Therapeutic controversy: Obesity--a modern-day epidemic

This study reviewed 17 patients (24 great toes) treated by a single surgeon for hallux rigidus with a dorsal-closing wedge osteotomy of the proximal phalanx in conjunction with a moderate cheilectomy. The average age of patients was 47 years (range, 20-69 years). The minimum follow-up was 1 year (range, 1-16 years; median follow-up, 30 months), and all but five patients were studied for 2 years or more. Ninety-six percent of patients affirmed their decision to have surgery if they had to make the choice again. Subjectively, all patients improved. Preoperatively, 67% of the cases had severe pain by American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society criteria. Postoperatively, 58% had no pain and 42% had mild pain. There was 100% union rate of the osteotomy. Seven of 10 women and 1 of 7 men still had some restrictions on footwear options postoperatively. Recovery time from the patients' perspective was 2 to 12 months (average, 5.6 months). Based on the results of this study, the authors suggest that the addition of a dorsal-closing wedge osteotomy of the proximal phalanx increases patient satisfaction, compared with their review of patients treated by cheilectomy alone. The procedure provides good pain relief and has few complications.     

Multilevel anterior cervical corpectomy and fibular allograft fusion for cervical myelopathy

This study was conducted to determine the safety and efficacy of multilevel anterior cervical corpectomy and stabilization using fibular allograft in patients with cervical myelopathy. Thirty-six patients underwent this procedure for cervical myelopathy caused by spondylosis (20 patients), ossified posterior longitudinal ligament (four patients), trauma (one patient), or a combination of lesions (11 patients). The mean age (+/- standard deviation) of the patients was 58 +/- 10 years and 30 of the patients were men. The mean duration of symptoms before surgery was 30 +/- 6 months and 11 patients had undergone previous surgery. Prior to surgery, the mean Nurick grade of the myelopathy was 3.1 +/- 1.4. Seventeen patients also had cervicobrachial pain. Four vertebrae were removed in six patients, three in 19, and two in 11 patients. Instrumentation was used in 15 cases. The operative mortality rate was 3% (one patient) and two patients died 2 months postoperatively. Postoperative complications included early graft displacement requiring reoperation (three patients), transient dysphagia (two patients), cerebrospinal fluid leak treated by lumbar drainage (three patients), myocardial infarction (two patients), and late graft fracture (one patient). One patient developed transient worsening of myelopathy and three developed new, temporary radiculopathies. All patients achieved stable bone union and the mean Nurick grade at an average of 31 +/- 20 months (range 0-79 months) postoperatively was 2.4 +/- 1.6 (p < 0.05, t-test). Cervicobrachial pain improved in 10 (59%) of the 17 patients who had preoperative pain and myelopathy improved at least one grade in 17 patients (47%; p < 0.05). Twenty-six surviving patients (72%) were followed for more than 24 months and stable, osseous union occurred in 97%. These results show that extensive, multilevel anterior decompression and stabilization using fibular allograft can be achieved with a perioperative mortality and major morbidity rate of 22% and with significant improvement in pain and myelopathy.     

Long-term effects of continuous intrathecal opioid treatment in chronic pain of nonmalignant etiology

In the present retrospective investigation, the long-term effects of continuous intrathecal opioid therapy via implantable infusion pump systems were examined in 120 patients with chronic, nonmalignant pain syndromes. The follow-up period was 6 months to 5.7 years (mean 3.4 years +/- 1.3 standard error of the mean). Deafferentation pain and neuropathic pain showed the best long-term results, with 68% and 62% pain reduction (visual analog scale), respectively. The mean morphine dosage initially administered was 2.7 mg/day (range 0.3-12 mg/day); after an average of 3.4 years, it was 4.7 mg/day (range 0.3-12 mg/day). In a long-term observation of 28 patients who received intrathecal morphine for longer than 4 years. 18 patients (64.3%) had a constant dosage history and 10 patients (35.7%) showed an increase in morphine dosage to more than 6 mg/day 1 year after dosage determination. In seven cases, a tolerance developed: in four patients the tolerance was controlled by means of "drug holidays"; but in three patients it was necessary to remove the pump systems. Explantation of the pump system occurred in 22 additional cases for other reasons. Throughout the follow-up period, 74.2% of the patients profited from the intrathecal opiate therapy: the average pain reduction after 6 months was 67.4% and, as of the last follow-up examination, it was 58.1%. Ninety-two percent of the patients were satisfied with the therapy and 81% reported an improvement in their quality of life. The authors' 6-year experience with administration of intrathecal opioid medications for nonmalignant pain should encourage the use of this method in carefully selected patients.     

