Unifying the scaling method of the loss degree of joint motion / 法医学杂志

The scaling method of the loss degree of joint motion is very common in clinical forensic medicine. However, there is no uniform criterion until now. Therefore, this had made a negative effect to ensure the impartiality and justice in law and the identification. The advantages and disadvantages of the four methods recorded in literatures by practical case, which include major and minor methods, additional methods, directive average methods, axial directive average methods, were discussed and compared. Now three basic critics about how to choosing the applicable technique in forensic medicine were supposed according to the impartiality and justice principle, scientific and objective principle, simple and easy principle. It was hoped that we can reach a consensus in our legal-medical circumscription that all of us can choose the Axial Directive Average Methods as our standard for the loss degree of joint motion, to avoid the disadvantages of this aspect.

Avaliação do posicionamento de parafusos subcondrais utilizados em placas para tratamento das fraturas distais do rádio / Evaluation of the position of subchondral screws used in distal radius fracture plates

As fraturas distais do rádio são as mais freqüentes do membro superior. São classificadas em estáveis e instáveis. As instáveis requerem tratamento cirúrgico. Não está definido na literatura qual o melhor método de fixação, mas existe atualmente uma tendência à utilização das placas com parafusos bloqueados. Um dos aspectos técnicos importantes é o posicionamento dos parafusos distais junto ao osso subcondral, proporcionando suporte mais adequado. A avaliação da localização desses parafusos é feita com radioscopia e radiografias, mas freqüentemente existem dúvidas quanto ao correto posicionamento. Os objetivos deste estudo são: avaliar se é possível determinar com precisão por meio de radiografias, a localização dos parafusos distais no rádio e se a experiência do avaliadorinfluencia nesta análise. Foram utilizados punhos de cadáveres. Cada rádio recebeu três parafusos junto à superfície articular distal. Por meio de incidências radiográficas clássicas e anguladas, médicos especialistas e não-especialistas em cirurgia da mão avaliaram a posição de cada parafuso, se intra ou extra-articular. Os índices de acerto foram submetidos à análise estatística.As radiografias provaram ainda ser um bom método de avaliação, não havendo melhora da precisão na localização dos parafusos com as incidências anguladas. A experiência profissional do avaliador não teve influência nos resultados.

The distal radius fractures are the most common fractures on upper limbs. They are classified as stable and unstable. The unstable ones require surgical treatment. However, literature does not define the best fixation method, but, today, a trend is seen towards using the locked screw plate. An important technical aspect is the distal screws positioning in the subchondral bone, with an adequate support. Fluoroscopy and radiographs are used to evaluate screws position, but there are usually doubts about the accurate positioning. The objectives of this study are to evaluate if it is possible to determine precisely the screw positioning by means of radiographs and if the previous experience of the investigator may improve the results. Cadavers' fists were used in this study. Three screws were introduced to each radius next to the distal joint surface. Specialized hand surgeons and not specialized physicians evaluated the X-ray images, at classic and angled planes, to provide the accurate positioning of each screw, intra or extra joint. The accuracy rate was submitted to statistical analysis. The X-ray images were proven to be a good evaluation method. The X-ray images captured at angled plane resulted in no improvements in the analysis of the screws positioning. Neither did the evaluator experience influence the results.