Musculo-skeletal complications in seizure disorders

Eight cases of musculo-skeletal injuries secondary to seizures of various causes treated between 1979 and 1983 are presented. A comprehensive review of the literature shows that these injuries are quite common occurrences in the convulsive therapy of psychiatric patients. These seizures have since, been prevented by the use of general anesthesia, muscle depolarizing agents and newer drugs introduced in psychiatric therapy. Physical restraint may in fact produce these injuries during seizure and avoidance may be more beneficial to the patient. The musculo-skeletal complications are quite varied and orthopedic management is individualized.(Summary)

Radiographic spinal measurements among Filipino

The radiologic interpediculate distance as well as the cervical and lumbar sagital distances have been measured in 500 x-ray films of adult Filipinos. It has been noted that the overall measurements among Filipino female is 0.6 mm. smaller than the average Filipino male. As compared to foreign studies our measurement is smaller. Compared to other local studies there is not much difference. It is hoped that these normal radiographic measurement may become an aid in the diagnosis of spinal stenosis and spinal tumors in the future. (Summary)

Cerebral palsy: the role of orthopaedic surgery

Twenty-six patients with spastic cerebral palsy underwent surgery from March 1982 to June 1986 at the Philippine General Hospital. The average age of the patient was 7.5 years (school age). 85 percent of the patients were ambulatory with and without support prior to surgery, 69 percent were spastic diplegics; 11 percent paraplegics; and 11 percent were quadriplegicsThe most common causes of the cerebral palsy were postnatal meningitis (19 percent); prematurity (15 percent); cord compromise (15 percent) and multiple births (11 percent), 54 percent of the patients had mild CP; 35 percent had moderate CP; and 11 percent had severe CPThe most frequent deformities that required surgery were equinus deformity (92 percent); adduction contracture (65 percent); and hip flexion contracture (38 percent). The most common combined surgical procedure performed was adductor tenotomy and TAL (22 percent). Two patients underwent bilateral hamstring release as a second stage procedure and one patient underwent a second stage bilateral hamstrings release plus repeat bilateral adductor tenotomy and TAL for recurrence in three months time. Obturator neurectomy with adductor tenotomy was done in three patients. No adductor transfer procedure was undertakenOnly fifty percent of the patients followed up regularly with an average follow-up period of 2 years. On follow up no deformity that was corrected by surgery recurred. (Auth)