Effect of a bicycle safety program and free bicycle helmet distribution on the use of bicycle helmets by elementary school children

A retrospective follow-up study was performed on 40 patients, in which tuberculous spondylitis was treated conservatively between 1969 and 1985 with orthotic supports for an average of 16 months (range, 10-30 months) and with anti-tuberculous agents. All had persistent back pain, but none had neurological deficits. The mean follow-up period was 17 years (range, 10-26 years). Diagnosis was confirmed histopathologically. The spinal segments involved ranged from T5 to L5. The kyphotic angle was calculated according to Cobb. At final follow-up, 22 patients were pain free, 11 had occasional pain, 6 complained of pain in the morning, and 1 had chronic pain and needed frequent analgesics. Solid bony union was found in 75% of patients. The kyphotic deformity occurred in the thoracic spine with a mean angle of 20 degrees (range, 13-28 degrees) and in the lumbar spine with a mean angle 12 degrees (range, 5-26 degrees). The long-term follow-up of conservative treatment showed only slightly increased kyphosis. Conservative treatment is an alternative to surgical intervention in cases with kyphosis < 35 degrees.     

Endophthalmitis after filtering surgery with mitomycin

OBJECTIVE: To identify the incidence, causative organisms, and clinical outcomes of eyes with bleb-associated endophthalmitis after glaucoma filtering procedures with adjunctive mitomycin. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 773 consecutive eyes that underwent glaucoma filtering surgery at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, Fla. The course of 609 eyes from 485 patients with a minimum of 3 months of follow-up were reviewed. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 16.0 +/- 11.5 months (range, 3-48 months). Of the 609 eyes, 13 (2.1%) developed bleb-associated endophthalmitis an average of 18.5 +/- 13.2 months after surgery (range, 1-45 months). The incidence of bleb-associated endophthalmitis was significantly greater after inferior trabeculectomy (7.8% per patient-year) than after superior trabeculectomy (1.3% per patient-year) by Kaplan-Meier estimates (P = .02, log rank test). The cumulative incidence was 13% for inferior limbal blebs and 1.6% for superior limbal blebs. Nine (69.2%) of the 13 eyes were culture positive. Streptococcus sanguis and Haemophilus influenzae (6/13 [46.2%]) were the most frequent causative organisms. The mean increase in intraocular pressure after endophthalmitis treatment was 1.2 mm Hg, with a mean decrease in visual acuity of 1.42 logMAR units. Eight (61.5%) of the 13 eyes had a final acuity of 20/400 or better. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of bleb-associated endophthalmitis after guarded filtering surgery performed with adjunctive mitomycin is higher than the reported rate in eyes undergoing filtering surgery without the use of antifibrotic agents (0.2%-1.5%). Inferior limbal trabeculectomy carries the highest risk of infection. Eyes with mitomycin blebs maintained excellent filtration capacity. However, after treatment of the infection, the visual outcomes were generally poor.     

Long-term results of surgery for adenoid cystic carcinoma of the trachea and bronchi

AIMS: Over a period of 26 years, 16 patients (9 women, 7 men) underwent surgery for primary adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the trachea and bronchi. The median age at diagnosis was 41.4 years (range 25-67). Nine tumours were located in the bifurcational area, five in the trachea, one in the middle-lobe bronchus and one in the parenchyma of the left lower lobe. METHODS: Surgical procedures were as follows: three tracheal transversal resections; five resections of the distal trachea including the bifurcational region, followed by bifurcational reconstruction; two right-sleeve pneumonectomies; three left-sleeve pneumonectomies; two lobectomies; and one explorative sternotomy. RESULTS: Eleven patients were available for follow-up at least 5 years after surgery. Three of these patients (27%) had local recurrence 155+/-30 (range 120-175) months after surgery. Distant metastases occurred in six patients (55%) after a median time interval of 96+/-68 (range 24-180) months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Five-year and 10-year survivals were excellent, 79 and 57% respectively, but the long-term outcome was poor due to late local recurrences and late metastatic spread. It is not yet certain whether a cure can really be achieved in ACC.     

