Incidence, prevalence, and consultation rates of shoulder complaints in general practice.

OBJECTIVE: To study the incidence, prevalence, and consultation rates of patients with shoulder complaints in general practice in the Netherlands during 10 years following initial presentation. METHODS: A primary care database with an average population of 30,000 patients per year aged 18 years or older was used to select patients who consulted their general practitioner (GP) with shoulder complaints in the northern part of the Netherlands in the year 1998. Information about consultations for shoulder complaints was extracted. Incidence and prevalence for men, women, and different age groups were calculated for 9 and 10 years. RESULTS: A total of 526 patients consulted their GP with a new shoulder complaint. During an average follow-up of 7.6 years, these patients consulted their GP 1331 times because of their shoulder complaints (average of 0.33 consultations per year). Almost half of the patients consulted their GP only once. Patients in the 45-64 age category had the highest probability of repeated GP consultations during follow-up. Average incidence was 29.3 per 1000 person-years. Women and patients in the 45-64 age category have the highest incidence. The annual prevalence of shoulder complaints ranged from 41.2 to 48.4 per 1000 person-years, calculated for the period 1998 to 2007, and was higher among women than among men. CONCLUSION: Although the incidence of shoulder complaints in general practice is as high as 29.3 per 1000 person-years, GPs' workload is generally low, as nearly half of these patients consult their GP only once for their complaint.

The impacted maxillary canine: revisiting the clinical guideline, with case illustrations.

The key to managing canine impaction is early identification, interception and follow-up. In these case reports, we discuss four patients presenting with palatally impacted maxillary canines and their management. Guidelines to aid the early detection of an impacted maxillary canine and a subsequent management strategy are presented.

Urinary tract injures: recognition and management.

Iatrogenic injury to the urinary tract during colorectal surgery can be a source of significant morbidity. Although most cases of ureteral injury occur in patients without significant risk factors, the incidence of urinary tract injuries increases in patients with prior pelvic operations, inflammatory bowel disease, infection, and in patients with extensive neoplasms causing distortion of normal surgical planes. The most commonly injured locations are the ureter, bladder, and urethra. Mechanisms of injury include ligation, transection, devascularization, and energy induced. Early identification of urinary tract injuries is paramount in minimizing morbidity and preservation of renal function. Anatomic considerations for preventing injuries, diagnostic techniques for localizing and staging injuries, as well as reconstructive techniques and principles of repair are discussed.

Bladder Reconstruction and Diversion during Colorectal Surgery.

Extirpative procedures for advanced colorectal cancers can involve multivisceral pelvic resections. In patients without evidence of distant metastatic disease, a reasonable therapeutic effect can be expected when negative surgical margins are obtained. For patients with bladder involvement, the decision to perform a bladder-sparing procedure or a total pelvic exenteration will be based on the extent of the primary lesion as well as patient characteristics. In this article, the authors describe bladder-sparing techniques with and without enterocystoplasty as well as options for urinary diversion in patients requiring total pelvic exenteration. Contraindications and clinical decision making regarding bladder reconstruction or replacement are discussed.

Voiding dysfunction after pelvic colorectal surgery.

Bladder dysfunction following colorectal surgery may be related to extirpative procedures in the region of the pelvic autonomic plexus. The most common etiology is from autonomic disruption during abdominoperineal or low anterior resections. Contemporary technical modifications have allowed surgeons to achieve oncologic control while preserving the autonomic nerves that innervate the bladder and sexual organs. Although these modifications have resulted in a significant decrease in the incidence of postoperative bladder dysfunction, bladder dysfunction continues to be a source of significant morbidity after surgery. In this patient population, symptoms are not reliable for accurate diagnosis. The use of urodynamics provides objective measurements of bladder and outlet function and are paramount in providing an accurate diagnosis and in recommending treatments. Follow-up and treatment are highly individualized based on urodynamic findings, patient expectations, patient abilities, and family support. This article provides an overview of pertinent neuroanatomy, diagnosis, urodynamic interpretation, and treatment related to bladder dysfunction following pelvic colorectal surgery.

