[The value of palpation as basis for decision on lymph node excision]. / Vaerdien af palpation som grundlag for lymfeknudeeksairese.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate palpation of the regional lymph nodes in control examinations of patients with malignant disease. A retrospective review of the medical records of 188 cases in which the patients had had an extirpation of the regional lymph nodes was performed. We have compared the preoperative findings through palpation with the histological diagnosis. The patients were grouped according to the region in which the lymph node removal had been done. The specificity of palpation when the histological diagnosis was malignant was (with 95% confidence limits), in the axilla 0.65 (0.54-0.75), in the inguinal region 0.86 (0.75-0.94) on the neck 0.83 (0.52-0.98) and in the suprahyoid region 0.58 (0.28-0.85). In conclusion, palpation of regional lymph nodes is not a sufficient control examination in the estimation of the course of malignant disease. Supplementary examination methods are recommended.

[Essex-Lopresti injury combined with forearm fracture]. / Essex-Lopresti-laesion kombineret med antebrachiumfraktur.

The Essex-Lopresti injury is uncommon and often overlooked. A case is presented in which a 22-year old male sustained an injury that was a combination of an Essex-Lopresti injury and a fracture of the forearm. The primary treatment was osteosynthesis of the forearm. Ten weeks after injury the fractured radial head was removed because of pain and poor function of the elbow. The full extent of the injury was not recognized until sixteen weeks after injury. Final treatment consisted of excision of the ulnar head. The final results when seen at eight years follow-up were good.

[Oral contra rectal measurement of body temperature]. / Oral kontra rektal temperaturmåling.

The electronic thermometers for oral use employed in Middelfart Hospital (Ivac, TN III and Crafttemp) were compared with mercury thermometers for rectal use. Employment of all the thermometers in question in a water bath revealed considerable accuracy where the mercury thermometers were concerned but considerable divergence and deviations where the electronic thermometers were concerned and this was particularly marked with increasing temperature. Pyrexia is defined as temperature greater than or equal to 37.0 degrees C orally and greater than or equal to 37.5 degrees C rectally. In the clinical investigation of the ability of establishing the diagnosis of pyrexia in 147 patients a true negative diagnostic frequency (diagnostic sensitivity) for the electronic thermometers was found to be 0.94 as compared with the mercury thermometers employed rectally which is considered to be satisfactory as a screening method but, with the limits chosen, a true positive diagnostic frequency (diagnostic specificity) of 0.37 was found. No significant differences in the median temperature were found as regard age greater than or equal to 70 years or prostheses in the lower jaw. It is recommended that a raised temperature on oral measurement with the thermometers mentioned above should be controlled with rectal measurement with a mercury thermometer.

[Occupational eye injuries]. / Arbejdsbetingede øjenskader.

Occupational eye injuries are common. The authors found that these constituted 2.5% of all the injuries treated in the Central Hospital in Esbjerg during the period 1.8.1987-31.12.1987. A total of 224 patients were included in the investigation. Of these, 145 had not employed any form of protection of the eyes when the injury occurred. This was mandatory where 34% were concerned and not mandatory for 66%. Occupational eye injuries resulted in 0-4 days of sick-leave and young men were particularly affected. Metal workers were most exposed and unskilled workers employed with grinding and welding. Forty-five patients had sustained more than two occupational eye injuries within the past year. Twenty-one of these had not notified any of the injuries, 11 had notified some of the injuries and 13 had notified all of the injuries. Approximately 80% had received instruction about employment of protective measures.