Clinical evaluation of hexagonal keratotomy for the treatment of primary hyperopia

We evaluated the effectiveness of spiral hexagonal keratotomy in correcting primary hyperopia in 199 eyes. One hundred eighty-four eyes (92.5%) had a minimum follow-up of three months. Mean follow-up was 11.9 months and maximum, 36.2 months. Secondary astigmatic keratotomy was performed on 54 eyes six to eight months after initial hexagonal surgery to correct induced astigmatism. The mean reduction in spherical equivalent was -1.6 +/- 0.9 diopters (D) (range -5.6 to +0.9 D). The mean increase in refractive cylinder was +0.5 +/- 0.9 D (range -2.3 to +3.0 D). Uncorrected acuity improved by +3.2 lines, while best corrected acuity decreased slightly by -0.26 lines. Loss of two or more lines of best corrected acuity that was attributable to surgery was between 0.5% and 4.0%.     

Amniotic fluid for screening of lysosomal storage diseases presenting in utero (mainly as non-immune hydrops fetalis)

PURPOSE: We studied the efficacy and safety of a recent technique of keratomileusis for myopia, excimer laser in situ keratomileusis. METHODS: We studied retrospectively 88 eyes of 63 patients who received excimer laser in situ keratomileusis with the Chiron Automated Corneal Shaper and the Summit OmniMed laser under a hinged corneal flap without sutures. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 5.2 months. Mean spherical equivalent of the manifest refraction before surgery was -8.24 diopters (range, -2.00 to -20.00 diopters). Mean spherical equivalent refraction after surgery was +0.22 +/- 1.42 diopters. Of 40 eyes with a baseline refraction from -2.00 to -6.00 diopters, 25 eyes (63%) had refraction within +/- 0.50 diopter of emmetropia, and 37 eyes (93%) had refraction within +/- 1.00 diopter. In eyes with baseline refraction of -6.12 to -12.00 diopters, postoperative refraction was within +/- 1.00 diopter in 19 (65%) of 29 eyes. In eyes with baseline refraction of -12.10 to -20.00 diopters, postoperative refraction was +/- 1.00 diopter in eight (43%) of 19 eyes. Overall, 64 (72.8%) of 88 eyes had a refraction within +/- 1.00 diopter after surgery. Between three weeks and five months after surgery the change in the mean spherical equivalent refraction was -0.61 diopter in the myopic direction. Uncorrected visual acuity after surgery was 20/20 or better in 31 eyes (36%) and 20/40 or better in 61 eyes (71%). Three eyes (3.6%) lost two lines or more of spectacle-corrected visual acuity, two from progressive myopic maculopathy and one from irregular astigmatism. No eyes had vision-threatening complications. CONCLUSION: Excimer laser in situ keratomileusis under a corneal flap can be an effective method of reducing myopia between -2.00 and -20.00 diopters, with minimal complications. Current surgical algorithms need modification to improve predictability of outcome. Stability of refraction after surgery requires further study.     

The Graf stabilisation system: early results in 50 patients

The results of the first 50 consecutive patients using the Graf stabilisation system are presented. The average age of the patients was 41 years; there were 32 women and 18 men in the group. All patients suffered from intractable symptomatic degenerative disc disease which could be localised to one or more levels. All patients gave a history of chronic back pain, but the mean period of severe disability was 24 months. The mean preoperative disability score (Oswestry questionnaire) was 59%. The average period of follow-up was 24 months (range 19-36 months). At the latest review, the mean disability score was 31%. The clinical results were classified as "excellent" or "good" in 72% of patients, "fair" in 10%, "the same" in 16% and "worse" in 2%. All but three patients felt that surgery was worthwhile. The results have not deteriorated over the period of follow-up.     

