Lead toxicity and management of gunshot wounds in the lumbar spine.

Introduction: Gunshot wounds are one of the commonest causes of spinal injury. Management of these patients differs from other blunt trauma injuries to the spine. We present a case of a gunshot wound to the lumbar spine that occurred in 1985 which was treated non-operatively.

Bowel perforation in intestinal lymphoma: incidence and clinical features.

Background: Perforation is a serious life-threatening complication of lymphomas involving the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Although some perforations occur as the initial presentation of GI lymphoma, others occur after initiation of chemotherapy. To define the location and timing of perforation, a single-center study was carried out of all patients with GI lymphoma.

Retrograde versus antegrade intramedullary nailing of gunshot diaphyseal femur fractures.

Background: The use of retrograde nailing for gunshot wound femur fractures is controversial due to concerns of knee sepsis after this procedure since the knee is entered to introduce the nail into the canal.

Questions/purposes: We compared retrograde and antegrade nailing for gunshot femur fractures to determine whether (1) knee sepsis or other adverse events were more likely to complicate procedures using retrograde nails, (2) there were differences in surgical time or blood loss, and (3) there were differences in radiographic union.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our prospective trauma database from 1999 to 2012 for patients with a diagnosis of gunshot and femur fracture.

From parenteral to enteral nutrition: a nutrition-based approach for evaluating postnatal growth failure in preterm infants.

Background: Nutrition practices for preterm infants include phases of parenteral nutrition (PN), full enteral nutrition (EN), and the transitional phase in between. Our aim was to identify the nutrition phases during which infants are most likely to exhibit poor growth that would affect risk for growth failure (GF) at discharge and to examine factors associated with GF.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on infants born <32 weeks' gestation.

Anterior internal fixator versus a femoral distractor and external fixation for sacroiliac joint compression and single stance gait testing: a mechanical study in synthetic bone.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the biomechanical stability and compressive forces across the sacroiliac (SI) joint of an anterior internal fixator compared to the femoral distractor and external fixator for vertically unstable pelvic fractures.

Methods: Five composite pelvises with a simulated APC type III injury fixed with a femoral distractor, external fixator, or anterior internal fixator were tested. A pressure-sensitive film (Tekscan) was placed in the disrupted SI joint recording the magnitude of force.

Sequential reduction and fixation for windswept pelvic ring injuries (LC3) corrects the deformity until healed.

Purpose: The restoration, and fixation, of normal pelvic anatomy after a windswept type injury can be a difficult endeavor and our purpose is to describe a method to accomplish this.

Methods: A stepwise and sequential technique was utilized to effectively reduce and stabilize this injury pattern. By first closing down the open disruption posteriorly and fixing with a partially threaded SI screw, a stable platform was created upon which to work from and subsequently distract and reduce the contralateral side via an anterior internal fixator (seven), external fixator (one), or plate (one).

The traumatic lower extremity amputee: surgical challenges and advances in prosthetics.

The mangled lower extremity is a challenging injury to treat. Orthopaedic surgeons treating patients with these severe injuries must have a clear understanding of contemporary advantages and disadvantages of limb salvage versus amputation. It is helpful to review the acute management of mangled extremity injuries in the civilian and military populations, to be familiar with current postoperative protocols, and to recognize recent advances in prosthetic devices.

Exploratory study to evaluate tolerability, safety, and activity of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in healthy volunteers.

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) (WS), a "rasayana" drug, is recommended for balavardhan and mamsavardhan. The study was intended to evaluate dose-related tolerability, safety, and activity of WS formulation in normal individuals. The design was prospective, open-labeled, variable doses in volunteers.

Biomechanical stability of a supra-acetabular pedicle screw internal fixation device (INFIX) vs external fixation and plates for vertically unstable pelvic fractures.

Background: We have recently developed a subcutaneous anterior pelvic fixation technique (INFIX). This internal fixator permits patients to sit, roll over in bed and lie on their sides without the cumbersome external appliances or their complications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the biomechanical stability of this novel supraacetabular pedicle screw internal fixation construct (INFIX) and compare it to standard internal fixation and external fixation techniques in a single stance pelvic fracture model.

Plasma cytokines in polycythemia vera: phenotypic correlates, prognostic relevance, and comparison with myelofibrosis.

Plasma cytokine milieu is abnormal in primary myelofibrosis (PMF) and correlates with disease phenotype and prognosis. In this study, we show that several plasma cytokines are also abnormally expressed in polycythemia vera (PV; n = 65), compared to normal controls (n = 35), but with a significantly different pattern than that of PMF (n = 127). Direct phenotypic correlation in PV included levels of IL-12 with hematocrit; IL-1b, IL-2, IL-7, FGF-b, and HGF with leukocytosis; and IFN-α and IFN-γ with thrombocytosis.

