Closed reduction and cast immobilization of overriding distal forearm fractures under nitrous oxide as conscious sedation without the use of imaging control.

PURPOSE: The management of overriding distal forearm fractures is still controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of immediate closed reduction and cast immobilization (CRCI) at the emergency department (ED) using equimolar nitrous oxide (eN2O2) as conscious sedation, and without the use fluoroscopic assistance. METHODS: Sixty patients with overriding distal forearm fracture were included in the study. All procedures were performed in the ED without fluoroscopic assistance. Antero-posterior and lateral wrist radiographs were taken after CRCI. Follow-up radiographs were taken 7 and 15 days post-reduction, and at cast removal to evaluate callus formation. Depending on the radiological outcome, two groups of patients could be identified: Group 1 (satisfactory reduction and maintenance of alignment) and Group 2 (poor reduction or secondary displacement requiring further manipulation and surgical fixation). Group 2 was additionally divided into Group 2A (poor reduction) and Group 2B (secondary displacement). Pain was assessed using Numeric Pain Intensity (NPI) score, while functional outcome was measured according to Quick DASH questionnaire. RESULTS: Mean age at the time of injury was 9.2 ± 2.4 years (range, 5-14). Twenty-three (38%) patients were aged between 4 and 9 years old, 20 (33%) patients between 9 and 11, 11 (18%) patients between 11 and 13, and 6 (10%) patients between 13 and 14. The mean follow-up time was 45.6 ± 12 months (range, 24-63). Satisfactory reduction with maintenance of alignment was achieved in 30 (50%) patients (Group 1). Re-reduction was performed in the remaining 30 (50%) patients (Group 2) due to poor reduction (Group 2A) or secondary displacement (Group 2B). No complications related to the administration of eN2O were recorded. No statistically significant difference could be identified between the three groups for any clinical variable (Quick DASH and NPI). CONCLUSION: Overriding distal forearm fractures may be safely treated with CRCI at ED using eN2O2 as conscious sedation. However, fluoroscopic assistance during CRCI might significantly improve the quality of reduction thus avoiding further treatment as the lack of relaxed muscle can restrain reduction.

Aetiology, diagnosis, and treatment of brachymetatarsia: a narrative review.

Brachymetatarsia (BM), or hypoplastic metatarsal, is an abnormal shortening of one or more metatarsal bones with a female-to-male ratio of 10.53:1. Different causes are described in the literature, such as congenital, acquired, or iatrogenic, associated with different conditions and syndromes. Its presence may develop deformity and pain; however, often feet are pain free and the major worries of patients are cosmetics. Non-operative treatments aim to improve the comfort of metatarsal heads and the possible dorsal conflict through comfortable shoes or the use of specific orthotics. The surgical treatment is anything but straightforward, with "one-stage" or "two stage" techniques, the latter better called "by gradual distraction". One-stage procedures are more rapid techniques but have limited ability to restore the desired length due to neurovascular compromise caused by acute lengthening. Insufficient correction is also possible. On the contrary, by gradual distraction procedures allow gradual distraction lengthening of more than 1.5 cm, but require the use of an external fixator, with a higher risk of complications in more than about 50% of surgeries. The adjacent metatarsal shortening should be considered in combination with other techniques, to diminish the excessive lengthening. In each case, surgeries should be always decided on each patient's concerns, deformities, and clinical needs.

Clinical comparison between simple laminectomy and laminectomy plus posterior instrumentation in surgical treatment of cervical myelopathy.

BACKGROUND: Posterior stabilization in patients treated with laminectomy for spondylotic cervical myelopathy is still a debate. Despite both being reported in literature by several authors, some controversies still exist. The aim of this study is to compare clinical and radiological outcomes in patients treated with laminectomy or laminectomy with posterior stabilization. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 42 patients affected by cervical myelopathy (mean age 70.43 ± 5.03 years), 19 treated with laminectomy (group A) and 23 with laminectomy and posterior instrumentation (group B). Neurological status was assessed with Nurick scale, pain with VAS and radiological parameters with C2-C7 SVA, T1 slope and C2-C7 lordosis, clinical function with modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association score (JOA). Also, surgery time and blood loss were recorded. Student's t test was used for continuous variables, while Kruskal-Wallis test was used for categorical values. RESULTS: No differences were found in postoperative Nurick scale (p = 0.587), VAS (p = 0.62), mJOA (p = 0.197) and T1 slope (p = 0.559), while laminectomy with fusion showed better postoperative cervical lordosis (p = 0.007) and C2-C7 SVA (p < 0.00001), but higher blood loss (p < 0.00001) and surgical time (p < 0.00001). Both groups showed better Nurick scale (p = 0.00017 for group A and p = 0.00081 for group B), VAS (p = 0.02 for group A and p = 0.046 for group B) and mJOA (p < 0.00001 for both groups) than preoperative values. CONCLUSIONS: Both treatments are a valuable choice, offering some benefits and disadvantages against each other. Each procedure must be carefully evaluated on the basis of patients' general status, preoperative pain, signs of instability and potential benefits from cervical alignment correction.