Pulmonary complications in AIDS: CT appearances

We investigated 33 cervical spinal cord injury patients (25 males and eight females) without bony injury. Patients whose neurologic recovery had reached a plateau and who had evidence on imaging of persistent spinal cord compression were considered candidates for surgical decompression. When imaging did not show spinal cord compression or patients were maintaining a good neurologic recovery from the early days after injury, we pursued conservative treatment. Age at injury varied from 20 to 76 years (mean, 55.6). Average follow-up was 31 months. Twelve patients were treated conservatively (Group 1). Groups 2 and 3 had surgery. Group 2 (14 cases) had multi-level compression of spinal cord due to pre-existing cervical spine conditions such as ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament, cervical canal stenosis, and cervical spondylosis. Group 3 (7 cases) patients existed single-level compression of spinal cord by cervical disc herniations or spondylosis. We evaluated clinical results according to the Frankel classification, the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scales and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores. Overall improvement of JOA and ASIA scores after treatment was 56.3 +/- 35.5% and 67.1 +/- 38.0%, respectively. Patients in Group 1 showed very good recovery after conservative treatment, with improvement of JOA and ASIA scores being 70.4 +/- 40.2% and 77.4 +/- 34.2%, respectively. The average interval between injury and operation was 4.3 +/- 4.4 months. The improvement of the surgically treated patients (Groups 2 and 3) in JOA and ASIA score was 48.2 +/- 30.7% and 61.2 +/- 39.6% respectively. We obtained good neurological recovery after operation, with significantly more improvement in Group 3 than in Group 2. No significant neurologic recovery had occurred preoperatively in these groups. In such patients operative intervention is essential for neurologic recovery.     

Range of motion and complications after postburn heterotopic bone excision about the elbow

OBJECTIVE: To review the results of surgical management of heterotopic ossification about the elbow in burned patients. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis with long-term patient follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eleven patients with 16 elbows requiring surgery were admitted between January 1, 1982 and December 31, 1993. A posterior approach to the elbow with release of the encased ulnar nerve +/- anterior transposition and transolecranon osteotomy to access extensive bone formation in the olecranon fossa was employed. Eight patients (11 elbows) were available for long-term follow-up conducted at mean 50 +/- 13 months after surgery. Long-term follow-up consisted of measurement of range of elbow motion, as well as clinical assessment of ulnar nerve function. MAIN RESULTS: For the 11 elbows examined postoperatively, the mean range of motion preoperatively in flexion-extension was 11 degrees +/- 5 degrees compared to 89 degrees +/- 12 degrees postoperatively (p < 0.001). Three patients with poor long-term results had ankylosis of the joint preoperatively. Of four patients with ulnar nerve paresis preoperatively, none had ulnar nerve dysfunction at follow-up. Of 16 elbows operated on, four (25%) had postoperative complications. Two suffered soft-tissue breakdown with hardware exposure requiring abdominal flap closure, one early failure of olecranon fixation, and one late infected hardware. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery for both limited range of motion as well as ulnar nerve compression is effective in cases of heterotopic ossification about the elbows of burned patients. Early operative intervention is indicated in progressive disease, particularly ulnar nerve palsy, if soft-tissue quality is adequate. Complications with 25% of elbows suggest that use of olecranon osteotomy for joint access may warrant review.     

Motor programming of response force and movement direction

The aim of this study was to assess the results of mitral valvuloplasty for chronic asymptomatic or paucisymptomatic mitral regurgitation. Of 584 patients operated for chronic mitral regurgitation between January 1989 and December 1994, 175 were in NYHA Classes I and II and made up the study population. All had chronic grade 3 or 4/4 mitral regurgitation suitable for mitral valvuloplasty. The average follow-up was 34.3 months. Mitral valvuloplasty was performed in 174 patients, the other patient requiring mitral valve replacement. Three patients died (1.7%) and the actuarial 5 year survival was 98.2 +/- 1.0%. The probability of absence of reoperation and absence of thrombo-embolic complications at 5 years were 97 +/- 0.8% and 96.3 +/- 1.7% respectively. The residual regurgitation at Doppler echocardiography was minimal or absent in 94% of patients at the last follow-up control. The mean end-systolic and end-diastolic left ventricular dimensions decreased from 40.0 +/- 6.8 mm and 64.8 +/- 7.0 mm before surgery to 34.6 +/- 6.7 mm (p < 0.001) and 52.7 +/- 7.4 mm (p < 0.001) at the last control. The authors conclude that conservative mitral valve surgery for NYHA Classes I and II patients with chronic mitral regurgitation is feasible with a low risk and is associated with a significant reduction in ventricular volumes and stability of valvular continence at medium-term. When performed by teams trained in techniques of mitral valvuloplasty, these results suggest that surgery should be performed early.     

