Characteristics and risk factors of bike-related accidents: Preliminary analysis.

BACKGROUND: The growing popularity of cycling not only enhances self-efficacy, physical well-being and improves quality of life, but it also leads to the increasing number of bike-related injuries. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to characterize the population of cyclists in Poland, assess the occurrence of safety behaviors among them and to precise the risk factors for bike accidents. Additionally, we analyzed bike-related injuries. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The survey was based on a 39-item questionnaire created for this study. We collected data concerning the demographical status of respondents, their cycling preferences, attitude toward safety behaviors during cycling, and the characteristics of bike-related injuries. Our research covered 729 people who declared themselves as cyclists (302 women - average age: 31.5 ±10.3 years; 427 men - average age: 32.6 ±10.7 years). RESULTS: In the study, 71.3% of the interviewees declared that they did not always wear helmets. Women more often than men claimed that they did not always use head protection (p < 0.001). Among 729 people, 277 suffered from bike-related injuries. In this group, we noted 870 accidents that resulted in 1,671 different injuries. In our study, wearing helmets did not influence the region of trauma nor its type (p < 0.05). We noted 811 injuries of the upper extremities and 541 of the lower extremities. CONCLUSIONS: Young men constitute the main group of cyclists in Poland. The risk factors for bike-related accidents in our study proved to be: educational level (secondary education and incomplete higher education), number of children (having at least 3 children), frequency of using a bike (the more often, the more injuries), type of bike used (mountain bikes and fold-up bikes), and frequency of using a helmet (using helmets was correlated with a higher rate of injuries). The upper and lower extremities were the most common location of injuries.

Are animal-related injuries in rural areas a social problem? A survey from Poland.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the mechanisms of animal-related injuries in Polish rural areas, and to evaluate the effects of such injuries on subjects' health and social life. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data concerning animal-related injuries were collected from 102 patients (45 females and 57 males, mean age 45.01±11.4 years) on the basis of a questionnaire. The study was conducted in the rural area of central Poland. Moreover, to assess the severity of injuries to the head and neck region, the Facial Injury Severity Scale (FISS) was applied. RESULTS: The most commonly affected body areas are the upper and lower limbs, which explains the fact that most subjects do not recognize the injury-related deformity as an aesthetic defect.Statistical correlations were observed in several aspects, amongst others: - women were significantly more likely than men to consider undergoing surgical procedures to eliminate/reduce post-traumatic deformities and scars (p<0.05); - injury-related deterioration in appearance resulted in limitations of patients' social life (p<0.0001).

Penetrating trauma of the face and facial skeleton - a case series of six patients.

Penetrating traumas of the facial skeleton are relatively rare; however, they can be dangerous and even life-threatening. The epidemiology of facial skeleton trauma is diverse and depends on the affected region, age, and the kind of foreign body that caused the injury. In Poland, the most common cause of penetrating traumas are accidents and assaults, and only rarely accidents are related to improper use of firecrackers or fireworks. The aim of this study is to present a literature review and our own experience with penetrating traumas of the face and the facial part of the cranium. Six cases with severe wounds and fractures of the facial skeleton were treated between the years 2000 and 2012 in our department. The applied treatment methods depended mainly on the general condition of the patients. In all cases, we achieved acceptable functional and aesthetic outcomes.

Penetrating trauma to the facial skeleton by pickaxe - case report.

Number of deaths related with injuries suffered as a result of experienced traumas is increasing. Penetrating traumas of the facial skeleton occur relatively rarely and much more often concern rather children than adults. Epidemiology relating this kind of trauma differs depending on the region of the world. In Poland, gunshot injuries as well as traumas caused by explosions of firecrackers or fireworks amount only to a slight percentage among all facial skeleton traumas, and the most common reason for penetrating traumas lies in accidents or assault with the use of sharp, narrow and long objects that easily enter bones of the facial skeleton. The present study reported the case of 50-year-old man who suffered from trauma of the facial skeleton, which resulted from foreign body (pickaxe) penetration into the subtemporal area, zygomatic arch and the right orbital cavity. The surgical treatment method and final outcome was presented and discussed.

