Surgical treatment of physeal injuries of the lateral aspect of the clavicle: a case series

Lateral clavicular physeal injuries in adolescents are frequently misinterpreted as acromioclavicular dislocations. There are currently no clear guidelines for the management of these relatively rare injuries. Non-operative treatment can result in a cosmetic deformity, warranting resection of the non-remodelled original lateral clavicle. However, fixation with Kirschner (K)-wires may be associated with infection and/or prominent metalwork. We report our experience with a small series of such cases. Between October 2008 and October 2011 five patients with lateral clavicular physeal fractures (types III, IV and V) presented to our unit. There were four boys and one girl with a mean age of 12.8 years (9 to 14). Four fractures were significantly displaced and treated operatively using a tension band suture technique. One grade III fracture was treated conservatively. The mean follow-up was 26 months (6 to 42). All patients made an uncomplicated recovery. The mean time to discharge was three months. The QuickDASH score at follow-up was 0 for each patient. No patient developed subsequent growth disturbances. We advocate the surgical treatment of significantly displaced Grade IV and V fractures to avoid cosmetic deformity. A tension band suture technique avoids the problems of retained metalwork and the need for a secondary procedure. Excellent clinical and radiological results were seen in all our patients.

Congenital Descending Colonic Stenosis with Perforation of Transverse Colon in a Neonate: A Case Report

Colonic atresia and stenosis are rare causes of intestinal obstruction in the infant. Only 10 cases have been reported in Literature since 1966 and only one late-onset case has been reported in Literature until now. We describe the case of a 3 day old baby presenting with abdominal distension, failure to pass meconium and vomiting. X-ray of the abdomen showed dilated gut loops. Exploratory laparotomy was performed. At the junction of descending and sigmoid colon a stenosis was found, laparotomy also revealed a perforation of transverse colon. Transverse colostomy and a mucous fistula of sigmoid colon was performed after resecting stenosing segment and colon distal to perforation site upto stenosing site. Diagnosis was confirmed on histopathology. Colostomy was close after six weaks with uneventful recovery. Considering both the Literature and our case, congenital colonic stenosis should be considered one of the rare differential diagnoses in a neonate presenting as complete or partial intestinal obstruction. Key words: Colonic Stenosis; Perforation; Obstruction DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v32i1.5446   J. Nepal Paediatr. Soc. Vol.32(1) 2012 73-75  

Potentially avoidable emergency department attendance: interview study of patients' reasons for attendance

OBJECTIVES

To explore the reasons for attendance at the emergency department (ED) by patients who could have been managed in an alternative service and the rate of acute admissions to one acute hospital.

DESIGN

Interview study.

SETTING

One acute hospital (University Hospitals of Leicester) in the East Midlands.

PARTICIPANTS

23 patients and/or their carers.

METHODS

A purposive sample of patients attending the ED and the linked urgent care centre was identified and recruited. Patients in the sample were approached by a clinician and a researcher and invited to take part in an interview. Patients of different ethnicities and from different age groups, arriving at the ED via different referral routes (self-referral, emergency ambulance, GP referral, out-of-hours services) and attending at different times of the day and night were included. The interviews were recorded and transcribed with the individuals' permission and analysed using the framework analysis approach.

RESULTS

Patients' anxiety or concern about the presenting problem, the range of services available to the ED and the perceived efficacy of these services, patients' perceptions of access to alternative services including general practice and lack of alternative pathways were factors that influenced the decision to use the ED.

CONCLUSIONS

Access to general practice, anxiety about the presenting problem, awareness and perceptions of the efficacy of the services available in the ED and lack of alternative pathways are important predictors of attendance rates.

Characteristics of general practices associated with emergency-department attendance rates: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Strategies are needed to contain emergency-department attendance. Quality of care in general practice might influence the use of emergency departments, including management of patients with chronic conditions and access to consultations.

