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Introduction: There is no large population size study on school screening for scoliosis in Malaysia. This study is aimed to determine the prevalence rate and positive predictive value (PPV) of screening programme for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Materials and Methods: A total of 8966 voluntary school students aged 13-15 years old were recruited for scoliosis screening. Screening was done by measuring the angle of trunk rotation (ATR) on forward bending test (FBT) using a scoliometer. ATR of 5 degrees or more was considered positive. Positively screened students had standard radiographs done for measurement of the Cobb angle. Cobb angle of >10° was used to diagnose scoliosis. The percentage of radiological assessment referral, prevalence rate and PPV of scoliosis were then calculated. Results: Percentage of radiological assessment referral (ATR >5°) was 4.2% (182/4381) for male and 5.0% (228/4585) for female. Only 38.0% of those with ATR >5° presented for further radiological assessment. The adjusted prevalence rate was 2.55% for Cobb angle >10°, 0.59% for >20° and 0.12% for >40°. The PPV is 55.8% for Cobb angle >10°, 12.8% for >20° and 2.6% for > 40°. Conclusions: This is the largest study of school scoliosis screening in Malaysia. The prevalence rate of scoliosis was 2.55%. The positive predictive value was 55.8%, which is adequate to suggest that the school scoliosis screening programme did play a role in early detection of scoliosis. However, a cost effectiveness analysis will be needed to firmly determine its efficacy.
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Background: Atopic Dermatitis (AD) is a chronic relapsing, pruritic inflammation of the skin which is often colonized by Staphylococcus aureus. Antibiotic resistance of S. aureus is a constant challenge for clinicians who manages atopic dermatitis. Aim: To determine S. aureus antibiotic resistance pattern among patients with non-infected atopic dermatitis and its association with disease severity. Methods: One hundred and seventy eight participants (89 AD patients and 89 controls) were recruited from Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). Participants were subjected to a questionnaire on demographics, personal and family medical conditions as well as antibiotic administration. AD severity were determined using Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD). Skin swab was taken from eczematous lesion in patients and from left forearm in controls. Antibiotic susceptibility towards methicillin, vancomycin, rifampicin, fusidic acid, erythromycin, gentamicin, clindamycin, sulphamethoxazole, cefuroxime and penicillin were determined using disk diffusion method. Results for antibiotic resistance were categorized as none, sensitive and resistant. Results: Colonization of S. aureus in AD were significantly higher than control (p<0.001). Highest antibiotic resistance was reported for Penicillin (32/39, 82.1%), followed by Fusidic Acid (7/39, 17.9%) as well as Clindamycin and Erythromycin (3/39, 7.7% respectively). Two AD patient (5.1%) were resistant to Gentamicin. In addition, 1 AD patient (2.6%) was resistant towards Methicillin, Sulfamethoxazole and Cefuroxime respectively. No antibiotic resistance was reported for Vancomycin and Rifampicin among the AD patients. Conclusion: High resistance were found for Penicillin and Fusidic acid. Their usage and prescription should be reduced to preserve its sensitivity.
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Extension distraction injury of the spine is rare. A majority of these cases occur in the cervical region and at an isolated level. Rare instances of this injury have been described in an ankylosed or fused spine. This case report describes a rare two level extension distraction thoracic spine injury in an otherwise healthy adult resulting from a motor vehicle accident.
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Pagets disease is common in Western countries but is very rare in Chinese populations. Although bisphosphonate has been widely used to treat symptomatic Pagets disease, prolonged use may be associated with insufficiency fracture. We highlight this rare case of Pagets disease in a Chinese lady who presented with an insufficiency fracture following long term use of bisphosphonate.