Ulcerative colitis and coexisting colorectal cancer: recurrence rate after restorative proctocolectomy

BACKGROUND: The association between mucosal ulcerative colitis (MUC) and adenocarcinoma is well established. METHODS: Records of patients who had undergone restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) from 1983 through 1992 were examined. Of these, 604 had MUC and 27 (4.3%) had MUC with coexisting cancer. Patients were surveyed annually for recurrent disease. Pouch function and quality of life were evaluated with a questionnaire and physical examination. RESULTS: The duration of disease was longer (p = 0.001) in patients with cancer (16.1 +/- 8.0 years) than in those without cancer (9.1 +/- 7.1 years), although the mean age at diagnosis of MUC was the same. Of the 27 patients, 20 had colon cancer and seven had rectal cancer. Multicentricity was found in seven (25.9%) patients. Using the TNM staging classification, 14 patients (51.8%) had stage 1 cancer, eight (29.6%) had stage 2, four (14.8%) had stage 3, and one (3.8%) had stage 4. The patient with stage 4 cancer died 5 months after surgery and was excluded from the follow-up analysis. During a mean follow-up time of 4.3 +/- 2.6 years, cancer recurred in two of the remaining 26 patients (7.7%). In one patient, a local recurrence was found 8 months after surgery, and distant metastases were found in the other patient 35 months after surgery. Both recurrences were in patients with colon cancer. Two of the 26 patients died; one death was related to cancer recurrence (3.8%). Pouch function is good to excellent in all surviving patients. CONCLUSIONS: Restorative proctocolectomy for patients with MUC and coexisting colorectal cancer can be performed with a favorable prognosis and function. It is appropriate for curative intent, given that an adequate margin without tumor is obtained.     

Effects of tobacco smoking on salivary immunoglobulin levels in immunodeficiency

The extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) tendon is the only wrist motor tendon that broadly connects with the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) of the wrist. The goal of this study was to determine the biomechanical effect of the TFCC on the function of the ECU. The effect of avulsion of the TFCC on the changes in mechanics of the ulnar wrist extensor tendon was investigated in 8 fresh-frozen cadaver forearms. Excursion of the ECU tendon was continuously recorded over the functional range of wrist extension and ulnar deviation in intact wrists, wrists with ulnar styloid fractures, wrists with TFCC release from the distal ulna, and after excising the distal ECU tendon sheath. The ECU tendon demonstrated a 30% increase in excursion during wrist extension after release of the TFCC from its attachment on the distal ulna. During 60 degrees of wrist extension, excursion of the ECU tendon was 4.8+/-1.9 mm in the intact wrists and 6.3+/-2.0 mm after TFCC release. This change in excursion represented 1.4 mm of bowstringing for the ECU tendon during 60 degrees of wrist extension. Further incision of the distal part of the extensor sheath produced only 6% increase in excursion of the ECU. Results of this study suggest that the TFCC is an important component of the pulley for the ulnar wrist extensor. These findings imply that disturbance of the wrist extensor after TFCC injury may potentially contribute to abnormal loading and force transmission through the ulnar wrist and the TFCC, and support the growing consensus that integrity of the TFCC should be restored in the presence of TFCC injuries.     

Hemi-arthroplasty--primary or secondary measure for 3- and 4-fragment fractures of the proximal humerus in the elderly?

Successful treatment of three- and four-part proximal humerus fractures is a therapeutic challenge to the surgeon, particularly in the case of elderly patients. Open reduction and internal fixation have been advocated, but have not consistently produced acceptable results. The results of humeral head replacement as a salvage procedure after non-union or failed open reduction and internal fixation are less predictable. The outcome of hemiarthroplasty (Neer II) performed for three- and four-part proximal humerus fractures in elderly patients was studied. The average patient follow-up was 42.9 months (range 5-98). Eighteen women and eight men with an average age of 64.5 years were evaluated according to the UCLA. Constant-Murley and HSS Score. A Visual Score (0-100 points) was also used. Hemiarthroplasty was performed in 11 patients within 4 weeks of trauma and in 15 patients after 4 weeks. Fair, good, or excellent results were achieved in 80% (UCLA and Visual), 73% (HSS) and 46% (Constant-Murley) of the patients, respectively. Ninety-six percent of the patients reported only slight or no pain. The range of motion was limited in almost all cases. The outcome was not significantly influenced by age, sex and follow-up time. However, there was a significant correlation between the outcome and the length of time between injury and humeral head replacement (r = -0.5). The outcome after early hemiarthroplasty was better than after late humeral head replacement (UCLA: 27.1 +/- 4.6 vs 22.5 +/- 5.6 P = 0.04; Constant-Murley: 65.6 +/- 18.5 vs 47.5 +/- 18.6, P = 0.02; HSS: 74.0 +/- 14.4 vs 63.5 +/- 17.6, P = 0.17). Self-assessment did not differ between these two groups. After early hemiarthroplasty, active forward flexion was significantly better. This study indicates that early humeral head replacement for three- and four-part proximal humerus fractures in elderly patients achieved better functional outcome than delayed humeral head replacement. The decision to perform prosthetic humeral head replacement in these cases should be made as early as possible after trauma.     

