Opium and opioid abuse in orthopedic inpatients: a cross sectional study in Urmia university of medical sciences

During a cross-sectional study, patients who were admitted to the orthopedic department of the Urmia University of Medical Sciences were asked about opium/opioid abuse. Demographic characteristics, the pattern of consumption, the substance, the duration of the use, the duration of hospital stay and the cause of their injuries were recorded. Among 2,867 patients, 74 [2.5%] patients [71 men and 3 women] with the mean age of 38 were opium/opioid users. Most of the patients used opium through inhalation. The mean duration of the substance use was 7.4 years. The mean duration of hospital stay between the regular orthopedic patients and the opium/opioid abuser orthopedic patients was statistically significant [P=000]. Among four Hepatitis C Virus [HCV] infected patients, three subjects were injection users and Human Immunodeficiency Virus [HIV] also infected two of them. Road traffic accidents [37.8%], and work related injuries [17.5%] were the two most common reasons for the patient's injuries

report of the injuries sustained in Iran air flight 277 that crashed near Urmia, Iran

Background: On January 9, 2011 Iran Air Flight 277 crashed during approach to Urmia, Iran. Out of 105 passengers, 27 survived. This brief report presents a perspective of the passengers' sustained injuries

Methods: We reviewed the recorded injuries of all passengers as provided by the Legal Medicine Organization authorities. The Injury Severity Score [ISS], an anatomical scoring system, was used to provide an overall code for those who survived with multiple anatomical injuries

Results: There were a total of 96 ISS body region injuries among those who survived. Facial injuries [83%] were the most frequent injuries noted among fatalities, which was statistically significant [P=0.000]. In those who survived, injuries to the head and neck [37%] and facial [33%] regions were relatively less frequent than other anatomical regions. The most serious injuries among survivors belonged to the extremity [85%] region, particularly lower limb fractures [62%]. Differences in extremity injuries between the survivors and fatalities were not statistically significant

Conclusion: The findings of this study were similar to other studies where the most frequent serious injuries were fractures of the extremities, particularly the lower limbs

Concepts of orthopedic disorders in Avicenna's canon of medicine

This manuscript offers a brief review of the orthopedic subjects in the Canon of Medicine. Highlights include, but are not limited to, the anatomy of the musculoskeletal system, fractures and dislocations, nerve and tendon injuries, different types of wounds and ulcers, and bone infections. Some of the concepts regarding musculoskeletal disorders remain relevant to current orthopedic knowledge. Reviewing the orthopedic subjects in the Canon of Medicine reveals that Avicenna has made a significant contribution to the evolution of orthopedic knowledge

brief Iranian medical history through commemorative postage stamps

Medical philately provides a useful medium for the study of medical history. There are a handful of Iranian stamps which have been issued with a medical theme. This report briefly reviews the history of Iranian medicine through Iranian commemorative postage stamps. Some notable stamps are presented

Radial artery pseudoaneurysm at the previous site of invasive monitoring

This report presents a case of left radial artery pseudoaneurysm developing at the previous site of invasive monitoring. The patient had prosthetic mitral valve replacement one month earlier, and anti-coagulation therapy had started on the first post-operative day. The patient's radial artery aneurysm with 4-centimeter diameter was resected and the radial artery was ligated

Carpometacarpal joint dislocation of the thumb associated with the fracture of the trapezium

A 30-year-old man was referred to us with carpometacarpal joint dislocation of the thumb and fracture of the trapezium. The lesion was managed with closed reduction and percutaneous insertion of pin, resulting in good functional outcome