Morphologic changes of the fifth phalange secondary to smartphone use.

BACKGROUND: The use of smart phones is now part of the daily routine throughout the world. Morphological alterations have been described associated with telephone holding technique, as well as clinically significant alterations related to their use. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to determine the macroscopic morphological changes due to smartphone use in the fifth finger of the hand with which the smartphone is commonly used. METHODS: University students were invited to participate. Photographs of the dorsal region of both hands were taken using a millimeter paper as background. After calibrating the ImageJ software, photographs were analyzed in pairs obtaining areas of asymmetry. Sociodemographic information and technique of use was collected through a survey. The data were analyzed using SPSS ver. 20. RESULTS: A total of 143 participants were included. The mean age was 20 years. No significant differences were found between the area of asymmetry and the miniferet of both fingers of the subjects compared with age, gender, BMI, daily time of use, years using a smartphone or the type of holding technique. CONCLUSIONS: No asymmetric changes were evident between left and right small fingers in relation to the holding technique of a smartphone in a young adult population.

[Correction of the pre- and post-surgical rotational component of the first metatarsal secondary to modified Chevron osteotomy]. / Corrección del componente rotacional prequirúrgico y postquirúrgico del primer metatarsiano secundario a osteotomía de Chevron modificado.

INTRODUCTION.: Hallux valgus (HV) is a complex forefoot pathology, in which interest has recently been shown in the distal rotational component (CR) of the first metatarsal due to its relationship with postsurgical relapses of the deformity. The selection of surgical technique is controversial with little current literature on the correction of rotation with common osteotomies. The aim of this study is to evaluate preoperative and postoperative radiological characteristics regarding CR of the first metatarsal using long Chevron osteotomy for moderate to severe HV. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An observational, prospective and comparative study was carried out in which the CR of the first metatarsal was evaluated in nine feet belonging to six patients with a mean age of 45 years. The RC was evaluated based on the proximal metaphysis of the first metatarsal in axial fluoroscopies of unloaded metatarsals and standing AP. Measurements were performed by an Orthopedic and Traumatology resident and a Foot and Ankle Surgery subspecialist. RESULTS: Significant differences (p = 0.05) were documented in the preoperative and postoperative pronation angle when using long Chevron osteotomy. The functional result of the evaluated patients was excellent at 11 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Radiologically, the rotational correction is variable and has not previously been reported in the literature with this osteotomy. We establishes the morphological bases for the performance of subsequent studies in the evaluation of head rotation of the 1st metatarsal with different osteotomies.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Hallux valgus (HV) es una patología compleja del antepié, recientemente se ha mostrado interés en el componente rotacional (CR) distal del primer metatarsiano por su relación con recidivas postquirúrgicas de la deformidad. La selección de la técnica quirúrgica es controversial con escasa literatura acerca de la corrección de rotación con osteotomías comunes. Nuestro objetivo es evaluar características radiológicas prequirúrgicas y postquirúrgicas respecto a CR del primer metatarsiano en la cirugía de corrección de HV moderado a severo usando osteotomía de Chevron largo. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio observacional, prospectivo y comparativo en el que se evaluó el CR del primer metatarsiano en nueve pies pertenecientes a seis pacientes con una edad media de 45 años. El CR fue evaluado con base en la metáfisis proximal del primer metatarsiano en fluoroscopías axiales sin carga y AP de pie. Las mediciones se realizaron por un residente de ortopedia y traumatología y un subespecialista en cirugía de pie y Tobillo. RESULTADOS: Se documentaron diferencias significativas (p = 0.05) en el ángulo de pronación prequirúrgico y postquirúrgico al utilizar osteotomía de Chevron largo. El resultado funcional de los pacientes evaluados fue excelente a 11 meses de seguimiento. CONCLUSIONES: Radiológicamente, la corrección rotacional es variable y previamente no se ha reportado en la literatura con esta osteotomía. Se establecen bases morfológicas para la realización de estudios posteriores en la evaluación de rotación de cabeza del primer metatarsiano con diferentes osteotomías.

Prevalence, topographic and morphometric features of femoral cam-type deformity: changes in relation to age and gender.