Cardiac pacing following surgery for acquired heart disease

BACKGROUND: This study is comprised of 3493 consecutive patients who underwent open heart surgery at our institution. Data on all patients were collected prospectively. METHODS: In 45 patients (Group P) (1.3%), a permanent pacemaker (PP) was inserted postoperatively. For the purpose of the study, these patients were compared to 3448 patients (Group NP) who did not require insertion of a PP after surgery. Mean follow-up was 33 months (range 1.5 to 66). RESULTS: We found Group P patients were older (64.8 +/- 11.0 vs 61.0 +/- 11.0 years, p < 0.05), had a higher proportion of elderly (> 70 years) 36% vs 19%, p = 0.01), and of female patients (48.8% vs 22.7%, p < 0.001) compared to Group NP. Group P also had a higher incidence of preoperative rhythm abnormalities (26.6% vs 5.7%, p < 0.0001), redo surgery (13.3% vs 4.6%, p = 0.02), aortic valve surgery (48.8% vs 10.8%, p < 0.001), and tricuspid valve surgery (repair 3, replacement 1) (8.8% vs 0.5%, p < 0.001), in addition to a higher proportion of patients in whom cold (vs warm) blood cardioplegia was used (68.8% vs 52.3%, p = 0.03). Indication for postoperative PP was sick sinus syndrome (SSS) in nine patients; atrial fibrillation in eight patients; atrioventricular block (AVB) in 27 patients; and combined AVB/SSS in 1 patient. There were no operative deaths in Group P. Necessity for PP after heart surgery had a significant impact on resource utilization resulting in prolonged ventilation (3.1 +/- 7.5 vs 1.4 +/- 3.3 days, p < 0.01), intensive care unit (5.1 +/- 10.2 vs 2.5 +/- 4.0 days, p < 0.01), and postoperative hospital stay (18.0 +/- 13.4 vs 8.1 +/- 9.4 days, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: By multivariate logistic regression (odds ratio and p value in parentheses), aortic valve surgery (8.23, p = 0.001), the absence of preoperative sinus rhythm (5.60, p = 0.001), postoperative myocardial infarction (3.46, p = 0.024), and female gender (2.52, p = 0.003), were found to be independent predictors for PP requirement post surgery.     

Trauma patients 75 years and older: long-term follow-up results justify aggressive management

BACKGROUND: Long-term survival rate and functional status after trauma for one of the fastest growing segments of the population, patients 75 years and older, is poorly documented. METHODS: Trauma patients 75 years and older who were discharged from our Level I trauma center between June 1988 and July 1992 (n = 279) were contacted by mail or phone. Public death records were used to identify patients who had died. A stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed to determine predictors of poor outcome (death within 6 months). Main outcome measures included mortality and self-assessed functional status. RESULTS: A minimum 4-year follow-up was obtained for 81% of the 279 study patients. The mean follow-up period was 5.4 +/- 1.1 years. Mean age at time of injury was 81 +/- 5 years (range, 75-101 years); mean Injury Severity Score was 9.4 +/- 7.7. At follow-up, 132 patients (47%) had died, 93 patients (33%) were contacted, and 54 patients (19%) could not be located. Twelve percent of patients survived less than 6 months after discharge. Poor survival was predicted by preexisting diseases (dementia, p = 0.001; hypertension, p = 0.02; and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, p = 0.05) and not by age or severity of injury. The mean age of patients still living was 85 +/- 3.9 years (range, 79-99 years), and 77 of 93 patients were living in an independent setting (33 alone, 44 with spouse or family); of these, 57% reported no difficulties in performing 12 of 14 activities of daily living. CONCLUSION: Despite higher than expected mortality after discharge, aggressive management of trauma patients 75 years and older is justified by the favorable long-term outcome.     

