Glass injuries of the hand

Ninety seven consecutive patients had glass injuries of the hand. They were studied to determine the type of glass involved and its influence on hand injuries encountered. At the final follow-up [average, 12 months], 62 patients [63.9%] had involvement of deep structures indicating the need to keep in mind the possible affection of deep structures and to avoid hurried diagnosis. Most of the hand injuries were inflected by annealed glass. Prevention of glass injuries may be achieved through safety education in this respect and keeping glass wastes to be disposed in special containers

Posterior spinal fusion using corticocancellous allograft

To determine the efficiency of allograft bone in spinal surgery, the results of a study of the use of allograft versus autograft bone are presented. Two groups of patients were included in the study; i] 23 patients having autogenous bone from the iliac crest and ii] 10 patients having spinal fusion with banked bone from the femoral head. There was no difference between the two groups in the radiographic assessment of bone graft mass after six months. No major operative complications were faced. There was, however, a marked reduction in operative time and in blood loss in the patients receiving banked bone and also a much lower incidence of late symptoms relating to the operative site. One concluded that even in the presense of adequate iliac crest, the use of banked bone for grafting in spinal surgery and fusion technique is quite important

Entrapment of musculocutaneous nerve in the upper arm

Nine cases with musculocutaneous nerve entrapment were presented in which the nerve was affected while passing through the substance of coracobrachialis muscle. They were examined clinically, radiologically and electrom-yographically together with laboratory tests to exclude other simulatory factors. All cases were given intensive physiotherapy for the coracobrachialis and the biceps with occasional anti-inflammatory drugs. Great improvement has been achieved except for two cases that received local corticosteroid injection at the coracobrachialis muscle with compete recovery

Posterior versus lateral approach for total hip arthroplasty

In a study of 42" total hip arthroplasties "THR" one found a high percentage of post-operative dislocations of the prosthesis that were done through the posterolateral approach, due to bad positioning of the cup and prosthetic stem. However, the rest of arthroplasties which were done through the anterolateral approach were excellent as regard the incidence of dislocation, with less femoral shaft and acetabular floor perforation

Effect of posterior spinal fusion on lateral trunk shift in idiopathic scoliosis

One analysed the influence of posterior spinal fusion [PSF] with Harrington rod instrumentation [HRI] and also HRI together with Cotrell device for transverse traction [DTT] on spinal balance in 28 patients. Immediately postoperatively improvement was seen with HRI, but at follow-up, shift to the left occurred with loss of balance. With [HRI+DTT] improvement was only seen at the thoraco-lumbar and lumbar curve pattern after surgery and at follow-up while persistent spinal imbalance to the left was seen at the thoracic curve pattern. Cotrell DTT has a three-dimensional correction over the thoraco lumlar and curves and can replace the anterior approach that is technically demanding