Corticosteroid injections effective for trigger finger in adults in general practice: a double-blinded randomised placebo controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To study efficacy and safety of corticosteroid injections for trigger finger (flexor tenosynovitis) in adults in general practice. METHODS: Adult patients presenting with trigger finger were recruited by 21 participating general practitioners. In this randomised placebo controlled double-blinded trial, patients were injected locally with one or two injections of 1 ml triamcinolonacetonide (TCA) or 0.9% NaCl. Outcomes regarding immediate treatment response, severity of symptoms, functional disability, patient satisfaction and side effects were measured 1 week after intervention and during the 12 months thereafter. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients were included. Short-term outcomes for the TCA and NaCl group, respectively, were: proportion of patients with satisfactory immediate treatment response 16/25 and 5/25 (p<0.001), patients with reduction in the frequency of triggering 13/24 and 6/22 (p = 0.053), mean difference in severity of pain 4.2 and 0.9 (p<0.001), patients perceiving improvement 22/25 and 9/25 (p<0.001) and difference in Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale 2 (AIMS-2) score 4.02 and 0.06 (p = 0.001). Long-term effects could only be assessed by analysing the cohort of participants who received TCA (as allocated treatment or escape treatment), due to a high proportion of non-responders in the NaCl group. The short-term beneficial effects were maintained during the follow-up phase of 12 months. Patients were satisfied with corticosteroid injection therapy and there were only a few minor side effects. CONCLUSIONS: Local injection with TCA is effective and safe for treating trigger finger as compared to placebo injection. The effects of steroid injections last up to 12 months.

Multicenter prospective randomized 52-week trial of calcium hydroxylapatite versus bovine dermal collagen for treatment of stress urinary incontinence.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of soft-tissue augmentation of the urethral sphincter with calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA; Coaptite) compared with glutaraldehyde cross-linked bovine collagen (Contigen) in female patients with stress urinary incontinence due to intrinsic sphincter deficiency and without associated urethral hypermobility. METHODS: This 12-month prospective, randomized, comparative, multicenter, single-blind, parallel, clinical trial of CaHA and collagen for soft-tissue augmentation of the urethral sphincter in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence enrolled 296 women. Up to five injections were performed in the first 6 months of the trial. Twelve-month postinjection efficacy data were available for 231 patients. RESULTS: The results indicated that CaHA and collagen were both well tolerated in this study. No systemic adverse events were observed with either product. We used the Stamey Urinary Incontinence Scale to grade the improvement, which was the primary endpoint of the study. At 12 months, 83 (63.4%) of 131 CaHA patients compared with 57 (57.0%) of 100 collagen patients showed improvement of one Stamey grade or more (P = 0.34). More CaHA patients required only one injection (n = 60; 38.0%) during the study compared with the Contigen patients (n = 36; 26.1%; P = 0.034). Also, the average total volume of material injected during the course of the study was less for CaHA than for collagen (4.0 mL versus 6.6 mL, respectively; P <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study have demonstrated that Coaptite is an appropriate and well-tolerated treatment for patients with incontinence due to intrinsic sphincter deficiency. This new soft-tissue augmentation material has a good safety profile and appears to provide durable improvement.

Neck mobility measurement by means of the 'Flock of Birds' electromagnetic tracking system.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the accuracy and reliability of a six-degrees-of-freedom electromagnetic tracking device, the "Flock of Birds", for measuring neck rotations and to identify the main sources of error. DESIGN: Ten human subjects made the same types of maximal neck rotation, both actively and passively: axial rotation in neutral position, from a flexed position and from an extended position, flexion/extension and lateral flexion. The same movements were mimicked in a 'dummy head' set-up. METHODS: One Flock of Birds receiver was mounted on the thorax, one on the head. By means of a third receiver, mounted on a stylus, bony landmarks on head and thorax were palpated. These served to define two anatomically based local coordinate systems, to which the rotations were referred. RESULTS: Measurements were accurate with a maximal measurement error of 2.5 degrees. No significant difference between active and passive rotation was seen. The intra-subject variation was low within the same session, SD between 2 degrees and 4 degrees. Between sessions the variability was considerable, SD between 5 degrees and 16 degrees. CONCLUSION: The Flock of Birds method is reliable and sufficiently precise. The variability in measured range of motion between sessions is a point of concern in interpreting follow-up studies in patients. RELEVANCE: A reduced range of neck motion is a major complaint in pathologies of the cervical spine or the shoulder. A method is described in which neck rotations are related to well-defined bony landmarks. In combined rotations, e.g. flexion combined with axial rotation, the measured range of motion can sometimes fluctuate strongly (up to 30 degrees ) between measurements, without apparent pathology.