AIM

The aim was to determine whether emergency-department attendance rates are lower for practices with higher quality and outcomes framework performance and lower for practices with better patient reported access.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Two English primary-care trusts, Leicester City and Leicestershire County and Rutland, with 145 general practices.

METHOD

Using data on attendances at emergency departments in 2006/2007 and 2007/2008, a practice attendance rate was calculated for each practice. In a hierarchical negative binomial regression model, practice population characteristics (deprivation, proportion of patients aged 65 or over, ethnicity, gender) and practice characteristics (total list size, distance from the emergency department, quality and outcomes framework points, and variables measuring satisfaction with access) were included as potential explanatory variables.

RESULTS

In both years, greater deprivation, shorter distance from the central emergency department, lower practice list size, white ethnicity and lower satisfaction with practice telephone access were associated with higher emergency-department attendance rates.

CONCLUSIONS

Performance as indicated by the quality and outcomes framework did not predict rates of attendance at emergency departments, but satisfaction with telephone access did. Consideration should be given to improving access to some general practices to contain the use of emergency departments.

Characteristics of general practices associated with emergency admission rates to hospital: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

To identify characteristics of general practices associated with emergency hospital admission rates, and determine whether levels of performance and patient reports of access are associated with admission rates.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Two primary care trusts (Leicester City and Leicestershire County and Rutland) in the East Midlands of England.

PARTICIPANTS

145 general practices.

METHODS

Hospital admission data were used to calculate the rate of emergency admissions from 145 practices, for two consecutive years (2006/7 and 2007/8). Practice characteristics (size, distance from principal hospital, quality and outcomes framework performance data, patient reports of access to their practices) and patient characteristics (deprivation, ethnicity, gender and age), were used as predictors in a two-level hierarchical model, developed with data for 2007/8, and evaluated against data for 2006/7.

RESULTS

Practice characteristics (shorter distance from hospital, smaller list size) and patient characteristics (higher proportion of older people, white ethnicity, increasing deprivation, female gender) were associated with higher admission rates. There was no association with quality and outcomes framework domains (clinical or organisation), but there was an association between patients reporting being able to see a particular general practitioner (GP) and admission rates. As the proportion of patients able to consult a particular GP increased, emergency admission rates declined.

CONCLUSIONS

The patient characteristics of deprivation, age, ethnicity and gender are important predictors of admission rates. Larger practices and greater distance from a hospital have lower admission rates. Being able to consult a particular GP, an aspect of continuity, is associated with lower emergency admission rates.

Evaluation of existing curriculum (2002) of undergraduate medical education in Bangladesh

This study was conducted for evaluation of existing MBBS curriculum (2002) of undergraduate medical education in Bangladesh. The specific objectives of this study were: i) to assess the subject wise course content coverage in the new MBBS curriculum, ii) to assess different examination system for evaluation of MBBS students, iii) to evaluate the effectiveness of teaching and learning activities under the curriculum, iv) to explore students opinions regarding improvement of new curriculum. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The study was conducted among the students of Dhaka medical colleges of Bangladesh in 2008. Data was collected by self administered structured questioner adopting convenient sampling method. About ninety percent students opined that the coverage of course content of subjects in the curriculum in Phase I was enough. In case of the subjects in phase II except community medicine more than four fifth of the students expressed their opinion about coverage of course content in the curriculum as enough. In case of phase III it was mentioned by most of the students that coverage of course content was enough. Study revealed that teaching methods were perceived suitable by about three fourth of the respondents, to achieve learning objectives. Most of the students expressed their positive views regarding practice of block posting teaching. More than three fourth of the students perceived that formative assessment was encouraging for students to become time bound learner and Structured Oral Examination (SOE) was fair on an average. Only 31(8.6%) of the respondents had opinion that Objective Structured Practical Examination (OSPE)/Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) was not well organized. About half of the students opined that 20% marks in written test should be allocated for Multiple Choice Question (MCQ). Students' suggestions regarding teaching were: there should be smaller group sessions; more interactive sessions; more clinical and practical sessions; more problem oriented sessions; more sessions with senior and experienced teachers; teachers should follow the curriculum properly; and should be well prepared for class. Regarding assessment suggestions were: written script of the formative examination should be returned to students with feedback; teachers should not be biased. Study recommended that training of the teachers on teaching methodology and assessment system is needed; teachers should provide feedback to the students according to the performance of the formative assessment at the individual level; to maintain the standards of assessment proper planning, designing, conduction and evaluation of assessment should be taken into consideration; subject wise review and updating is essential to make the curriculum more need based, user friendly and applicable considering context of Bangladesh.

