[The elderly in the Italian traffic environment: analysis of mobility patterns and determinants for fatal outcomes]. / Gli anziani nel traffico stradale: analisi dei modelli di spostamento e dei determinanti per esiti letali.

Road traffic injuries among the elderly substantially differ from those seen in younger subjects in terms of crash mechanisms and injury profile. The study aimed at analysing road traffic injuries among subjects aged over 65 in terms of the magnitude of the problem, mobility patterns and risk factors for fatal outcomes. Mortality and morbidity rates for age groups (0-64; > or = 65) and for mobility pattern were computed annually from 1991-2005, based on the police reports of all road traffic crashes that occurred in Italy from 1991 to 2005. Crashes involving subjects aged over 65 were analysed through stepwise logistic regression with accident outcome (dead/ injured) as dependent variable and demographic, environmental, and crash factors as independent variables. A downward trend in mortality rates for road traffic injury among the elderly was registered: from 16.7 per 100,000 inhabitants in 1991 to 9.7 in 2005. On the contrary, the morbidity rates showed an 11% increase in the 15 years under analysis. When involved in a crash, an elderly aged over 85 had an almost four-fold risk of death compared to a subject aged 65-74 (OR 3.6; CI: 2.9-4.4). Older pedestrians were found to be the most vulnerable road users with a probability of dying for the impact 11 times that of car occupants (OR 10.9;CI: 7.9-15.1). A crash occurring among the elderly in the South of Italy appeared to lead to death to a greater extent than crashes occurring in the rest of Italy. Specific attention has to be paid to the elderly in the traffic environment: besides being more fragile, they are also considerably exposed to the traffic as vulnerable road users. Preventive interventions should target male elderly aged over 85, prioritizing interventions on pedestrians in the South of Italy.

[Factors predicting falls by patients with vascular hemiplegia at a physical medicine center]. / Facteurs prédictifs de la chute chez l'hémiplégique vasculaire en centre de médecine physique.

OBJECTIVES: To determine factors predicting falls by patients with vascular hemiplegia to establish a program aimed at preventing falls in this population. METHODS: A comparative prospective study performed over 19 months with 44 patients older than 16 years who had had a cerebral vascular accident (CVA, stroke) and were consequently admitted to the Centre Richelie. The exclusion criteria were represented by CVA history, evidence of another form of encephalic lesion, and subsequent admission to hospital after hemiplegia or for follow-up. Assessment consisted of taking note of the mechanism of the fall, possible lesions, and number of falls and analyzing follow-up after the return home. Also included for all patients was information on 20 variables that could be risk factors for fall. RESULTS: The patients' average age was 60.43+/-13.43 years and 20 had had at least one fall (mean 2.2), which allowed us to determine a "falling" group and a control group. Statistical analysis revealed the following factors considered to predict falls: large amount of time prior to hospitalization and lengthy hospitalization, low functional independence measure for entering and leaving, the existence of sensitivity disorders, spatial neglect, failed seated and standing equilibrium, and sedative treatment. In most cases, whatever their nature, falls occurred during transfers (68% of cases). Most often, the post-fall lesions were minor. However, in one case, a femur neck fracture necessitated osteosynthesis. One-third of the patients had a fall at home (as opposed to 5% of the control group). CONCLUSION: Our results confirm those in the literature. The predictive factors for falls in patients with hemiplegia are therefore well established and essentially correlate with the CVA. This consideration must lead to implementation of a prevention program including material-based as well as human measures.

Implantation of anterior sacral root stimulators combined with posterior sacral rhizotomy in spinal injury patients.

Brindley-Finetech sacral anterior root stimulators combined with posterior sacral rhizotomy were implanted in 68 males and 28 females with spinal cord lesions. In 9 patients the electrodes were implanted extradurally in the sacrum, and in 90 patients they were implanted intradurally (3 patients had a second extradural implant after a first intradural implant). Three patients died from causes unrelated to the implant. Of the 93 surviving patients, 83 used their implants for micturition and 82 were fully continent. The mean bladder capacity increased from 206 ml preoperatively to 564 ml after the operation. Three patients had a preoperative vesicorenal reflux that disappeared after surgery. In all, 51 patients used the stimulator for defecation. Erection was possible with electrical stimulation in 46 males and was used for coitus by 17 couples. Secondary deafferentation at the level of the conus was performed four times. Three patients who had a cerebrospinal fluid leak were operated on again. Two implants had to be removed because of infection. Sacral anterior root stimulation combined with sacral deafferentation is a welcome addition to the treatment of neurogenic bladder in spinal cord injury patients.

Systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy during cytoreductive surgery in advanced ovarian cancer: potential benefit on survival.

A case-control study was carried out to evaluate the potential benefit on survival of systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy (SL) during primary or secondary cytoreductive surgery on patients with Stage IIIC-IV of epithelial ovarian cancer. A total of 105 optimally cytoreduced (macroscopic disease < 2 cm on peritoneal surfaces) patients were divided into two groups: Group A, consisting of 60 patients (30 previously untreated and 30 pretreated at other institutions), underwent SL; Group B, consisting of 45 patients (23 previously untreated and 22 pretreated at other institutions), did not undergo SL. Consideration was given toward the inclusion of previously untreated and pretreated patients in two different groups for survival analysis. Each group had statistically equivalent stage, histology, grading, age, performance status, largest diameter metastasis (> 10 cm), type of surgery, and variety of cytoreductive operations performed. Group A patients had a longer median operation time than Group B patients (P = 0.01). SL could be carried out with an acceptable morbidity and no mortality. All 105 patients received postoperative chemotherapy including Carboplatin. Comparison on survival revealed that SL significantly improved the survival of previously untreated patients (P < 0.001). Cox's proportional analysis shows that SL was the most significant covariate, followed by stage of disease. The survival was not significantly different in Group A and Group B pretreated patients. Only stage of disease (III vs IV) significantly influenced the survival (P < 0.01). The results of the present study show that aggressive surgical cytoreduction with SL may be advisable only in previously untreated patients optimally cytoreduced. We also suggest the need for a randomized, prospective study to clarify the clinical role of SL.