Psychological aspects of orthognathic surgery and its effect on quality of life in Egyptian patients

A study was made of 120 patients aged 11-33 years who underwent various types of orthognathic surgery in a Cairo hospital between 1998 and 2004. Patients answered a standardized questionnaire to identify motives for seeking surgery, the degree of satisfaction with the outcome and its effect on quality of life. Preoperatively, aesthetic reasons were the primary motive for seeking surgery in 95% of patients. Postoperatively, 85% of the patients were positive about the outcome of surgery as well as its effect on their quality of life. Postoperative improvement of facial aesthetics of the patients was associated with improvement of their quality of life in all aspects tested

Excision - interposition arthroplasty of the elbow joint, using fascialata long-term follow-up

Fourteen patients with ankylosed elbows had excision arthroplasty of their affected elbows. In ten, the lesion was post-traumatic and in four was postinfection [septic]. In all, the ankylosis was not in the optimum position of function. A sheet of fascialata was used as interposition membrane after excision of anchoring fibrous and osseous tissues. Follow up ranged from 13-20 years; on average 17.4 years. The results were gratifying and all the patients were satisfied. Improvement in all parameters increased as time went on. The good motivation of the patients was important in improving the results

Posterolateral vertebrectomy and vertebral replacement in malignant disease of the spine

The spinal surgeon is frequently confronted with malignant spinal lesions with extraosseous extradural growths. Dealing with such lesions necessitates a posterior decompressive procedure. An additional anterior approach to remove the affected vertebral body is considered to be invasive. This work reported the experience of utilizing the posterolatera1 approach in doing vertebral corpectomy or vertebrectomy in 35 patients presented with malignant lesions of the spine in whom decompressive laminectomy is not a sufficient surgical solution. The indication of surgery was neurological deterioration with or without pain in 25 cases and severe intractable pain in the remaining 10 cases. The operation was done in the prone position. In 19 cases, cylindrical cages were used for vertebral replacement, while the remaining 16 cases were reconstructed using open cages. Of the latter, three cages had a telescoping function. In all cases, transpedicular screws were used to stabilize the posterior column. The mean blood loss was 2650ml [SD: 15l ml].The mean operative time was 170 minutes [SD: 37 minutes]. A dramatic relief of pain was achieved in 24 patients with motor recovery in 15 patients and motor improvement in seven patients. No significant neurological losses were attributed to the approach and the follow up proved adequate stability of the construct

Clinical, radiological and ultrasound study of clicky hips in neonates

32 full term newly born Saudi babies, 25 females and 7 males. The study comprised 15 cases as control. 17 cases were referred to the orthopaedic department due to clicky hips; 7 of the latter were bilateral. Barlows and Ortolain tests were used for examination of the hips. Radiological: Plain X-rays of the pelvis and hips were done in all cases. Ultrasound: Coronal section was obtained for each hip joint, alpha and beta angles were measured as well as the femoral head diameter, containment of the femoral head, cartilage covering, labrum and ligamentum teres and also shape of promontory. t-student test, F ratio, chi square and r test were used. Monthly clinical and ultrasound follow up examinations were performed. showed that the ultrasound examination of the hips proved valuable and superior to the other methods and is considered a sensitive tool in detecting any changes in the neonatal hips

Successful resuscitation using intraosseous infusion

Since the bone marrow cavity is not collapsible, it can be used for infusion of fluids in shocked children and nconatcs, if intravenous [IV] access is difficult. In this case report, we describe a 3 and 1/2 year old-boy who was successfully resuscitated from shock secondary to aspiration pneumonia using intraosseous [IO] route for delivery of fliuds and medications. The technique is relatively simple and its complications can be minimized by confirming that the needle is in the marrow space and avoiding prolonged infusions

Acid base measurements in sea water

As a constant ionic medium, seawater is effective in stabilizing the activity coefficients of solutes present at low concentrations as well as the liquid junction potential of the pH cell. Therefore, there is a possibility of setting up an experimental scale based on the hydrogen ion concentration, a concept free from the uncertainties attendant on the use of the single ion activity. Electromotive measurements of cell, Pt, H2 [g, 1 atm]/bicine HCl [m1], bicine [m2] SW/AgCl, Ag, were used to determine the free hydrogen ion concentration [pmH] in synthetic seawater at constant ionic strength [0.67] over temperature range 25-45C. Apparent dissociation constant pK' [of bicinium ion] was found to be approximately the same. The emf data for the above cell were also used to establish st and ard reference values of pMH in the buffer solutions studied. Experimental values of pMH in artificial seawater [35% S] were obtained. Activity coefficients and trace activity coefficient of hydrochloric acid in natural seawater [I = 0.743] at 25C using emf of the cell, Pt, H2 [g, 1 atm]/HCl[m] SW/AgCl, Ag, were also reported

Apolipoprotein B and other lipid parameters in coronary atherosclerosis

92 patients undergoing coronary angiography, in the cardiology Department of Ain Shams University Hospital. were chosen. According to the results of the angiogram, patients were divided into control group, with normal patent coronary arteries and patient group with atherosclerosis in one or more coronary arteries. To exclude the effect of non lipid risk factors, the paired "t" test was applied to match pairs of patients and controls. Results showed that apo B, TC, LDL-C and B lipoprotein were significantly higher in patient group than in control group; whereas, HDL-C, and a lipoprotein were significantly lower. The ratios of TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C were significantly increased in the patient group. To assess the relation of the studied parameters to the severity of the condition, the patient group was further subdivided into a group of moderate atherosclerosis, with lesions in one or two coronary arteries and severe atherosclerosis with lesions in three or more coronary arteries. Comparing both groups together, and to the control group, it was found that apo B was the only parameter, which showed significant difference between both groups. We concluded that apo B had a much better predictive value in relation to CAD risk. It is the only parameter, which is related to the severity of the atherosclerotic process