Medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Evaluation of a combined posterior lateral and anteromedial approach in the treatment of terrible triad of the elbow: A retrospective study.
This retrospective study aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of a combined posterior lateral and anteromedial approach in the treatment of terrible triad of the elbow (TTE). ⋯ Patients with TTE who received a combined posterior lateral and anteromedial treatment had an increased fracture healing rate, showed improved recovery of elbow functions and had fewer complications.
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Case Reports Observational Study
Emergency 1-stage anterior approach for cervical spine infection complicated by epidural abscess.
It was a retrospective analysis. The aim of the study was to explore the safety and reliability of emergency 1-stage radical debridement and reconstruction using titanium mesh filled with autologous bone for patients with cervical spine infection complicated by epidural abscess. At present, cervical spine infection complicated by epidural abscess is known as a severe spine disease. ⋯ WBC, ESR, and CRP became normal after the operation (P < .05). Postoperative follow-up imaging results showed no significant loss of cervical curvature, collapse of the grafted bone or implant displacement but good spinal canal volume. Emergency 1-stage radical debridement and reconstruction using titanium mesh filled with autologous bone, combined with antibiotic chemotherapy, is a safe and effective surgical therapy for cervical infection complicated by epidural abscess.
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Observational Study
PIVKA-II is a useful tool for diagnostic characterization of ultrasound-detected liver nodules in cirrhotic patients.
Protein induced by vitamin K absence-II (PIVKA-II) is a potential screening marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Limited data are available about its utility in discriminating neoplastic from regenerative nodules at ultrasonography (US) evaluation in cirrhotic patients. Aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic utility of PIVKA-II in cases showing liver nodules of uncertain diagnosis at US. ⋯ ROC curves showed that PIVKA-II had 60% sensitivity, 88% specificity, 80% positive predictive value (PPV), and 73% negative predictive value (NPV), whereas AFP had 67% sensitivity, 68% specificity, 63% PPV, and 72% NPV. AUROC curves showed that the combination of both biomarkers increased the diagnostic accuracy for HCC (AUC 0.76; sensitivity 70%, specificity 94%, PPV 91%, and NPV 79%). In conclusion, PIVKA-II is a useful tool for the diagnostic definition of US-detected liver nodules in cirrhotic patients, and it provides high diagnostic accuracy for HCC when combined with AFP.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The effect of public reporting presentation on patients' decision making: An experimental survey in Yunan Province, China.
Public reporting of comparative performance information (PRCPI) influence patients' decision making and optimal presentation of PRCPI is urgently required for successful patients' engagement and quality improvement. This study was to explore the presentation of PRCPI impacting on consumers' decision making. This research applied a controlled design, with participants allocated randomly to 6 groups, and a total of 515 participants were recruited in Yunnan province. ⋯ Other aspects of PRCPI showed nonsignificant impacts on consumers' decision making. Presentation, including information display and ranking, can influence patients' correct usage of PRCPI and the effect was mainly observed when the patients were identifying poorly performing physicians. The present study demonstrated that numerical and ranked PRCPI, combined with sufficient patient education, could be most effective to facilitate patient use.
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Case Reports
Discordant lumbar epidural hematoma after caudal steroid injection: A case report (CARE-compliant).
Caudal epidural injection is one of the conventional treatments of chronic back pain. Even though spinal epidural hematoma after caudal epidural injection is rare but it can cause serious neurologic complication. ⋯ Continuous vigilance after caudal epidural injection is important to prevent catastrophic neurologic deterioration with early detection and early treatment.