Sustaining cardiovascular absolute risk management in Australian general practice.

This study describes the attitudes and practices of patients and GPs 12 months after participating in a trial of absolute cardiovascular risk assessment in general practice. It involved a qualitative design using semistructured interviews with 12 Sydney GPs from the intervention arm of a cluster randomised controlled trial of cardiovascular absolute risk (CVAR) assessment and 15 of their moderate to high risk patients who participated in the assessments. Most GPs had sustained CVAR assessment in their practice, using it primarily to motivate patients to change their behaviour and adhere to management rather than to make decisions about pharmacotherapy or referral.

The bikini area and bikini line as a location for anterior subcutaneous pelvic fixation: an anatomic and clinical investigation.

Anterior external fixation for pelvic fractures has been the standard for acute stabilization but definitive treatment often leads to pin tract infection, is uncomfortable, and limits patient mobility. We recently developed a subcutaneous anterior pelvic fixator which addresses these issues (INFIX). The objective of this study is to introduce the Bikini Area and Bikini Line as the subcutaneous anatomical location where this apparatus is placed.

Lumbar pedicle screw placement: Using only AP plane imaging.

Background: Variations in the pedicle morphology and presence of spinal deformities can make pedicle screw placement challenging. Recently, computerized tomography (CT) guided screw placement has reportedly improved the surgical accuracy of pedicle screw insertion. However, it is time consuming and expensive.

Knee pain in patients with cancer after chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and bone marrow transplantation.

The causes of knee pain in patients with cancer with are different from those without cancer, and the purpose of this study was to evaluate these differences. Thirty-six patients with cancer who had knee pain who had undergone 1 or more modalities of treatment, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and bone marrow transplant, for a primary diagnosis of cancer were compared with a cohort of 40 patients without cancer who had knee pain. All patients were evaluated clinically and underwent radiographic examination, and some underwent computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging examination.

CT scanogram for limb length discrepancy in comminuted femoral shaft fractures following IM nailing.

Introduction: Leg length discrepancy (LLD) following intramedullary nailing of femoral fractures is not uncommon. We designed a prospective study to evaluate the efficacy of routine postoperative computed tomography (CT) scanograms for evaluation of limb length discrepancy in patients with comminuted Winquist III or IV femoral shaft fractures treated with intramedullary nailing.

Methods: The study consisted of 15 patients with Winquist III and 13 with a Winquist IV femoral shaft fracture pattern with an average age of 37 years.

Posterior lumbar spinal fusion and instrumentation in morbidly obese patients using the Synframe retractor system: technical note.

Purpose: Lumbar spine surgery in morbidly obese patients is a challenge to the operating surgeon. The aim of the study was to evaluate the surgical experience in this group of patients using the Synframe retractor system (Synthes, Paoli, PA, USA) as a tool for improved surgical access.

Methods: An Institutional Review Board approved retrospective study was conducted on 43 morbidly obese patients undergoing posterior lumbar decompression instrumentation and fusion.

Expert's comment concerning Grand Rounds case entitled "a novel 'pelvic ring augmentation construct' for lumbo-pelvic reconstruction in tumor surgery" (by Sathya Thambiraj, Daren Forward, James Thomas and Bronek Boszczyk).

Introduction: Historically, metastatic spine tumor surgery has been palliative for pain control, to maintain neurologic and ambulatory function. The thought of curing cancer with limited metastatic disease by resecting the primary and the metastatic lesions is becoming more common. Multilevel spondylectomy for resection of metastatic disease has been reported in the literature, mostly at the thoracic or lumbar level with some success.

Epstein-Barr virus-associated nephrotic syndrome.

Acute infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) causes fever, fatigue and pharyngitis. Renal involvement in systemic EBV infections typically manifests as acute tubular necrosis or tubulointerstitial nephritis. Rarely, EBV infection causes nephrotic syndrome due to minimal change disease.

Observational therapeutics: Scope, challenges, and organization.

The importance of Observational Therapeutics in the progress of medicine has been neglected in the current era of the hierarchal position imparted to Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) for new drug discovery and practice of evidence-based medicine. There is a need to reflect on the reason for many new drugs being withdrawn during post marketing surveillance. There are several examples in literature where drug-discovery has originated initially from keen clinical and / or laboratory observations.

Complications of anterior subcutaneous internal fixation for unstable pelvis fractures: a multicenter study.

Background: Stabilization after a pelvic fracture can be accomplished with an anterior external fixator. These devices are uncomfortable for patients and are at risk for infection and loosening, especially in obese patients. As an alternative, we recently developed an anterior subcutaneous pelvic internal fixation technique (ASPIF).