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome is a frequent cause of pain and in recent years considered to be a precursor of premature hip osteoarthritis. The structural abnormalities which characterize FAI syndrome, such as the cam-type deformity, are associated with morphological alterations that may lead to hip osteoarthritis. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and topographic and morphometric features of the cam deformity in a series of 326 femur specimens obtained from a Mexican population, as well as changes in prevalence in relation to age and gender. The specimens were subdivided into groups according to gender and age. A standardized photograph of the proximal femur of each specimen was taken, and the photograph was used to determine the alpha angle using a computer program; the location of the lesion was determined by quadrant and the morphometric characteristics were determined by direct observation. The overall prevalence of cam deformities in the femur specimens was 29.8 % (97/326), with a prevalence by gender of 35.2 % (64/182) in men and 22.9 % (33/144) in women. The mean alpha angle was 54.6° ± 8.5° in all of the osteological specimens and 65.6° ± 7.5° in those specimens exhibiting a cam deformity. Cam deformities were found topographically in the anterior-superior quadrant of the femoral head-neck junction in 86.6 % (84/97) of the femurs. Deformities were found in 28.2 % of the right femurs and 31.3 % of the left femurs. The prevalence of cam deformity was higher in the femur specimens of young men and in those of middle-aged and older women. There were no significant differences in this deformity in relation to the alpha angle according to age and gender.

Adolescent onset of lupus results in more aggressive disease and worse outcomes: results of a nested matched case-control study within LUMINA, a multiethnic US cohort (LUMINA LVII).

The objective of this study is to examine the clinical features and outcomes of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) whose disease began in adolescence [juvenile-onset SLE (jSLE)] compared with adult-onset patients [adult-onset SLE (aSLE)] from a large multiethnic cohort. Systemic lupus erythematosus patients of African-American, Caucasian, or Hispanic ethnicity and >or=1 year follow-up were studied in two groups: jSLE (diagnosed at

Systemic lupus erythematosus in a multiethnic cohort: LUMINA XXXV. Predictive factors of high disease activity over time.

AIM: To ascertain the predictive factors of high levels of disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with SLE (American College of Radiology criteria), aged >or=16 years, with disease duration 10). A basic multivariable model (including age, sex, ethnicity, health insurance, social support, abnormal illness-related behaviours, helplessness and prior disease activity) was first examined. Additional models were built by including other variables. RESULTS: 554 patients (100 Hispanics from Texas, 94 Hispanics from Puerto Rico, 199 African Americans, 161 Caucasians) and 2366 visits were analysed; 47% of the patients and 29% of the visits met the definition of high disease activity (more common among African Americans (72.0%) and Hispanics from Texas (71.3%) than among Caucasians (43.9%) and Hispanics from Puerto Rico (31.9%)). Variables found to predict high levels of disease activity were Hispanic (from Texas) and African American ethnicities, lack of health insurance, helplessness, abnormal illness-related behaviours and poor social support; age was negatively associated with high levels of disease activity. African admixture and anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies also predicted high levels of disease activity, as did prior disease activity. None of the human leucocyte antigen variables were retained in the models. CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomic-demographic (age, ethnicity, health insurance), behavioural and psychological variables are important mediators of high levels of disease activity in SLE during its course. Interventions aimed at modifiable factors may improve the outcomes of SLE.

Relationship between adherence to study and clinic visits in systemic lupus erythematosus patients: data from the LUMINA cohort.

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between nonadherence with study visits and with regularly scheduled clinic visits after adjusting for other patient and disease characteristics. One hundred and forty-one LUMINA patients with appointment data in the institutions' computerized systems (UAB and UTH) were studied. 'No shows' were assessed as the percentage of appointments not attended for either rheumatology, other clinics and LUMINA visits (from zero to 100%). Eighty-nine percent of the patients were women, 40% were Caucasians, 55% African-Americans and 5% Hispanics. 'No shows' to rheumatology were associated with non-Caucasian ethnicity, younger age, single marital status, lack of home ownership, 'no shows' to other clinics and to the LUMINA study, greater disease activity and to some disease manifestations (serositis, renal involvement, positive anti-dsDNA antibodies). In multivariable analyses, features predictive of rheumatology 'no shows' were lack of home ownership, 'no shows' to LUMINA study visits, renal involvement and serosal manifestations. Nonadherence with study visits and with regularly scheduled care at rheumatology clinics were associated. Other factors predictive of nonadherence to recommended care were lack of home ownership (a measurement of low socioeconomic status) and the presence of disease manifestations (i.e., renal or serosal involvement). These data should be considered when caring for patients with SLE.