Titanium elastic nail or external fixator in pediatric femoral diaphyseal fractures: complication rate

Objective: To compare complications rate of Titanium elastic nail with External fixator in pediatric femoral diaphyseal fractures

Study Design: Prospective randomized study

Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out at the Orthopedic Department, Lahore General Hospital/PGMI, Lahore from 01.10.2013 to 01.10.2015

Materials and Methods: Complication rate was compared in two groups of children [20 each] of 5-11 years of age with closed or Gustilo type I open femoral diaphyseal fractures treated with Titanium elastic nailing and external fixator

Results: At final review, 3 patients in External fixator group developed superficial pin tract infection which resolved by oral antibiotics. 2 patients had a LLD [limb length discrepancy] of up to 1cm and 4 patients had mal alignment of 5-10 degree

While only one patient in Titanium elastic nail group developed pain and irritation at medial insertion point and another had mal alignment of 10 degree in AP plane. Overall there was decrease complication rate in Titanium elastic nail group

Conclusion: Titanium elastic nail is a better choice in children of 5-11 years of age with femoral diaphyseal fractures than External fixator

Validated spectrofluorimetric method for determination of sulpiride in commercial formulations using Hantzsch condensation reaction

A simple, sensitive, selective and cost effective spectrofluorimetric method has been established for the quantification of sulpiride after their complete alkaline hydrolysis. The method is based on the condensation of the primary amino group of alkaline hydrolytic product of sulpiride with acetyl acetone and formaldehyde in acidic medium [0.25 M HCl] to form a fluorescent product. The reaction product formed shows maximum fluorescence intensity at 483 nm after excitation at 431 nm. The different reaction conditions influencing the condensation reaction were carefully optimized and a linear range of 0.1-3.5 micro g mL[-1] with good correlation coefficient between florescent intensity and concentration of sulpiride was found at optimum parameters. The LOD and LOQ were found to be 11 and 39 ng mL[-1] respectively. The proposed method was successfully used for the quantification of sulpiride in bulk powder and commercial formulations. The effect of common pharmaceutical excipients and co-administered drug was also studied and no interferences were observed. The validity of the method was tested by analyzing sulpiride in bulk powder, and pharmaceutical formulations through recovery studies. Recoveries [%] were obtained from 98.62 to 100.24% for bulk powder, and 97.09 to 100.57% for commercial formulations. The results were validated statistically with those obtained by reference literature high performance liquid chromatographic method

Captopril in the management of heart failure

Seven patients in advanced refractory cardiac failure of different origin were given captopril in addition to the standard antifailure drug for varying periods. They were subjected to clinical examination and relevant lab investigation at weekly intervals. The objective being to identify the type of cases most likely to benefit from this drug and to asses if clinical and lab parameters suffice in monitoring patients on this form of therapy. The cases which responded most [functional class IV to F.C. II] were those of low out put failures. Those suffering from corpulmonale' in which a state of vasodilation already existed, showed only limited response [from FC-IV to FC-III only] as the reduction of aldosterone was the only mechanism left for captopril to act. The clinical and lab parameters used in the study were adequate in monitoring both efficacy of the drug, as well as the early detection of side effects making the use of haemodynamic studies optional both in the selection and management of cases for this type of therapy