Transabdominal approach to repair of vaginal vault prolapse.

PURPOSE: To review the preoperative evaluation of women with vaginal vault prolapse and describe the surgical methods of treatment using a transabdominal approach. METHODS: Abdominal sacral colpopexy is the most widely performed method of transabdominal correction of vaginal vault prolapse. The procedure is completed by securing the apex to the vagina to the periosteum of the sacrum with mesh. This procedure is demonstrated in great detail. Successful repair can be achieved by other transabdominal approaches and by laparoscopic approaches. RESULTS: Twenty women (mean age 67.9 years) were evaluated for complex pelvic floor prolapse. Six (30.0%) patients had failed transvaginal sacrospinus ligament fixation. Abdominal sacrocolpopexy utilizing Marlex mesh, Halban culdeplasty, and paravaginal repair was performed on all patients. Five posterior repairs and one anterior repair was done. The average operating time for the colpopexy and enterocele repair alone is approximately 90 minutes. The average blood loss was 284 cc. The average hospital stay was 3.7 days. The mean follow-up is 11.3 months (6-27 months). The vaginal vault is well supported in all patients with no recurrent enterocele or vault prolapse. Three patients have asymptomatic grade II cystoceles, and three patients have asymptomatic grade II rectoceles. There were few complications. No mesh complications have been encountered. CONCLUSIONS: Vaginal vault prolapse can be a difficult problem to diagnose and treat. Successful treatment requires thorough knowledge of the anatomy, methods of diagnosis, and treatment options. The abdominal sacrocolpopexy achieves excellent correction of vaginal vault prolapse with minimal morbidity.

Colpocleisis for the treatment of vaginal vault prolapse.

Most females with total vault prolapse undergo reconstructive procedures to restore normal anatomy and function; however, elderly patients who no longer desire sexual intercourse or are medically unstable can be treated effectively with a vaginal closure or colpocleisis. The traditional approach to colpocleisis has been to simply invert the vagina using pursestring sutures after removing the vaginal mucosa. Although simple to perform, after repairing referred treatment failures who used this approach, we began to use a different approach that emphasizes the strength of an anterior repair and extensive posterior repair that then is sutured together. This vaginal closure is reinforced with a strong perineorrhaphy. This multicompartment colpocleisis was performed in 38 elderly females (mean age 77, range 68 to 88) with total vault prolapse. No treatment failures were noted with a mean follow-up of 24 months (range 3 to 52 months), and all patients were satisfied with the results of the procedure. No significant complications occurred, and no patient has regretted the loss of sexual function. The aim of this article is to discuss the indications, procedural aspects, and results of performing a multicompartment colpocleisis and partial colpocleisis for total vault prolapse in elderly females.

Use of bone anchors in female urology.

Stress urinary incontinence remains one of the most prevalent conditions encountered by urologists. In many cases, surgical correction of this condition is carried out using a pubovaginal sling procedure. Bone anchors were initially used in transvaginal needle suspension procedures to improve stabilization of the bladder neck. This technology has been extended to sling procedures, allowing completion of these procedures by an entirely transvaginal approach. Early results of these procedures are encouraging, and overall morbidity appears much less when compared with conventional pubovaginal sling procedures. In this article, the application of bone anchors in female urology is reviewed. Techniques of pubovaginal sling and abdominal sacrocolpopexy using bone anchors and potential complications of bone anchor implantation are discussed. Surgeons performing procedures for the treatment of stress incontinence should be aware of the benefits and potential risks of bone anchor implantation.

Abdominal sacral colpopexy and abdominal enterocele repair in the management of vaginal vault prolapse.

