Correlates of Biochemical Markers of Bone turnover among Post-Menopausal Women.

INTRODUCTION: Bone turnover leading to osteoporosis and poor quality of life is common during post-menopausal period. Study of bone turnover markers that contribute to non-invasive assessment of bone-metabolic disorders holds an important area of research in low income country like Nepal. This study aimed to examine the correlates of bone turnover markers in post-menopausal women in tertiary level of health care center of Nepal. METHODS: A hospital-based cross-sectional study conducted during the period of November 2016 to December 2017 among 354 women. Blood samples for calcium, inorganic phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase and vitamin D were collected and analyzed using a validated and calibrated tools. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software version 20. RESULTS: Mean±Standard deviation of age of post-menopausal women was significantly higher compared to pre-menopausal women (post-menopausal women, (57.98±8.08) vs. pre-menopausal, (31.35±5.83), (P<0.001). Selected biochemical markers of bone-turnover such as alkaline phosphatase levels were significantly higher with year since menopause (P<0.001), whereas serum calcium, and vitamin D were decreasing with year since menopause among post-menopausal women. In addition, calcium and vitamin D were significantly negatively correlated with year since menopause (P<0.01) while body mass index, inorganic phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase were significantly positively correlated with year since menopause (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed that body mass index, inorganic phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase positively correlated with year since menopause while calcium and vitamin D were negatively correlated suggesting for a medical supervision of hormonal changes and periodic dosing of calcium and vitamin D among post-menopausal women to reduce the problem of bone health.

Retraction: Radiological and Functional Outcome of Medial Epicondyle Fracture Treated Surgically in Children and Adolescents: A Retrospective Study.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.7759/cureus.953.].

Radiological and Functional Outcome of Displaced Colles' Fracture Managed with Closed Reduction and Percutaneous Pinning: A Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Displaced Colles' fractures are treated by manipulation and below elbow cast application. Malunion is a common complication, resulting in pain, mid-carpal instability, and post-traumatic arthritis. Fracture stabilization by percutaneous pinning is a simple, minimally invasive technique that helps prevent displacement of the fracture, thereby minimizing complications. This study aims to assess the amount of collapse after closed manipulation and percutaneous pinning with Kirschner wires (K-wires) and its correlation with the functional outcome of the wrist after union. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted from May 2015 to May 2016 in a tertiary orthopedic center. Ninety patients (60 females, 30 males) with an average age of 54.93 years with Type II fractures underwent closed manipulation and percutaneous pinning with crossed K-wires as the primary procedure. Serial radiographs were taken to document the amount of collapse. The functional outcome was assessed using the Cooney Wrist Score. RESULTS: At the final follow-up at six months, the collapse in the mean dorsal angle was 0.94 and mean ulnar variance was 0.51. Functionally, 48 patients (53.33%) had an excellent outcome, 36 patients (40%) had a good outcome, and six patients (6.67%) had a fair outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Displaced Colles' fractures should be reduced and stabilized with percutaneous K-wires to achieve an excellent functional outcome.

Outcome of Percutaneous Release of Tennis Elbow: A Non-Randomized Controlled Trial Study.

BACKGROUND: Tennis elbow is a common disorder of the upper extremity. It can be treated conservatively in the majority of patients, but some resistant cases eventually can be treated by percutaneous release with good functional outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This non-randomized control trial was conducted at the Department of Orthopaedics Surgery in a tertiary care hospital from July 2015 to June 2016 on 50 patients who underwent percutaneous release of the common extensor origin using an 18 gauge hypodermic needle. These patients did not respond to conservative treatment including rest, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) and local steroid injections. The outcome was graded as Excellent, Good, Fair, and Poor. RESULTS: Fifty patients (50 elbows) were included in the study. Thirty-two patients were female (64%), and 18 were male (36%). The right side was affected in 37 patients (74%) and left side in 13 (26%). The time taken to achieve a completely pain-free elbow ranged from one day to two months (average of 26.2 days). Those who did not achieve a pain-free elbow had a residual pain of 1.5 to six on the visual analogue scale (VAS) (average 2.32). Excellent outcome was noticed in 24 patients (48%); Good result in eight patients (36% ); Fair in four patients (eight percent) and Poor in four patients (eight percent). CONCLUSION: Tennis elbow probably results from the degenerative tear of the common extensor origin, and a percutaneous tenotomy using an 18 gauge hypodermic needle is a simple, safe, patient-friendly, efficient, and easily reproducible method of treating tennis elbow in those who are resistant to conservative treatment, and it can be done as an outpatient procedure.

Radiological and Functional Outcome of Medial Epicondyle Fracture Treated Surgically in Children and Adolescents: A Retrospective Study.

PURPOSE: Fractures of the medial humeral epicondyle represent approximately 10% of all pediatric elbow fractures. Surgically treated pediatric fractures of the medial humeral epicondyle were analyzed retrospectively for their epidemiological, clinical, radiological and surgical parameters. The evaluation includes the Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS). METHODS: Twenty-five surgically treated fractures of the medial humeral epicondyle were analyzed. A valgus stress test was performed under general anesthesia or sedation. All patients underwent open reduction internal fixation using a similar technique. The medial epicondylar fragment was anatomically reduced and fixed in all cases with screws and Kirschner wires. At final evaluation, union was assessed radiologically, and elbow function was assessed by MEPS. RESULTS: An evaluation of all our patients after a mean follow-up of 8.75 months (SD=4.76) after initial surgery was possible. The mean age of patients at the time of injury was 10.8 years (SD=2.3). Fifteen (60%) dominant elbows were injured in our study and twelve (48%) elbows had an associated elbow dislocation. On examination in the operating room post anesthesia, all the elbow injuries revealed some degree of valgus instability. All our patients (n=25) showed good to excellent results in MEPS. Radiographically, union was achieved in all cases. Three patients developed postoperative ulnar nerve neuropraxia; all recovered at time of final follow-up. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that open reduction internal fixation of displaced medial epicondyle fractures leads to satisfactory motion and function. A valgus stress test in the operating room can reveal the true nature of joint instability that can warrant operative stabilization of medial epicondylar injuries.