Skin color parameters and Fitzpatrick phototypes in estimating the risk of skin cancer: A case-control study in the Polish population.

BACKGROUND: Light skin pigmentation is a known risk factor for skin cancer. OBJECTIVE: Skin color parameters and Fitzpatrick phototypes were evaluated in terms of their usefulness in predicting the risk of skin cancer. METHODS: A case-control study involved 133 individuals with skin cancer (100 with basal cell carcinoma, 21 with squamous cell carcinoma, 12 with melanoma) and 156 healthy individuals. All of them had skin phototype determined and spectrophotometric skin color measurements were done on the inner surfaces of their arms and on the buttock. Using those data, prediction models were built and subjected to 17-fold stratified cross-validation. RESULTS: A model, based on skin phototypes, was characterized by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.576 and exhibited a lower predictive power than the models, which were mostly based on spectrophotometric variables describing pigmentation levels. The best predictors of skin cancer were R coordinate of RGB color space (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.687) and melanin index (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.683) for skin on the buttock. LIMITATIONS: A small number of patients were studied. Models were not externally validated. CONCLUSIONS: Skin color parameters are more accurate predictors of skin cancer occurrence than skin phototypes. Spectrophotometry is a quick, easy, and affordable method offering relatively good predictive power.

Short Text Messages (SMS) as an Additional Tool for Notifying Medical Staff in Case of a Hospital Mass Casualty Incident.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to verify the effectiveness of short text messages (short message service, or SMS) as an additional notification tool in case of fire or a mass casualty incident in a hospital. METHODS: A total of 2242 SMS text messages were sent to 59 hospital workers divided into 3 groups (n=21, n=19, n=19). Messages were sent from a Samsung GT-S8500 Wave cell phone and Orange Poland was chosen as the telecommunication provider. During a 3-month trial period, messages were sent between 3:35 PM and midnight with no regular pattern. Employees were asked to respond by telling how much time it would take them to reach the hospital in case of a mass casualty incident. RESULTS: The mean reaction time (SMS reply) was 36.41 minutes. The mean declared time of arrival to the hospital was 100.5 minutes. After excluding 10% of extreme values for declared arrival time, the mean arrival time was estimated as 38.35 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: Short text messages (SMS) can be considered an additional tool for notifying medical staff in case of a mass casualty incident.

How Do Patients Assess Outcomes Of Treatment Of Prognathism?

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study was to analyze the results of patients' subjective self-assessment of surgical treatment of prognathism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 35 patients who underwent extraoral vertical ramus osteotomy. Each patient responded to 12 questions contained in the questionnaire created by the authors. RESULTS: All respondents positively assessed their appearance after surgery. In most cases they pointed out the positive impact of treatment on their self-confidence (82.9% of responses). The vast majority of respondents felt improvement in biting off food (91.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Patients positively evaluate the outcome of surgical treatment with extraoral vertical ramus osteotomy. The subjective improvement of the facial appearance, as well as chewing and articulation functions took place after the treatment.

Head and neck lymphomas--diagnostic difficulties.

UNLABELLED: Malignant lymphomas represent approximately 5% of all malignant neoplasm of the head and neck and may involve nodal or extranodal sites. The head and neck region is the second most frequent anatomical site of extranodal lymphomas (after the gastrointestinal tract). Most are non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) of B-cell lineage. Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) rarely occurs in extranodal site. THE AIM OF THE STUDY was to evaluate head and neck manifestation of lymphoma (both HL and NHL) and emphasize diagnostic difficulties of these pathologies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective review of medical records of patients diagnosed for lymphomas in our department was performed. Authors analyzed demographic data as well as clinical manifestation and diagnostic trials. RESULTS: 9 patients were included to the study. 7 of them suffered from extranodal NHL and 2 of them from HL (one patient--extranodal and one nodal manifestation). There were diagnostic complications in all cases and final diagnosis was made after surgical material analysis. CONCLUSIONS: This data demonstrate low sensivity of fine needle aspiration for identification of lymphoma as well as clinical picture is non characteristic.