Vaginal vault prolapse and enterocele represent challenging forms of female pelvic organ relaxation. These conditions are most commonly associated with other pelvic organ defects. Proper diagnosis and management is essential to achieve long-term successful outcomes. Physical examination should be carried out in the lithotomy and standing positions (if necessary) in order to detect a loss of vaginal vault support. With proper identification of the vaginal cuff, one should assess the degree of mobility of the vaginal cuff with a Valsalva maneuver. If there is significant descent of the vaginal cuff, vaginal vault prolapse is present, and correction should be considered. The abdominal sacral colpopexy is an excellent means to provide vaginal vault suspension. This procedure entails suspension of the vaginal cuff to the sacrum with fascia or synthetic mesh. This procedure should always be accompanied by an abdominal enterocele repair and cul-de-sac obliteration. In addition, many patients require surgical procedures to correct stress urinary incontinence, which is either symptomatic or latent (occurs postoperatively after prolapse correction). Complications include: mesh infection, mesh erosion, bowel obstruction, ileus, and bleeding from the presacral venous complex. If the procedure is carried out using meticulous technique, few complications occur and excellent long-term reduction of vaginal vault prolapse and enterocele are achieved. The purpose of this article is to review the preoperative evaluation of women with pelvic organ prolapse, and provide a detailed description of the surgical technique of an abdominal sacral colpopexy.

Collagen injection therapy in elderly women: long-term results and patient satisfaction.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate long-term results and patient satisfaction using collagen injection therapy in elderly women. METHODS: Periurethral injection of collagen using local anesthesia was performed on 58 women 65 years old or older (range 65 to 86, mean 73. 2) to treat stress urinary incontinence. All patients underwent urodynamic evaluation. Forty-nine patients (84.5%) had intrinsic sphincteric deficiency; 9 patients (15.5%) had genuine stress urinary incontinence. Twenty-one patients (36.2%) had no urethral hypermobility using Q-tip testing, and 37 (63.8%) had urethral hypermobility. RESULTS: At 2 months after injection, the initial response was assessed: 28 patients (48.3%) were totally dry and 18 (31.0%) were socially continent. Therapy was unsuccessful in 12 (20. 7%). To achieve continence, 1 to 4 injections (mean 1.9) were required. The average total volume to achieve success was 14.6 mL. No significant differences were observed in outcome, volume injected, or number of injections in patients with versus without urethral hypermobility. At a mean follow-up of 24.4 months (range 8 to 43), of the 46 patients who achieved continence, 19 (41.3%) developed recurrent leakage and required reinjection. The average interval to recurrence was 7.9 months (range 2 to 16). Of the 19 patients reinjected, only 8 (42.1%) regained continence. The long-term success rate after repeated injections was 35 (60.3%) of 58. An independent examiner contacted 40 patients for telephone interview. To date, 25 of the patients contacted noted a moderate or maximal level of symptom improvement, and 18 reported continued improvement in quality of life. Thirty-six patients noted minimal difficulty with the procedure, and 34 would recommend the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Collagen is a safe, moderately effective alternative to manage stress urinary incontinence in elderly women. Elderly patients should be counseled that approximately 40% will experience recurrent leakage, which may not resolve with reinjection.

Comparison of biomechanical properties of periosteal suture fixation and bone anchor fixation to the pubic bone.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the relative strength of fixation using bone anchors (BAs) compared with direct suture placement into the periosteum. METHODS: The anterior bony pelvis was harvested from 21 female cadavers. In each pelvis, BA suture fixation was performed using Cinch anchors on one side of the pubic bone and direct periosteal suture fixation (PSF) on the contralateral side of the same pelvis. We used No. 1 polyproprolene suture for all cases. Using a hydraulic mechanical testing machine, all specimens were loaded in uniaxial tension until failure. RESULTS: Failure modes for BA-fixed pelves were as follows: 11 BA pull-out, 1 midsuture failure, and 9 suture cut by BA. Failure modes for the PSF pelves were as follows: 6 suture pull-outs through the bone, 14 midsuture failures, and 1 suture cut at the bone. PSF pelves required significantly higher loads to induce failure compared with BA pelves (PSF 92.63 +/- 22.62 N, BA 71.32 +/- 19.76 N, P <0.0002). In many cases, both PSF and BA were adequate points of fixation, and the major mechanism of failure was suture rupture. In pelves with suture failure, the load to induce failure was significantly higher in the PSF group (PSF 105.06 +/- 12.55 N, BA 86.06 +/- 7.78 N, P <0.0025). When the suture failed, PSF was better because BA fixation actually broke some sutures. The load required to induce failure was higher in the PSF groups in 19 (90.5%) of 21 pelves. CONCLUSIONS: Biomechanical testing using permanent monofilament suture did not demonstrate a superiority of BA suture fixation to PSF fixation. PSF appears superior, since BAs induced suture failure in many cases.

