Ann Acad Med Singap
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Ann Acad Med Singap · Oct 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialA Double-Blind, Randomised, Placebo-Controlled Trial of EMLA® Cream (Eutectic Lidocaine/Prilocaine Cream) for Analgesia Prior to Cryotherapy of Plantar Warts in Adults.
Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen is an effective, safe and convenient form of treatment for plantar warts. EMLA® cream (eutectic mixture of lidocaine 2.5% and prilocaine 2.5%) is a topical local anaesthetic agent that has proven to be effective and well tolerated in the relief of pain associated with various minor interventions in numerous clinical settings. ⋯ We conclude that the application of EMLA® cream prior to cryotherapy does not reduce the pain associated with cryotherapy.
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Ann Acad Med Singap · Sep 2014
Can preoperative scoring systems be applied to Asian hip fracture populations? Validation of the Nottingham Hip Fracture Score (NHFS) and identification of preoperative risk factors in hip fractures.
Hip fractures in the elderly are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Determining which patients will benefit from hip fracture surgery is crucial to reducing mortality and morbidity. Our objectives are: 1) to define the rate of index admission, 1-month and 1-year mortality in all hip fracture patients, and 2) to apply the Nottingham Hip Fracture Score (NHFS) to determine validity in an Asian population. ⋯ Surgically treated hip fracture patients have a lower OR for mortality than conservatively managed ones even up to 1-year. The NHFS has shown to predict 1-month mortality accurately for surgically treated hip fracture patients, even for our Asian population. It can be used as a tool for clinicians at the individual patient level to communicate risk with patients and help plan care for fracture patients.
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Diabetic foot wounds are serious complications of diabetes mellitus. Surgical debridement is a very important part of the management of diabetic wounds. Sharp debridement using the scalpel is normally performed. Versajet II hydrosurgery system is an alternative technique for debridement. To our knowledge, this is the fi rst study conducted to evaluate the use of hydrosurgery debridement for diabetic foot wounds. ⋯ Although good wound healing was achieved in all 15 cases, further study that uses a larger cohort and a randomised controlled trial is required to fully evaluate the effectiveness, or otherwise, of the Versajet II hydrosurgery system for the debridement of diabetic foot wounds.
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Ann Acad Med Singap · Aug 2014
Suicidal ideation, suicidal plan and suicidal attempts among those with major depressive disorder.
The aims of the study were to identify the prevalence and sociodemographic and clinical correlates of suicidal behaviours using data from a cross-sectional survey among those with major depressive disorder (MDD) in Singapore. ⋯ Individuals with MDD and suicidal behaviour do differ from their non-suicidal counterparts as they have a different sociodemographic and clinical profile. There is a need for more research and a better understanding of this population which in turn could lead to the development and implementation of relevant interventions.