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Background: Psoriasis has been shown to be associated with a higher risk of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. Objective: To investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among patients with psoriasis and study the association between psoriasis and cardiovascular risk factors. Methods: This was a hospital based case-control study conducted at the Dermatology Clinic, University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) from May 2010 to March 2011. A total of 131 adult patients with psoriasis and 129 age-, gender- and race-matched controls were recruited. All subjects answered a standardised cardiovascular risks questionnaire and had anthropometric measurements recorded. Laboratory investigations included fasting glucose / lipid profile, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), c-reactive protein (CRP), urine microalbumin:creatinine ratio and an electrocardiogram. The diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was made using the harmonised criteria for metabolic syndrome in South East Asians. Statistical analysis was performed using statistical processing software (SPSS-17). Results: Metabolic syndrome was significantly higher among patients with psoriasis (64.9% versus 51.9%) (p = 0.034). The presence of metabolic syndrome was associated with low high density lipoprotein (HDL) (p=0.002) and high triglyceride (TG) levels (p = 0.014). The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was also significantly higher among patients with psoriasis (46.6% versus 27.1%) (p = 0.001). Hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, smoking and obesity were not significantly higher among patients with psoriasis. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate an association between psoriasis and metabolic syndrome which was primarily due to diabetes mellitus and dyslipidaemia.
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Snakebite is very common especially in Asia. We report a rare case of Providencia rettgeri infection following snakebite on the foot. This patient was treated with early and aggressive wound debridement, daily wound dressing during hospitalization and then skin coverage with split skin graft. No anti venom was given administered. Appropriate intravenous antibiotics were given to the patient while hospitalized and oral antibiotic were prescribed upon discharge. The outcome of this treatment was successful.
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Removal of plates is a procedure commonly performed by orthopaedic surgeons and stripped screws are probably the most common problem encountered during this procedure. Stripped screws are caused by slippage between the screwdriver and the screw. Due to the inherent difficulty in removing such screws, surgeons should be knowledgeable in techniques for their removal and should be equipped with the proper instruments to expedite the procedure. There are few published articles about such techniques. This report describes a technique for removal of plates with stripped screws. The tip of a stripped screw is approached from the far cortex and then reamed with a trephine reamer in the direction of the screw until both cortices are cleared. The plate is then removed with stripped screws attached. All the removals utilizing this technique to date have been successful with no complications, and this method is safe, efficient and technically easy to learn.
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Mucous membrane pemphigoid is a group of putative autoimmune, chronic inflammatory, subepithelial blistering diseases predominantly affecting mucous membranes, characterised by linear deposition of IgG, IgA, or C3 along the epithelial basement membrane1. This variant of pemphigoid is rare and encompasses a heterogeneous group manifesting a varying constellation of oral, ocular, skin, genital, nasopharyngeal, oesophageal and laryngeal lesions. In severe cases, it may lead to blindness due to ocular involvement and may even be life threatening due to airway obstruction. We report a case of mucous membrane pemphigoid with oral and genital involvement.
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Uveitis is a well-documented presentation of syphilis with or without concomitant HIV infection1,2. Syphilitic uveitis occurs most frequently during secondary and tertiary phases of the infection and its prevalence has declined in tandem with the decline in syphilis prevalence during the early phase of the HIV epidemic. However, during the past 5 years, there has been a resurgence of syphilis and an increased number of patients with ocular syphilis has been reported3,4. Early diagnosis of ocular syphilis which is highly amenable to simple antibiotic treatment can prevent blindness. Unfortunately, the ocular manifestations of syphilis are indistinguishable from that of other causes. Hence, a high index of suspicion is necessary to diagnose syphilitic uveitis. Awareness and recognition of concurrent syphilitic skin involvement, often mistaken for psoriasis, can aid in the diagnosis. We describe a patient whose ocular syphilis was diagnosed and treated promptly because of the presence of a palmoplantar rash.
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Cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita (CMCT) is an uncommonly reported, sporadic, congenital cutaneous disorder with persistent cutis marmorata, telangiectasia, and phlebectasia. It may be associated with a variety of other congenital anomalies, including but not limited to undergrowth or overgrowth of an involved extremity. We report a case of a baby with CMCT.