EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ORAL MOTOR INTERVENTION ON FEEDING PERFORMANCE AMONG PRETERM BABIES AT SELECTED HOSPITAL, COIMBATORE.

AIMS: The aim of the study was to assess the level of feeding performance among and determine the effectiveness of oral motor intervention on feeding performance among preterm babies. METHODS: One group pre-test and post-test pre-experimental design was used and 30 samples were selected using non-probability convenient sampling technique. The modified early feeding assessment scale was used to evaluate the feeding performance. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The pretest mean was 22.6 and the post-test mean was 38.8. the mean difference was 16.2. The standard deviation of the pretest was 3.8 and the post -test was 2.8. The calculated paired 't' value 19.12 was highly significant than the table value (2.6) at 0.05 level. CONCLUSION: It was inferred that oral motor intervention was effective in improving feeding performance among preterm babies.

A Comparison of the Reliability of the Patellar Tendon-Trochlear Groove (PTTG) Distance and the Tibial Tuberosity-Trochlear Groove (TTTG) Distance Measured on MRI

@#Introduction: An increased tibial tuberosity-trochlear groove (TTTG) distance is used for deciding a treatment plan in patello-femoral instability (PFI). The centre of the patellar tendon and the chondral trochlear groove can be directly visualised on MRI, and measured, giving the patellar tendontrochlear groove (PTTG) distance. A study was designed to compare the inter-rater and the test-retest reliabilities of PTTG and TTTG measurements in MRI of patients without PFI and in a group with PFI. Materials and Methods:This cross-sectional reliability study was done on archival MRI films of 50 patients without patellar instability and 20 patients with patellar instability. TTTG and PTTG distances were independently measured by two orthopaedic surgeons and two radiologists. A hybrid PTTG measurement with bony landmarks on the femoral side and the patellar tendon landmark on the tibial side, was used to estimate the influence of the differences in the femoral and tibial landmarks on the difference in reliabilities. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated for all four raters, as well as separately for each rater. Results: The PTTG distance had a higher inter-rater reliability (ICC=0.86, 95% CI=0.79-0.92) compared to the TTTG distance (ICC=0.70, 95% CI=0.59-0.80) in patients without PFI. Similar trends were seen in patients with PFI (0.83 vs 0.66). The inter-rater reliability for the hybrid PTTG distance was found to lie in between the TTTG and PTTG. Conclusions:The MRI-based PTTG distance had better inter-rater reliability compared with the MRI-based TTTG distance.

Awareness about hypoglycemia among patients on insulin therapy in a tertiary care hospital: A cross-sectional study

Background: Diabetes is a chronic disease that requires continuous medical care and patient self-management education. For diabetic patients, hypoglycemia is a fact of life. Hypoglycemia is one of the most common acute complications in adolescents with diabetes in both type1 and type 2. Approximately 90% of all patients who receive insulin have experienced hypoglycemic episodes. Poor awareness among diabetics on hypoglycemic symptoms may lead to increased morbidity and mortality. Aims and Objectives: To study the awareness about symptoms, precipitating factors, and prevention of hypoglycemia among patients on insulin therapy. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was done in a government tertiary care hospital. The study was conducted among diabetic patients who were on insulin therapy for at least 1 year. A pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire was used. The calculated sample size was 100. Results: Nearly 68.6% of the patients had faced at least one hypoglycemic attack. 65% were aware of at least three symptoms of hypoglycemia, but awareness was only 46% among illiterates compared to 86% of literates. 32% were unaware about the precipitating factors whereas 17% of the participants felt that the attacks were caused due to the wrong dosage therefore skipping medication or self-adjustment of dosage was mention as a preventing factor by them. Conclusion: Awareness of hypoglycemia was found to be average among participants. Diabetics on insulin therapy are more prone for hypoglycemia. Therefore knowing the awareness levels and perceptions is important. It may help to plan the necessary objectives of health education sessions among target population.

Endoprosthetic Reconstruction of distal Humerus following Resection of distal Humeral Giant Cell Tumours in Six Patients in Rural India

Giant cell tumour is a commonly occurring benign bone tumour in the Indian population. The common sites of involvement in descending order of frequency are distal femur, proximal tibia, distal radius and proximal humerus. The less commonly occurring sites are distal humerus, pelvis and proximal femur. We present six cases of giant cell tumour involving the distal humerus in rural India. After obtaining a tissue diagnosis by Trucut biopsy and classifying using Enneking's classification, we proceeded to perform wide resection followed by endoprosthetic reconstruction using custom mega prosthesis. We present here six patients (M: F: 2: 4) who were managed by us between 2008-2014. They presented to us with pain around the elbow and restriction in range of movements. They were each noted radiographically to have a lytic lesion involving the distal humerus with the likely diagnosis of giant cell tumour. Closed biopsy was done in all of them to obtain a definitive diagnosis. All patients underwent wide resection and reconstruction using distal humerus custom prosthesis. All patients were followed up at 6, 12, 18 and 24 weeks and thereafter six monthly until the last review. They were assessed using the DASH scoring system. All patients were well with no evidence of recurrence with good to fair functional outcome. We conclude that careful pre-operative planning with meticulous soft tissue dissection and good implant metallurgy and design, these tumours can be treated with good long term functional results.

Bony hydatid disease of superior pubic ramus with extension into pelvis and proximal thigh.

Hydatid disease is caused by the tapeworm of genus ;Echinococcus. Genus Echinococcus has different species including Echinococcus vogeli, Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus multilucularis. Echinococcus granulosus is the most common cause of hydatid disease in humans. This disease can take place either directly through ingestion of parasite eggs from contact with infected dogs or indirectly from the ingestion of contaminated water or food. Infestation of hydatid disease in humans most commonly occurs in the liver (55-70%), followed by the lungs (18-35%). Bone hydatidosis however is very rare,whenever it occurs; it is usually secondary to visceral involvement. We present herein a case of primary hydatid cyst involving superior pubic ramus in a 43 years male patient, which is not a common site for the occurrence of this disease. Diagnosis is usually delayed if high index of suspicion is not there. MRI is a good tool for reaching diagnoses.

Outcome of supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children treated by closed reduction and percutaneous pinning.

Supracondylar fractures of humerus in children are common injuries. Displaced fractures are inherently unstable. Conservative treatment results in malunion. Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) is more invasive and recovery is prolonged. From September 2004 to September 2005, 102 displaced supracondylar fractures of humerus, aged between one and half year to 13 years, were treated using close reduction and percutaneous Kirschner (K) wire fixation under c-arm fluoroscopy. Seventy nine patients were treated by cross K-wires and in twenty three cases lateral two K-wires were put. Above elbow plaster of paris back slab was applied in all cases for at least four weeks. Back slab, K-wires were removed after four weeks and elbow range of motion exercise was started. Results were analyzed using Flynn's criteria. All patients were followed up to 14th week postoperatively. In cross K-wire group(N=79) 70.8% had excellent, 22.7% good, 3.8% fair and 2.5% had poor results at eight weeks follow up which was improved to 91.1% excellent, 6.3 good, 1.2% fair and 1.26% poor results at 14 weeks follow up. In lateral K-wire group (N=23) 70% had excellent, 21.7% good, 4.3% fair and 4.3% had poor result at eighth week which was improved to 91.3% excellent, 4.3% good, 4.3% fair and no poor result at 14th week follow up. Eight patients got superficial pin tract infection and seven patients sustained ulnar nerve injury post operatively. We recommend this procedure for displaced supracondylar fractures in children as it is safe and cost effective procedure with acceptable complication rates.