Assessment of knee alignment in osteoarthritic patients

This study was performed on 46 subjects [36 patients with osteoarthritis of the knees and 10 age and sex matched asymptomatic volunteers]. They were required to be "knee pain positive" ascertained using a previously standardized questionnaire and to have at least grade 3 radiographic changes using Kellgren and Lawrence criteria. All the 92 limbs were scanned at the level of distal femoral condyle, proximal tibial condyles and ankle joint. Rotation of the knee joint was measured as an angle between the tangent to the dorsal aspect of femoral condyles [proximal reference line] and the dorsal tangent to the tibial condyles. Tibial torsion was measured as an inclination between the dorsal tangent to the tibial condyles and the tangent of the distal tibial at the level of the medial malleolus

Thermography and its use in diagnosis of active sacroiliac ankylosing spondylitis

The objective of this study was to investigate the value of sacroiliac thermography in the assessment of disease activity in ankylosing spondylitis [AS]. The clinical, laboratory and sacroiliac thermographic indices were done for 27 patients with AS. Clinical disease activity was demonstrated in 13 patients, while the other 14 were inactive. The mean sacroiliac thermographic index was significantly higher in active ankylosing spondylitis group than either the inactive or the control group. Furthermore, significant correlations were observed between the thermographic indices and other parameters of the disease activity

Management of postoperative mastoid cavity problems: effect of recreation of the pneumatized system

The concept that a fully normal mastoid is a pneumatized one, communicating with the middle ear and probably serving as a pneumatic reservoir, is adopted. In this work, 50 patients with postoperative cavity problems were managed in ENT Department, Assiut University Hospital. Three techniques were managed in the ENT Department, Assiut University Hospital. Three techniques were used for the management of the cavity problems [the temporalis myofascial flap and cartilage pate to fill the cavity] and hydroxy apatite ceramic to build up the posterior bony wall and re-create a pneumatic mastoid type. An improvement of otorrhea was reported more in conchal cartilage pate technique. Hearing gain was poor in muscle flap obliteration, while the recreation of mastoid pneumatization hydroxyapatite technique only gave better results

role of some biochemical markers in the severity of inflammatory changes of secretory otitis media in children

Seventy-five effusion samples were obtained from forty-five children who had otitis media with effusion [OME]. They were analyzed for tumor necrosis factor [TNF alpha], interleukin-8 [IL-8], histamine and immunoglobulin E [IgE]. TNF alpha, histamine and IgE levels were determined in plasma, adenoid and tonsillar tissues of these children. Nitric oxide [NO] level was analyzed in plasma only in the same group of children. Ten children of the same age and sex were selected as a control group. There was a significant increase in the levels of TNF alpha, histamine and IgE in adenoid tissues of the studied group. Moreover, significant higher levels of TNF alpha, IL-8 and histamine were observed in mucoid than in serous middle ear effusion samples. On the other hand, insignificant difference in plasma NO and MEEs IgE could be observed between patients and controls. A significant positive correlation was found between TNF alpha and IL-8 levels in children with mucoid effusions indicating their intimate involvement in the inflammatory cascade in middle ear. The increased levels of TNF alpha and histamine beside the other indices in adenoid and MEEs from children with mucoid secretion reflect the severity of this type of OM and suggest the importance of these biochemical indices as sensitive diagnostic tools for detecting OME severity

CO2 laser arytenoidectomy in patients with bilateral abductor paralysis: Assiut university experience

Seventeen patients with bilateral abductor paralysis [BAP] were treated in E.N.T Department Assuit University Hospitals by endoscopic C02 laser arytenoidectomy. All patients developed BAP following thyroidectomy. Two untoward events occurred during the procedure. Ignition of the plastic orotracheal tube leading to rnediasttinitis and death of one patient two days after operation in spite of being wrapped with aluminium foil. Another patient developed tracheo-oseophageal fistula and died also from mediastinitis and inhalation pneumonia. Otherwise all patients were safety operated upon and shortly after the operation achieved satisfactory airway and could be decanulated. Their final voice quality was subjectively acceptable. Voice quality was documented by acoustic analysis. During follow up three patients developed granuloma at the site of arytenoidectomy after one month, four months and one and half years post-operatively and were treated with conventional excisional surgery. One patient developed inhalation pneumonia. This patient had already undergone unsuccessful Woodman's operation. Long term follow up demonstrated air way narrowing in five patients