ABSTRACT
Resumen: Introducción: El pie caído es una condición que suele manejarse con ortesis cortas, normalmente fabricadas en polipropileno. Se ha descrito también su tratamiento con ortesis de silicón, poco estudiadas pero que parecen mejorar el patrón cinemático de la marcha y, dada su comodidad, ser más aceptadas por los pacientes. Nuestro estudio describe cuáles son las características cinemáticas de la marcha y la satisfacción referida por los pacientes al usar una ortesis tobillo pie de silicón y compara dicho patrón con el no uso de la ortesis en casos con pie caído. Material y métodos: Estudio seudoexperimental descriptivo en pacientes con pie caído desde el año 2010 al 2012, en el que se evaluaron las variables cinemáticas del patrón de marcha a partir de laboratorios de marcha y además de la satisfacción de los sujetos con las ortesis de silicón y con el no uso de las mismas. Resultados: Cinco casos con pie caído fueron objeto del estudio. El análisis de marcha de los pacientes que usaron la ortesis constató una mejora de la posición del tobillo en el contacto inicial, en la velocidad promedio de marcha y en la longitud del paso, así como un aumento de la cadencia. Sin embargo, en términos de comodidad en comparación con el no uso de la ortesis, el resultado fue exiguo. Conclusiones: Las ortesis tobillo pie de silicón mejoran la posición del tobillo en el contacto inicial, así como los parámetros temporoespaciales de la marcha.
Abstract: Introduction: The Drop foot is a condition that is usually handled with short orthosis, usually made of polypropylene. It has also been described as being treated with silicon orthosis, little studied but which seem to improve the kinematic pattern of gait and, given its comfort, be more accepted by patients. Our study describes the kinematic characteristics of gait and patient satisfaction when using a silicon foot ankle orthosis, and compares this pattern to the non-use of the orthosis, in patients with a drop foot. Material and methods: Pseudo-experimental descriptive study in patients with dropped feet from 2010 to 2012, in which the kinematic variables of the gait pattern were evaluated from gait laboratories and in addition to the satisfaction of subjects with silicon orthosis and non-use of them. Results: Five patients with a drop foot were the subject of the study. Gait analysis of patients using the orthosis found an improvement in ankle position at initial contact, average walking speed and step length, as well as increased cadence. However, in terms of comfort compared to the non-use of the orthosis, the result was meager. Conclusions: Silicon foot ankle orthosis improve the position of the ankle in the initial contact, as well as the temporo-spatial parameters of the gait.
Subject(s)
Humans , Silicones , Ankle , Biomechanical Phenomena , Range of Motion, Articular , Equipment Design , Gait , Ankle JointABSTRACT
The present study assessed the clinical significance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes and their influence on response to long term recombinant-interferon-alpha (r-IFN-alpha) therapy in Brazilian patients. One hundred and thirty samples from patients previously genotyped for the HCV and with histologically confirmed chronic hepatitis C (CH-C) were evaluated for clinical and epidemiological parameters (sex, age, time of HCV infection and transmission routes). No difference in disease activity, sex, age or mode and time of transmission were seen among patients infected with HCV types 1, 2 or 3. One hundred and thirteen of them were treated with 3 million units of r-IFN-alpha, 3 times a week for 12 months. Initial response (IR) was significantly better in patients with genotype 2 (100%) and 3 (46%) infections than in patients with genotype 1 (29%) (p < 0. 005). Among subtypes, difference in IR was observed between 1b and 2 (p < 0.005), and between 1b and 3a (p < 0.05). Sustained response (SR) was observed in 12% for (sub)type 1a, 13% for 1b, 19% for 3a, and 40% for type 2; significant differences were found between 1b and 2 (p < 0.001), and between 1b and 3a (p < 0.05). Moreover, presence of cirrhosis was significantly associated with non response and response with relapse (p < 0.05). In conclusion, non-1 HCV genotype and lack of histological diagnosis of cirrhosis were the only baseline features associated with sustained response to treatment. These data indicate that HCV genotyping may have prognostic relevance in the responsiveness to r-IFN-alpha therapy in Brazilian patients with chronic HCV infection, as seen in other reports worldwide.
