Technology and health care : official journal of the European Society for Engineering and Medicine
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Technol Health Care · Jan 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialEvaluation of a ubiquitous and interoperable computerised system for remote monitoring of ambulatory post-operative pain: a randomised controlled trial.
For economic reasons, i.e., to reduce costs of in-hospital patient accommodations, constant pressure has been applied in recent years to increase the percentage of ambulatory surgeries. Effective control of post-operative pain after ambulatory surgery is challenging to all health professionals. Computerised systems are being implemented more frequently for remote patient monitoring, including during the at-home post-operative period. ⋯ The findings demonstrated the feasibility and suitability of the proposed system for pain management. Its handling was user-friendly, without requiring advanced skill or prior experience. In addition, the results showed that the guidance of health care professionals is essential to patients' satisfaction and positive experience with the system. There were no significant group differences with respect to improvements in the quality of pain treatment; however, this can be explained by the low pain scores registered in both groups, related to the type of surgical interventions recruited and the degrees of pain that are easily treated. To evaluate the benefits from a patient-centred perspective, studies of major ambulatory surgeries or of patients in chronic pain, including oncologic and non-oncologic pain resistant to treatment, are necessary.
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Technol Health Care · Jan 2014
Comparative StudyAn investigation into the perceptual embodiment of an artificial hand using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in intact-limbed individuals.
Perceptual embodiment of an artificial limb aids manual control of prostheses and can be facilitated by somatosensory feedback. We hypothesised that transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) may facilitate perceptual embodiment of artificial limbs. ⋯ A sensation of TENS was generated within the artificial hand in individuals with intact limbs and this facilitated perceptual embodiment. The magnitude of effect was modest.
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Technol Health Care · Jan 2014
Effects of thromboembolism prophylaxis with dabigatran on perioperative blood loss and wound secretion in primary hip arthroplasty.
Low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWH), e.g. enoxaparin, represent the standard thromboprophylactic agents in Europe after total hip replacement. The oral direct thrombin inhibitor dabigatran etexilate provides comparable effectiveness and safety. The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of dabigatran etexilate on perioperative blood loss and wound secretion in total hip arthroplasty compared to enoxaparin. ⋯ Dabigatran etexilate can safely be used for thromboembolism prophylaxis after primary total hip replacement without an increased risk for perioperative blood loss and prolonged wound secretion.
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Technol Health Care · Jan 2014
The effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on postural sway on fatigued dorsi-plantar flexor.
The application of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) enhances muscle weakness and static balance by muscle fatigue. It was said that TENS affects decrease of the postural sway. On the other hand, the applications of TENS to separate dorsi-plantar flexor and the comparison with and without visual input have not been studied. ⋯ The visual input was not statistically difference between the groups. However, when compared of dorsi-plantar flexor after applied to TENS without visual input, the postural sway of plantar flexor was lower than the dorsi flexor (p< 0.05). As the result, the application of TENS in GCM clinically decreases the postural sway with visual input it helps to stable posture control and prevent to falling down.
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Technol Health Care · Jan 2014
PMMA-augmentation of incompletely cannulated pedicle screws: a cadaver study to determine the benefits in the osteoporotic spine.
Pedicle screw pullout due to poor bone quality, mainly caused by osteoporosis, is a common problem in spine surgery. Special implants and techniques, especially PMMA augmentation, were developed to improve the fixation of pedicle screws. PMMA injection into a pilot hole or through a screw involves the same risks as vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty, regardless of the technique used. Especially when using fully cannulated screws anterior leakage is possible. ⋯ We minimized the risk of leakage by using a screw with a closed tip. On the whole, PMMA augmentation through an incompletely cannulated pedicle screw is safe and increases pullout forces in osteoporotic bone to the level of healthy bone. Therefore the new incompletely cannulated screw can be used for pedicle screw augmentation.