5/group) neutrophil respiratory burst activity was measured in Control and vitamin C groups.
ischaemia-reperfusion resulted in a significant increase in both microvascular leakage and pulmonary neutrophil infiltration as measured by bronchoalveolar lavage protein concentration and pulmonary myeloperoxidase activity respectively. Pretreatment with vitamin C significantly attenuated both microvascular leakage and neutrophil infiltration. Neutrophil respiratory burst activity was significantly reduced in the vitamin C group (13.02 m.c.f.+/-0.3) compared with Control (19.04 m.c.f.+/-1. 9),p <0.02.
these data suggest that oral vitamin C therapy protects against ischaemia-reperfusion-induced acute lung injury, possibly by attenuating neutrophil respiratory burst activity.
European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery 07/1999; 17(6):533-6. · 2.99 Impact Factor