The long term results of internal fixation of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures.

One hundred and fourteen displaced intra-articular fractures of the calcaneus (47 tongue type and 67 joint depression type) were treated by open reduction and internal fixation with multiple H plate and were followed-up for an average of 6.75 years. All the fractures healed radiographically in 3 months. Average time for bone healing was 2.25 months for the tongue type and 2.42 months for the joint depression type (p > 0.05). Average post operative Bohler tuber angle was 25.05 and 22.71 degrees in the tongue type and joint depression type respectively (p > 0.05). All patients could return to work in 8 months. The average time for returning to work was 3.42 months in the tongue type and 4.16 months in the joint depression type (p < 0.05). Three calcanei (2.6%) had wound infection. There were significant differences between the two types in degree of residual pain, walking activities and range of subtalar joint movement. There were no significant differences in the ability to work, change of footwear and hind foot swelling. The end functional result was rated as excellent in sixty one (53.5%), good in twenty (17.5%), fair in fourteen (12.3%) and poor in nineteen (16.7%) calcanei. There was significant difference in the satisfactory result (excellent to fair) between the tongue type (91.5%) and joint depression type (77.6%).

Aeroallergens in songkla province.

An all year round survey of atmospheric pollens and molds was made in Hat Yai, Songkla Province in the south of Thailand by Durham’s standard gravity method from 1st January 1984 to 31st December 1984. Most aeroallergens found were mold spores, with Cladosporium (Hormodendrum) on top of the list, and Helminthosporium, Alternaria, Ascospore, Fusarium, Curvalaria, Torula, Rust, Stemphylium Smut, Tetraploa, and Ledtosporium were found to be less common in that order. Grass pollens were found in low counts, as well as weed pollens, which most of them belong to the group of Chenopod-Amaranthus. Unidentifiable pollens were found in high counts, and were probably the pollens of para rubber, cashew, corn, oil palm or wattle. The atmospheric pollens and mold spores were found throughout the year with highest peak in summer and lowest in November and December when there was heavy rain.