Predictors of re-admission of schizophrenic patients

Psychiatric re-admission is frequently used as a measure of adverse outcome, as it occurs when the relapse to illness is so severe that less restrictive treatment is insufficient. Investigating factors that may cause readmission of schizophrenic patients. The study composed of two parts; Part I: collecting data from data base about re-hospitalization of psychiatric patients during the year 2004, their diagnosis, socio-demographics and mean of hospital stay. Part II: prospective study throughout year 2005 for schizophrenic patients with repeated hospitalization for two times or more through this particular year. A total number of 1094 patients were re-hospitalized during the year 2004. Schizophrenic patients represented [n=373, 34%] of them. Significant correlation had been found with advanced age, being single, lower education level, increased duration of illness and with positive family history of psychiatric illness. Using the multivariate logistic regression, it had and en found that patients above 36 years of age, sex, family history, patient's compliance and stigma were independently associated with frequent hospitalization. Patients with negative family history of psychosis were less prone to have frequent hospitalization. Positive family history of psychosis and the progress of age [>36 years] were the main significant predictors for frequent hospitalization

Neonatal hip screening by ultrasonography for developmental dysplasia of the hip

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of ultrasound for screening neonatal hips for early detection and diagnosis of congenital dislocation and dysplasia of the hips. Routine ultrasound screening was done for all neonatal hips for congenital dysplasia and congenital dislocation of the hip over a period of 3 years where a prospective study was done on 4267 babies and were typed according to Graft criteria. Ultrasound has distinct advantage compared with other imaging techniques allowing early detection of dysplastic and dislocated hips allowing early proper management for better results. Study showed that ultrasound screening should be confined to babies having high risk factors to avoid unnecessary over treatment

Unreamed interlocked nailing of tibial shaft fractures

Prospective study was done on 94 closed and type I open tibial fractures. For all non-reamed AO interlocking tibial nails were applied, 47 of which were initially dynamic and the other 47 were static and dynamized later. It was concluded that closed non-reamed locked intra-medullary nailing is an excellent method of treating closed and type I open fractures having high union rate, low complication rate with early return of function

Gore-tex prosthesis in anterior cruciate defense knees

Prosthetic cruciate ligament replacement has become a potentially attractive alternative for reconstruction of symptomatic anterior cruciate deficient knees. A prospective study was done on 39 male patients, mean age of 23 years [21-41]. For all cases, arthroscopic replacement of the deficient A.C.L. was performed using Gore-Tex prosthesis inserted by over the top technique. The result after mean follow up of 20 months [18-30] were promising. All objective and subjective data were mounted onto scoring system for evaluation of the cases. 78% of the cases had excellent results regarding pain, range of movement, stability, return to normal activity and return to sports. 11.9% had good results, 2.4% fair and 7.1% were poor. So 90.5% of the results were satisfactory. Complications included 6 unstable knees of which 3 cases had recurrent sterile effusion which were treated by conservative measures. One case developed deep infection and other 2 cases developed chronic reactive synovitis and all three proceeded to implant removal. In 3 cases, the tibial screw were painful at later follow up and were removed after anchorage of the ligament. It was noticed that the good results were achieved quicker in patients who stuck to the physiotherapeutic program designed for them