Re-ossification of the pelvis following hemipelvectomy for trauma

We present a patient who underwent delayed sub-periosteal hemipelvectomy for control of infection and to enable soft-tissue cover after trauma. At four months after amputation, clinical examination and radiographs demonstrated almost complete re-ossification of the hemipelvis. This has allowed the patient to regain sitting balance and to use a walking prosthesis designed for patients following disarticulation of the hip. After 14 months from injury, no perineal hernia has developed, and no dysfunction of pelvic organs is attributable to heterotopic bone formation or adhesions. The patient's mobility with a prosthesis is similar to that expected of a through-hip amputee.

CA15-3, CASA, MSA, and TPS as diagnostic serum markers in breast cancer

This is the first comparison of the three mucin based tests CA15-3, CASA, and MSA, and the cytokeratin-related TPS assay in breast cancer. The mucin markers were superior to TPS in receiver-operator analysis, though no marker was of use in the diagnosis of malignancy due to low sensitivity. Using cutpoints that gave 95% specificity in benign disease (n = 83), corresponding sensitivities in pre-treatment breast cancer (n = 123: 13 in situ, 54 stage I, 45 stage II, 4 stage III, 7 stage IV) were 17% (CA15-3), 16% (CASA), 13% (MSA), and 8% (TPS), with a strong relationship between marker levels and disease stage. These assays did not always detect the same patients, and the use of CA15-3 combined with CASA gave the highest sensitivity (23%), though this was not significantly better than the use of CA15-3 alone. Despite detecting similar antigens, these assays can show markedly different responses in some patients, indicating that one mucin-based test cannot be substituted for another.

Carcinoma of the rectum. Profiles of intraoperative and early postoperative complications

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and risk factors that were significant in contributing the intraoperative and early postoperative complications for operations of carcinoma of the rectum.

METHODS

Between 1984 and 1986 inclusive, 426 patients underwent surgery for primary adenocarcinoma of the rectum. Cases of local excision were excluded. The relationship between each complication and nominal risk factors were studied. The types of surgery included an abdominoperineal resection, low anterior resection, low anterior resection with coloanal anastomosis, anterior resection, colostomy, and Hartmann's procedure.

RESULTS

There were two (0.5 percent) deaths. Intraoperative complications occurred in 34 (8 percent) patients. The most common intraoperative complication was presacral bleeding which occurred in 14 patients. Postoperative complications occurred in 214 (50 percent) patients. The two most common complications were urinary retention and urinary tract infection. Abdominoperineal resection had the highest early postoperative complication rate (59 percent). There were 17 clinical anastomotic leaks (7 percent in 221 patients with unprotected anastomoses). The development of complications reached statistical significance with increasing age (P = 0.003), male sex (P = 0.003), increasing weight (P = 0.006), and types of operative procedure (P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Operations for carcinoma of the rectum can be performed with low mortality. Although the overall early postoperative complications were high, the majority was not life-threatening and usually resolved with time and proper management.

The fate of patients following polypectomy alone for polyps containing invasive carcinoma

Eighty-two patients with colon and rectal polyps containing invasive adenocarcinoma treated by polypectomy alone were studied. Seven of 34 patients (21 percent) with sessile lesions had an adverse outcome, including five local recurrences and two distant metastases. They occurred from 4 to 68 months after the polypectomy. Forty-seven pedunculated polyps with invasion to the head (Level 1) or to the stalk (Level 3) and one polyp to the base of the stalk (Level 4) had no evidence of local recurrence or signs of metastasis. Twenty-eight percent of patients were found to have adenomatous polyps, and 4 percent had malignant polyps during the follow-up examinations (range, 3-119 months; mean, 53 months). The findings suggested that pedunculated polyps with invasion to the head (Level 1), neck (Level 2), or stalk (Level 3) can be safely treated with a complete polypectomy provided that the carcinoma is not undifferentiated. Sessile lesions as well as Level 4 pedunculated lesions should be treated aggressively. If resection is not performed, a long-term follow-up in these patients is essential.

Child cyclist injuries: a prospective study

A prospective study of pedalcycle accident morbidity and mortality was carried out from February to mid-November 1983 because of the high frequency of child cyclist injuries that were occurring on the relatively flat Redcliffe Peninsula. These injuries were apparently associated with the large number of young children who use a bicycle as their main mode of transport to and from school. The schools were surveyed for the extent of bicycle use and cyclists were surveyed for the amount of protective clothing that was worn while involved in cycling. It was found that a disturbingly large number of young children made regular bicycle trips on public roads with the minimal use of safety helmets or any other form of protective clothing. Nearly 40% of on-road accidents involved children of less than 12 years of age, and over 10% of these involved children of six years of age or less. No child in our series of on-road accidents was, at the time of injury, wearing a safety helmet or any other form of protective clothing. No bicycle accidents occurred on the exclusive cycle track of approximately 1 km in length on the Peninsula.

A new instrument for inserting intercostal catheters

A new instrument is described which allows blunt dissection through the muscles of the chest wall to the pleural cavity followed by subsequent passage of a suitable catheter through the open jaws of the instrument.