Sharps injuries in ophthalmic practice

PURPOSE

Accidental sharps injuries are a potential route for transmission of blood-borne infection to healthcare workers. Ophthalmic staff in particular are at risk of sustaining such injuries due to the microsurgical nature of the speciality. Forthcoming European Union legislation aimed at reducing sharps injuries requires the development of risk-based sharps policy. The authors believe that this is the first study to assess the risks of sharps injuries and their management specific to ophthalmic practice within the European Union.

METHODS

A retrospective review of all reported sharps injuries across three eye units in the UK over a period of 6 years was undertaken. Data were analysed to determine the circumstances surrounding the injury, occupation of the injured person, and whether appropriate actions were taken following incidents.

RESULTS

A total of 68 sharps injuries were reported over the 6-year period. Nurses sustained 54.4% (n=37) of needlestick injuries, doctors 39.7% (n=27), and allied healthcare staff 5.9% (n=4). In all 51.5% (n=35) of sharps injuries occurred in the operating theatre, 30.9% (n=21) in the outpatient clinic, 13.2% (n=9) on the ophthalmic ward, and 4.4% (n=3) in unspecified locations. There was a median rate of 1.3 sharps injuries per 1000 surgical procedures per year and a range of 0.4-3.5 per 1000.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates the need to raise awareness of the unique risks of sharps injuries in ophthalmic practice. This is necessary in order to develop speciality-specific policy that promotes strategies to reduce such injuries, enhances the accuracy of reporting of such events, and provides guidance for appropriate management.

Giant paravertebral myxoma

The study design includes case report and clinical discussion. The objective was to describe a rare case of a giant intramuscular myxoma (IMM) presenting as a mass in the paravertebral muscles. Myxoma is a rare benign soft tissue tumour of mesenchymal origin. Although intramuscular presentation is common, they are rare in the paravertebral muscles and are characteristically <5 cm in length. We report the clinical and imaging features in a 70-year-old woman presenting with back pain, asymmetry of the waist and a mass in right paravertebral region. This was originally misdiagnosed as a juxtafacet synovial cyst after CT-guided biopsy. The mass was excised en bloc and sent for histology. This revealed a low-grade myxoid neoplasm with features of an IMM. The patient went on to make a complete recovery. To our knowledge, this is only the fifth case of paravertebral IMM reported in the literature and at approximately 15 cm in length may be the largest encountered in clinical practice.

Reproductive factors and risks of biliary tract cancers and stones: a population-based study in Shanghai, China

BACKGROUND

Parity has been linked to gallbladder cancer and gallstones, but the effects of other reproductive factors are less clear.

METHODS

We examined 361 incident biliary tract cancer cases, 647 biliary stone cases, and 586 healthy women in a population-based study in Shanghai.

RESULTS

The effects of parity (odds ratios, OR(> or =3 vs 1 child)=2.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.7-5.1), younger age at first birth (OR(per 1-year decrease)=1.2, 95% CI 0.99-1.6), and older age at menarche (OR(per 1-year increase)=1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.8) on gallbladder cancer risk were more pronounced among women with stones, but the interactions were not significant.

CONCLUSION

Our results provide support for high parity, younger age at first birth, and late age at menarche in the development of gallbladder cancer, particularly among women with biliary stones.