Method for Securing Methlymethacrylate Bone Cement Using Histoacryl Glue During Cranioplasty for Contour Deformities.

Methylmethacrylate bone cement (MM-BC) is one of the reconstructive methods: during cranioplasty to correct cranial defects following trauma or cranial surgery. Perfect intraoperative immobilization of the MM-BC is crucial to ensure correct subsequent shaping to best improve contour defects. Current immobilization techniques reported are time-consuming and involve complex metalwork. The authors hereby present a technique that may simplify the immobilization process by using histoacryl glue to secure the MM-BC. This provides a quick, inexpensive, and readily available option providing fixation strong enough to withstand final shaping of the MM-BC.

Technical Tip for Proximal Release During Open Carpal Tunnel Release Using a Subcutaneous Pocket.

Technical steps to avoid incomplete proximal release of the carpal tunnel are described. Local anaesthesia is infiltrated as a subcutaneous bleb over the distal wrist crease and extending 2-3 cm over the forearm fascia. Tumescence of local anaesthesia into the subcutaneous plane helps create a pocket between the forearm fascia and subcutaneous tissues. Intraoperatively a subcutaneous pocket is made above the transverse carpal ligament and antebrachial fascia with blunt dissection. A retractor is placed under the pocket, which facilitates optimal visualization to allow reliable complete proximal release of compression.The authors have found that this technique is reproducible and reliable across their collective experience.

Venous aneurysm of the dorsal venous arch: a case with an unusual etiology.

Isolated venous aneurysms of the foot are rare. We report a case of venous aneurysm of the dorsal venous arch of the foot with an unusual traumatic etiology. This is a case report of a female patient with a gradually enlarging swelling on the dorsum of her foot located over the pressure area of her sandal straps. A clinical diagnosis of venous aneurysm was made, and she was treated with surgery. Most cases of superficial venous aneurysms only arouse medical interest, with few cosmetic complaints and no complications. This case is unique because it describes a traumatic venous aneurysm associated with repeated trauma caused by inappropriate footwear. All clinicians and allied health-care professionals involved in podiatric medicine should be aware of this clinical condition in the differential diagnosis of soft-tissue swellings in the feet.

A survey of postoperative nasal packing among UK ENT surgeons.

Packing of the nasal cavity following routine nasal surgery is a common but controversial practice. We aimed to evaluate nasal packing practices among UK ENT consultants for common nasal operations. A questionnaire was sent to 648 consultant ENT surgeons regarding their packing practice in patients undergoing nasal surgery. Data were collected regarding rhinology subspecialty interest, number of nasal operations performed per year, likelihood of packing for six common nasal procedures, and types of pack used. In all, 282 (43.5%) replies were received. Fifty-four (78.3%) rhinologists claimed to perform >100 nasal operations per year versus 64 (31.8%) non-rhinologists (P < 0.005). For specific operations, there was a universal trend towards less routine packing (>70% frequency) in the rhinologist group (P < 0.005). Surgeons who specified a subspecialty interest in rhinology packed significantly less often than the non-rhinologists for common nasal operations. There was great variation in the type of pack favoured by different surgeons.

Occupational injuries in a synthetic fibre factory in Iran.

BACKGROUND: A lack of information on the overall characteristics of work-related injuries in Iran holds back the development of effective injury prevention strategies. AIM: To evaluate characteristics of work-related injuries in a synthetic fibre factory in Iran. METHODS: This study reports a 16-year (1991-2007) experience of ongoing surveillance of work-related injuries in a large synthetic fibre factory. Descriptive statistics were used to show the overall characteristics of work-related injuries. Associations between external causes of injury and the odds of an accident occurring that led to hospital referral were examined using logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: In total, 836 injury events were reported. Almost half of these (46%) involved injury to hand/wrist, while about a quarter (24%) of injuries were to the head and 10% to ankle/foot. Hospital referral after an injury was related mainly to falls [odds ratio (OR) 3.24, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.72-6.12, P < 0.001] and to work involving moving machinery (OR 1.99, 95% CI 1.12-3.55, P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that falls are a serious safety concern in the workplace. The results also show that 80% of injury events affected hand/wrist, ankle/foot or head; a finding which could be used in injury prevention efforts.