Comparative assessment of a virtual performance measure with self-report and performance-based outcomes in patients with hip osteoarthritis.

Background: The purposes of this study were to examine the reliability and factorial and convergent validity of a virtual performance measure (VPM) in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip joint and to compare the known-group validity of the VPM with traditional self-report and performance-based outcomes.

Methods: The VPM score was based on the results of 10 videos showing increasing difficulty in performing specific functional tasks. Patients were requested to choose the video that best reflected their own level of function.

Maximizing Muscle Function in Cuff-Deficient Shoulders: A Rehabilitation Proposal for Reverse Arthroplasty.

Purpose: The purpose of this review is to describe the role of altered joint biomechanics in reverse shoulder arthroplasty and to propose a rehabilitation protocol for a cuff-deficient glenohumeral joint based on the current evidence. The proposed rehabilitation incorporates the principles of pertinent muscle loading while considering risk factors and surgical complications.

Results: In light of altered function of shoulder muscles in reverse arthroplasty, scapular plane abduction should be more often utilized as it better activates deltoid, teres minor, upper trapezius, and serratus anterior.

Acceptable levels of digital image compression in chest radiology.

The introduction of picture archival and communications systems (PACS) and teleradiology has prompted an examination of techniques that optimize the storage capacity and speed of digital storage and distribution networks. The general acceptance of the move to replace conventional screen-film capture with computed radiography (CR) is an indication that clinicians within the radiology community are willing to accept images that have been 'compressed'. The question to be answered, therefore, is what level of compression is acceptable.

Computerised tomography does not predict N2 disease in patients with lung cancer.

Background: Mediastinal node involvement in primary lung cancer determines the staging and prognosis of the patient, and as these nodes can be seen on the computerised tomography (CT) scan of the chest it is a temptation to diagnose malignant involvement if the nodes appear enlarged. However, initial experience with mediastinal node mapping at lung resection demonstrated this extrapolation to be unreliable and misinterpretation of enlarged nodes on CT may lead to misdiagnosis and prejudice the patient's management.

Aim: To demonstrate that the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the CT to detect malignant mediastinal nodes is too low to use size of node on CT as representative of malignant involvement.