Revista da Associacao Medica Brasileira (1992)
-
Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992) · Apr 2016
ReviewInitial approach to patients with acute lower back pain.
Low back pain is in one of the most common reasons for seeking medical care in emergency care units, and also the second most common cause of work absenteeism. The recognition of red flags for serious diseases such as tumors and fractures, through proper history-taking and clinical examination, is essential for proper treatment and to rule out differential diagnoses. ⋯ Most patients will have complete improvement of symptoms after a few months, but a minority can develop chronic low back pain or present with recurrent episodes. The proper understanding of all of the above can optimize results and avoid diagnostic and therapeutic errors.
-
Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992) · Apr 2016
Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients with diabetic foot ulcer.
Diabetic foot is one of the most serious complications of diabetes affecting about 15% of all diabetes patients, and it is the leading cause of nontraumatic lower limb amputations. This study presents a sociodemographic and clinical characterization of patients with diabetic foot ulcer indicated for amputation surgery. ⋯ The social demographic variables play an important role in diabetic foot ulceration. Given that the neuropathic ulcers are more easily preventable, systematic monitoring of patients with neuropathy is important. In patients with neuroischemic foot, strategies to cope or manage more efficiently the pain are paramount. Intervention should be multidisciplinary and take into account sociodemographic and clinical factors, as well as the presence, intensity and interference of pain in the patient's daily life activities and whether the patient has family or caregiver support.