Veterinary ethics in the liberalized market: the Zambian environment

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to assess the functional capacity of the survivors of septal myectomy for the treatment of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy in long-term follow-up as assessed by dobutamine stress echocardiography. METHODS: Sixty-nine patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy underwent septal myectomy between 1975 and 1996. The mean age was 25.4 +/- 13.6 years (range, 6-58 years), and 10 of the patients were women. The early mortality was 4.3%. Hospital survivors (95.7%) were followed up for a mean of 43.8 +/- 28.7 months (range, 6-114 months). RESULTS: The postoperative mean functional capacity of the group was 1.47 +/- 0.56. No late deaths were reported. Forty-nine patients (74.2%) were evaluated with standard echocardiographic techniques, and 29 (43.9%) patients underwent dobutamine stress echocardiography. There was a significant decrease in the thickness of the interventricular septum after surgery. The mean preoperative and postoperative septal thickness was 1.99 +/- 0.59 cm (range, 1.3-3.8 cm) and 1.55 +/- 0.41 cm (range, 0.96-2.8 cm), respectively (p < 0.004). The mean posterior wall thickness was significantly less than the preoperative value (p = 0.008) and the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter was slightly greater in the postoperative measurements, but the difference was not significant (p = 0.162). Postoperative left ventricular outflow systolic gradients were reduced significantly when compared with preoperative values (preoperative mean, 78.4 +/- 33.6 mm Hg, range, 50-212 mm Hg versus postoperative mean, 17.9 +/- 15.9 mm Hg: range, 0-40 mm Hg; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Septal myectomy for patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy is a safe procedure with excellent clinical and functional results in the long-term follow-up.     

Fruit consumption, fitness, and cardiovascular health in female adolescents: the Penn State Young Women''s Health Study

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the outcome of early and late suture removal after the triple procedure (i.e., penetrating keratoplasty, cataract extraction, lens implant). DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: The refractive and keratometric results of 106 eyes undergoing the triple procedure were reviewed. The target postoperative refractive error was -1 diopter (D). RESULTS: Average length of follow-up was 40.3 months. Twenty eyes had sutures removed early (<18 months after surgery), 39 had sutures removed late (> or = 18 months after surgery), and 47 had sutures still intact at last follow-up. A best spectacle-corrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better was achieved in 90% of eyes with sutures removed early, 82.1% with sutures removed late, and 70.2% with sutures in place. For all eyes, the mean spherical equivalent at last follow-up was -2.50 D, with 75% of eyes falling between -4 and +2 D. The mean final refractive error was -3.40 +/- 3.53 D for eyes with sutures removed early and -1.79 +/- 3.99 D for eyes with sutures removed late. Eyes with sutures remaining had a mean final refractive error of -0.33 +/- 2.25 D. There was an overall decrease in refractive and keratometric astigmatism after both early and late suture removal with no significant difference between groups. However, there was a wide range of change with some eyes experiencing a decrease and others an increase in astigmatism. Mean postoperative K readings increased significantly for both groups after suture removal (final mean K, 47.00 D) but remained stable for eyes with sutures in. CONCLUSION: The authors data suggest that the final refractive error and net change in refractive and keratometric astigmatism after the triple procedure are not dependent on the timing of suture removal.     

Pyloric muscle in asymptomatic infants: sonographic evaluation and discrimination from idiopathic hypertrophic pyloric stenosis

Nissen fundoplication is now the most common antireflux operation for gastroesophageal reflux disease. This study is a report on the laparoscopically performed floppy Nissen procedure. Two hundred consecutive patients were analyzed (84 women, 116 men, mean age 49 years, mean duration of symptoms 5 years) after laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication between 1992 and 1996. The main indications for surgery were daily heartburn, retrosternal pain, and regurgitation demanding continuous medical therapy. Eight patients (4%) had esophageal stricture, and 21 (11%) had Barrett's esophagus with intestinal metaplasia. All patients underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, 24-h esophageal pH monitoring, and esophageal manometry before and 3 months after the operation. In addition, a questionnaire was completed an average of 2.2 years (range 1.0-4.6) after the operation. The results of the study were as follows: mortality was zero, and the morbidity rate was 5%. The mean hospital stay was 3.8 +/- 2.8 days, and sick leave was 14.3 +/- 10.4 days. Postoperatively, esophagitis was healed or significantly improved in all but 4 patients (98%), and 24-h pH and lower esophageal sphincter pressure were normal. After 2 years, 87% of the patients had Visick scores of I-II. It is concluded that laparoscopic floppy Nissen fundoplication provides an efficient and safe alternative for surgical treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease.