Post-operative management after total ankle arthroplasty: A systematic review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Currently, there is no consensus on the most appropriate post-operative management for patients undergoing total ankle arthroplasty. The aim of this study is therefore to offer a systematic review of the pertaining literature to identify current post-operative protocols and describe possible differences.

METHODS

A systematic review to identify recent studies concerning the post-operative management after total ankle arthroplasty was conducted. Five topics were analyzed: length of hospital stay, type and duration of immobilization, weight-bearing management, post-operative pharmacological therapies, adopted rehabilitation scheme.

RESULTS

Eighty-four studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review process. Most of the papers appear to have conflicting opinions with no consensus and homogeneous protocols.

CONCLUSION

Due to various methodological limitations, it is not possible to provide sufficiently supported evidence-based recommendations, and it is therefore difficult to determine the superiority of one post-operative protocol over the others after total ankle arthroplasty.

Childhood psychopathological antecedents in early onset schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE

To describe the premorbid state of early onset schizophrenia (EOS).

METHODS

Twenty-three adolescents with EOS were compared to a healthy control group (CG) and to a group of anorexic patients (AG). The premorbid state was studied through the CBCL and the data obtained were analyzed using ANOVA's and t-test.

RESULTS

During the premorbid period EOS showed significantly higher scores on all scales, relative to the CG, and only on some scales (social, thought and attention problems, and school competencies) relative to the AG.

CONCLUSIONS

Children who develop first episode psychosis during adolescence differ from children with normal development. The premorbid internalizing state is common to AG but social competencies and school problems are the most affected areas in EOS when compared to the AG. It is hypothesized that both EOS and AG can be considered as the expression of a previous vulnerability.

Early behavioral development in autistic children: the first 2 years of life through home movies

OBJECTIVE

The main aim of the research is to study the early behavioral development in autistic children through home movies.

METHODS

fifteen home movies, regarding the first 2 years of life of autistic children are compared with the home movies of 15 normal children. The films of the two groups were mixed and rated by blind ratings with the Grid for the Assessment of Normal Behavior in Infants and Toddlers. The grid is composed of 17 items grouped into three developmental areas: social competence, intersubjectivity and symbolic activity. For every area, we have identified specific children's behaviors.

RESULTS

Significant differences between the two groups are found both in the range of age 0-6 for intersubjectivity, and in the ranges of age 6-12 and 18-24 for symbolic activity.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors pose some hypotheses about an early-appearing impairment of intersubjectivity, the ability to represent other's state of mind, in subjects with autistic disorder.