Evaluation of Orthopedic morbidities among patients attending the Casualty Department in a Medical College Hospital.

Introduction: Injuries are becoming major public health problem worldwide and since India is also passing through a major socio-demographic, epidemiological and technological transition injuries are coming up as an emerging health problem. This study was aimed at analyzing the morbidities of orthopaedic injuries among patients attending the casualty department in a medical college hospital Material and methods: The record analysis of injured patients attending the casualty department over a 12 months period from Jan 2013 to Dec 2013 was done. The data was analyzed to know the pattern of orthopedic injuries. Results: A total of 1100 injured patients attended the casualty department were analyzed. Study showed that 880 (80%) of victims were in the age group of 11-45 years. 825 (75%) were males and 275 (25%) were females. Road traffic accident (RTA) was the most common cause of injuries being responsible for 660 victims (60%) followed by fall from height 242 (22%). Study revealed that in 770 (70%) of the victims the most common presentation of morbidity was fracture and the most common site was lower limbs in 378 (49%). Next most common site was upper limbs followed by pelvic fracture, spine fractures, facial fracture & Ribs fracture. 792 (72%) cases had simple fracture. 44 (13%) cases had various dislocations, shoulder dislocation being the most common. most common visceral injury was head injury 198 (18%). Conclusion: Fractures were the most common pattern of orthopedic of injuries, especially RTA is required in medical college hospital.

Profile and clinical features of HIV positive patients attending Integrated Counseling and Testing Centre in a Medical College Hospital of Hassan, Karnataka.

Background: HIV infection is a major public health problem as it has dramatically increased the global burden of disease. HIV infected patients experience a variety of clinical signs and symptoms. Aims & Objective: Our objective was to study the profile of clinical features and opportunistic infections in HIV infected patients attending a tertiary care medical college hospital in Hassan, Karnataka. Material and Methods: A total of 124 HIV infected patients attending the ART Centre and the ICTC of Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences, Hassan, Karnataka were enrolled in the study, after obtaining informed consent. Clinical symptoms were recorded by direct questioning. Documented opportunistic infections were noted from patient records. Results: 80 (64.5%) HIV positive patients were males and 44 (35.5%) females. Mean age of the patients was 36.5 ± 6.0 years. The common symptoms were lethargy and fatigue 90 (72.5%), prolonged fever 86 (69.3%), weakness 84 (67.7%), body-ache and joint pain 84 (67.7%), loss of appetite 82 (66.1%), weight loss 80 (64.5%), cough (44.5%), chronic diarrhoea 68 (54.8%) and Nausea and Vomiting 64 (51.6%).The overall proportion of symptomatic patients was significantly higher than the number with etiologically documented opportunistic infections (41.9%). Pulmonary tuberculosis (37.9%) was the most frequently documented opportunistic infection. Conclusion: Affordable high quality laboratory diagnostic facilities for the diagnosis of opportunistic infections under the public health program will help to obtain an accurate picture of the range of opportunistic infections in HIV patients in India.

In vitro evaluation of cytotoxicity of denture adhesives.

Aim: The aim of the study is to assess and compare the cytotoxicity of commercially available four denture adhesives ex-vivo. Materials and Methods: Four commercially available denture adhesives namely Metrodent powder, Fixon powder, Dentiro powder and Fixon cream were selected. Normal saline was used in control group. To evaluate the cytotoxicity of denture adhesives, macrophages were isolated from peritoneal cavity of Swiss albino mice and cell integrity/cell viability method was done by using trypan blue dye. Results: Viable cells were counted and subjected to statistical analysis. ANOVA, F and 't' test were performed, which showed statistically significant values (P < 0.001). The mean percentage of viable cells was highest in the control group (95%) and lowest in Fixon powder (55.66%), with Dentiro powder the mean percentage of viable cells was 63.66%, with Metrodent powder 67.6% while with Fixon cream it was 69.33%. Conclusion: All tested denture adhesives showed varied degree of cytotoxicity that is statistically significant. The degree of toxicity was more in Fixon powder followed by Dentiro powder and Metrodent powder with least in Fixon cream.

Iron Deficiency as a Risk Factor for First Febrile Seizure.

We conducted this study to determine the role of iron deficiency as a risk factor for first febrile seizure in children. Fifty children between 6 months to 6 years with first febrile seizure (Cases) and 50 children with febrile illness but without convulsions (Controls) were enrolled from the pediatric ward of a tertiary care hospital. Iron deficiency was determined by estimation of hemoglobin, red blood cell indices and serum ferritin. The mean serum ferritin level (μg/L) was significantly low in Cases (31.9 ± 31.0) as compared to Controls (53.9 ± 56.5) with P = 0.003. Iron deficiency could be a potential risk factor for febrile seizure in children.

Comparison of morbidity following the removal of mandibular third molar by lingual split, surgical bur and simplified split bone technique.

BACKGROUND: The methods frequently used for surgical removal of impacted third molars are bur technique, lingual split and simplified split bone technique. The morbidity rates following the use of these different surgical techniques are not completely resolved. The use of a surgical method with minimum postoperative complication is needed. AIM: This study was conducted to compare the morbidity rates of the three different surgical techniques and their efficacy with regard to postoperative pain, swelling, labial and lingual sensation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety patients with a symptomatic impacted mandibular third molar with the age range of 14-62 years were divided into three groups of 30 patients each for surgical bur technique, lingual split technique and simplified split bone technique. All patients were operated by the same surgeon under local anesthesia (2% lignocaine) in the dental chair. The severity of pain and swelling was recorded on a visual analogue scale and the presence or absence of sensory disturbance at 6, 24, 48 hours and seven days after operation. The pain was scored according to a visual analogue 4-point scale. Patients were asked to indicate which side was more swollen and to record this assessment on the swelling scale. RESULTS: Lingual split technique was more painful than the other two techniques. Surgical bur technique had more swelling than the other two techniques. Labial and lingual sensations were not altered in all the techniques. CONCLUSION: The simplified split bone technique had the least morbidity than the lingual split and surgical bur technique.