Age-related changes in the cervical spines of front-line rugby players.

Cervical spine trauma occurs frequently in front-line rugby players. To evaluate the accumulative effects of this trauma, magnetic resonance imaging scans of the cervical spine were performed on 47 rugby players and 40 age-matched control subjects. The aim of this study was to compare the changes in the cervical spine of players at different points in their careers. A study of cervical spine changes, including spinal curve, spinal constituents, posttraumatic deformities, and degenerative modifications, was completed by a study of cervical measurements. Front-line rugby players showed more early degenerative alterations on magnetic resonance imaging scans than did the control subjects of the same age. These changes correlated with age and were probably linked with repetitive cervical trauma throughout the players' careers. Particular attention should be paid to the data confirming cervical spine canal stenosis in front-line players, which may place these athletes at risk for acute neurapraxia while playing this collision sport.

[Proper technics and the reduction of radiation in helical computed tomography]. / Bonnes pratiques et diminution de l'irradiation en tomodensitométrie hélicoïdale.

Helical computed tomography is the main source of ionizing radiation delivery in diagnostic radiology. For each series, average radiation dose is between 20 and 30 mGy. This dose can potentially be reduced by decreasing intensity or voltage and by increasing pitch. Helical acquisition allows reformating of images with smaller increment or different obliquity, and avoids additional irradiation. Hardware and software devices designed for dose reduction must be systematically used. Users of CT systems should be aware of radiation dose delivered with CT and must carefully assess the need of each additional acquisition. Obsolete habits, as gantry tilting for lumbar CT, which increases patient exposure, must be given up. Rational use of helical CT decreases radiation exposure and gains time, whereas thoughtless use increases radiation exposure without real benefit.

[Cognitive psychotherapy for depression in adolescents: a new therapeutic perspective]. / Psychothérapie cognitive de la dépression de l'adolescent: nouvelle perspective thérapeutique.

The nosological concept of depression in adolescents is still relatively poorly understood. Clinical expression varies greatly although behavioural disorders and suicidal acts are frequent signs. As an alternative to drug therapy, cognitive psychotherapy appears to be a promising approach offering a structured therapeutic tool applicable within a short period of time. We report the case of a 18-year-old girl who suffered from chronic depression and had attempted suicide several times in spite of previous hospitalization and psychoanalytic therapy. She was successfully treated with 16 sessions of cognitive psychotherapy conducted according to the Beck method in combination with fluvoxamine which had been insufficient given alone. The different phases of the therapeutic approach are discussed during hospitalization then as an out patient. Cognitive psychotherapy is technically feasible treatment for depression in the adolescent and has been demonstrated to be effective in our case.