The Iowa orthopaedic journal
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Fat embolism syndrome (FES) is a multi-organ disorder with potentially serious sequelae that is commonly seen in the orthopaedic patient population after femur fractures. The major clinical features of FES include hypoxia, pulmonary dysfunction, mental status changes, petechiae, tachycardia, fever, thrombocytopenia, and anemia. Due to technological advances in supportive care and intramedullary reaming techniques, the incidence of FES has been reported as low as 0.5 percent. ⋯ His symptoms included unresponsiveness, disconjugate gaze, seizures, respiratory distress, fever, anemia, thrombocytopenia, and visual changes. Head computed tomography and brain magnetic resonance imaging showed pathognomonic white-matter punctate lesions and watershed involvement. With early recognition and supportive therapy and seizure therapy, the patient went on to have complete resolution of symptoms without cognitive sequelae.
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Case Reports
Progressive adult spinal deformity following placement of intrathecal opioid pump: a report of four cases.
Placement of intrathecal opioid pumps (ITOP) for chronic pain is a rare, but described cause of progressive spinal deformity. Over the last two decades there has been several suspected cases at our institution. In this case series, we described the apparent association between placement of an intrathecal opioid pump and progression of spinal deformity. ⋯ Level 4--Case series; case control study (diagnostic studies); poor reference standard; analyses with no sensitivity analyses.
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Chronic back pain treatments have generally been costly and/or ineffective despite advances in medical technology. Patient selection and factors intrinsic to patients, including beliefs and behaviors, have been increasingly looked upon as possible predictive factors for success following multidisciplinary intervention for chronic back pain. The current study investigated the value of using patients' perceived control over health changes (health locus of control) and their perceived ability to engage in pain management behaviors (pain-related self-efficacy) to predict physical and mental health outcomes. ⋯ In addition to supporting the multiple benefits of multidisciplinary rehabilitation, this study suggests that pain-related self-efficacy and health locus of control may be valuable predictors of treatment benefit for chronic back pain patients. These results provide direction in screening for factors that may maximize the potential to benefit from multidisciplinary intervention for chronic back pain.
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Operative fixation of displaced inferior pole patella fractures has now become the standard of care. This study aims to quantify clinical, radiographic and functional outcomes, as well as identify complications in a cohort of patients treated with non-absorbable braided suture fixation for inferior pole patellar fractures. These patients were then compared to a control group of patients treated for mid-pole fractures with K-wires or cannulated screws with tension band wiring. ⋯ Patients who sustain inferior pole patella fractures have limited options for fracture fixation. Suture repair is clinically acceptable, yielding similar results to patella fractures repaired with metal implants. Importantly, patients undergoing suture repair appear to have fewer hardware related postoperative complications than those receiving wire fixation for midpole fractures.
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Distal radial fractures are one of the most common orthopaedic injuries. An effective treatment strategy is needed to ensure good outcome and better resource usage. ⋯ We have found that four or more instability markers are globally associated with a poorer outcome. Patients with four or more markers who underwent surgery did uniformly better than those with manipulation alone. However, in patients with three or fewer markers, non-operative management yielded equally good outcomes. We plan to use this as a pilot study for future primary research.