The long-term course of shoulder complaints: a prospective study in general practice.

OBJECTIVE: Assessment of the long-term course of shoulder complaints in patients in general practice with special focus on changes in diagnostic category and fluctuations in the severity of the complaints. DESIGN: Prospective descriptive study. SETTING: Four general practices in The Netherlands. METHOD: All patients (101) with shoulder complaints seen in a 5 month period were included. Assessment took place 26 weeks and 12-18 months after inclusion in the study with a pain questionnaire and a physical examination. RESULTS: A total of 51% of the patients experienced (mostly recurrent) complaints after 26 weeks and 41% after 12-18 months. Diagnostic changes were found over the course of time, mostly from synovial disorders towards functional disorders of the structures of the shoulder girdle, but also the other way round. Although 52 of the 101 patients experienced complaints in week 26, 62% of those patients considered themselves 'cured'. After 12-18 months, 51% of the 39 patients experiencing complaints felt 'cured'. CONCLUSION: Many patients seen with shoulder complaints in general practice have recurrent complaints. The nature of these complaints varies considerably over the course of time, leading to changes in diagnostic category. Because of the fluctuating severity of the complaints over time, feeling 'cured' or not 'cured' is also subject to change over time.

Urodynamic findings in postprostatectomy incontinence.

Due to the large variability in the reported contribution of bladder dysfunction to postprostatectomy incontinence and the impact this dysfunction may have on the outcome of selected treatment, we retrospectively reviewed the videourodynamic findings of bladder and sphincteric function in patients with postprostatectomy incontinence. The contributions of bladder and sphincteric causes of incontinence are determined. Ninety-two patients had multichannel videourdynamic testing performed as part of a comprehensive evaluation for incontinence at least 1 year after prostatectomy. Using a 6-French double-lumen catheter in the bladder and a 10-French catheter in the rectum, all pressures were recorded continuously while in the upright position. Valsalva leak point pressures (VLPP) were measured in the absence of a bladder contraction at a 150-ml volume and at 50-ml increments thereafter until maximum functional capacity was reached. Bladder compliance and bladder capacity were determined and the presence of detrusor instability (DI) was documented. Sixty-five patients (71%) presented after radical prostatectomy (RP) and 27 patients (29%) after transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). The predominant urodynamic finding was sphincteric incompetence as VLPP were obtained in 85 patients (92%) and ranged from 12 to 120 cm water. DI was a common finding, occurring in 34 patients (37%), and classified as follows: a) phasic instability in 22/34, b) tonic instability in 3/34, and c) mixed phasic and tonic instability in 9/34. However, we found DI to be the sole cause of incontinence in only 3/92 patients (3.3%). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of sphincteric incompetence after RP or TURP; however, TURP patients had a higher incidence of DI, which was statistically significant (P=0.019). There was no correlation of incontinence severity and VLPP when comparing preoperative pad usage to VLPP < or =70 or > or =71 cm water. Although bladder dysfunction may be contributing problem in patients with postprostatectomy incontinence, it is rarely the only mechanism for this disorder. VLPP does not correlate with incontinence severity. Although sphincteric incompetence is the most common mechanism contributing to incontinence after prostatectomy, bladder dysfunction may coexist or be an isolated cause of postprostatectomy incontinence. Therefore, urodynamic studies are important to illustrate the exact cause(s) of incontinence in each individual patient after prostatectomy.