Surgical treatment of osteoporotic thoraco-lumbar compressive fractures: the use of pedicle screw with augmentation PMMA.

INTRODUCTION: The osteoporosis prevalence in population is age related. The aim of this single-center observational study was evaluate the middle- to long-term performance of cement (PMMA) augmented fenestrated pedicle screws in elderly patients with thoraco-lumbar compressive fractures by osteoporosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2011 to 2015 we treated 52 patients (20 males and 32 females) suffering from somatic osteoporotic fractures (T10-L2). The average age was 73.4 years, with an age range between 65 and 82 years. The treatment consisted of stabilization with pedicle screw augmentation with PMMA cement. Patients were clinically evaluated with Visual Analyzing System scale (VAS scale) and with low back disability questionnaire Oswestry, in pre and post surgery and during the follow up at 12 and 24 months. RESULTS: A total of 410 fenestrated pedicle screws with PMMA augmentation were implanted. No cases of loosening or pulling out of screws were recorded. There have been n 3 cases of thrombophlebitis, treated with oral anticoagulant drugs and 1 case of post-operative death due to ventricular fibrillation. No neurological complications occurred during the study. The mean VAS score decreased from 8.5 to 4.8 and the result remained stable during follow up. Oswestry questionnaire showed a mean decrease of low back pain of 24% in post-op period. CONCLUSION: Fenestrated screws with PMMA augmentation offers a possibility to treat patients with reduced bone quality due to severe osteoporosis.

Nonlinear stochastic equations with calculable steady states.

We consider generalizations of the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang equation that accommodate spatial anisotropies and the coupled evolution of several fields, and focus on their symmetries and nonperturbative properties. In particular, we derive generalized fluctuation-dissipation conditions on the form of the (nonlinear) equations for the realization of a Gaussian probability density of the fields in the steady state. For the amorphous growth of a single height field in one dimension we give a general class of equations with exactly calculable (Gaussian and more complicated) steady states. In two dimensions, we show that any anisotropic system evolves in long time and length scales either to the usual isotropic strong coupling regime or to a linearlike fixed point associated with a hidden symmetry. Similar results are derived for textural growth equations that couple the height field with additional order parameters which fluctuate on the growing surface. In this context, we propose phenomenological equations for the growth of a crystalline material, where the height field interacts with lattice distortions, and identify two special cases that obtain Gaussian steady states. In the first case compression modes influence growth and are advected by height fluctuations, while in the second case it is the density of dislocations that couples with the height.

Sudden death in patients receiving clozapine treatment: a preliminary investigation.

The risk of sudden death during clozapine treatment is controversial. The authors present a review of sudden deaths that occurred at Sha'ar Menashe Mental Health Center between January 1991 and August 1997. The number of cases of deceased inpatients was retrieved from the hospital's computerized database and divided into three groups: sudden death, suicide, and disease-related death. Copies of mandatory reports of sudden death filed with the Ministry of Health were obtained, and the corresponding patient records were reviewed. The rates of sudden death, suicide, and disease-related deaths were calculated for clozapine-treated patients (CTPs) during and after treatment and for patients treated with other psychiatric agents (non-CTPs). Among 561 CTPs, there were 4 sudden deaths during treatment, 2 sudden deaths after treatment, 2 suicides during treatment, and 2 disease-related deaths during treatment. Among 4918 non-CTPs, there were 14 sudden deaths, 5 suicides, and 86 disease-related deaths, all of which occurred during treatment with other psychiatric agents. CTPs who experienced sudden death were 10.37 years younger and healthier than non-CTPs who experienced sudden death. The sudden death rate was 3.8 times higher for CTPs than for non-CTPs, whereas the rate of disease-related death was 5 times higher for non-CTPs than for CTPs. Contrary to expectations, the rate of suicide among patients currently receiving clozapine in this sample was 3.6 times higher than among non-CTPs. Because CTPs who experienced sudden death were also younger and healthier, it seems that treatment with clozapine may present a greater risk for sudden death than treatment with other psychiatric medications. The limited number of sudden death cases and deaths from other causes should be noted so that these findings are considered with caution.

Separation of flavonol-2-O-glycosides from Calendula officinalis and Sambucus nigra by high-performance liquid and micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography.

Calendula officinalis and Sambucus nigra flowers were analysed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC). RP-HPLC was performed on C8 Aquapore RP 300 columns with eluents containing 2-propanol and tetrahydrofuran. MECC was carried out on a 72-cm fused-silica capillary using sodium dodecyl sulphate and sodium borate (pH 8.3) as the running buffer. The results obtained by these techniques are compared.