Risk factors of hip fracture among Thai female patients.

A case-control study on hip fracture among female patients, aged 50 years and over, were conducted from 1995 to 1996. A consecutive series of newly admitted female patients with hip fracture (n = 60) and 60 age-matched controls were recruited. Four independent risk factors of hip fracture were identified, including "type of principle occupation as sedentary or housework", "low number of pregnancies", "low serum albumin" and "low bone mass density at inter-trochanter of the femur". When all univariate factors except bone density variables were entered into a multiple logistic regression analysis, four independent factors were identified including "no intake of milk regularly", "low number of pregnancies", "thin body appearance", and "low serum calcium". The study confirms the role of calcium intake as a preventive measure of hip fracture. Women with low weight-bearing work and housewives should have regular weight-bearing exercise.

Microsurgical toe to thumb transplantation for traumatic thumb loss.

Toe-to-thumb transfer was performed on 13 patients with traumatic thumb loss, using microvascular technique. Of those, 9 patients had industrial injury, 3 patients had a sharp cut injury and the remaining one had animal bite injury. The toes used for the transfer were the great toe(5), and the second toe(8). There were twelve successes, and one partial success. Ten patients have been followed-up for more than 12 months, and they are reviewed in detail. Total active motion after great toe and second toe transfer was 45 degrees and 68 degrees respectively. Static two-point discrimination was 10-15 mm in 10 patients. The donor foot did not suffer functionally. All of the patients returned to gainful employment postoperatively.