Studies in health technology and informatics
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Stud Health Technol Inform · Jan 2002
The Double Rib Contour Sign (DRCS) in lateral spinal radiographs: aetiologic implications for scoliosis.
All lateral spinal radiographs in idiopathic scoliosis show a DRC sign of the thoracic cage, a radiographic expression of the rib hump. The outline of the convex overlies the contour of the concave ribs. The aim of this study is to assess this DRC sign in children with and without Late Onset Idiopathic Scoliosis (LOIS) with 10 degrees -20 degrees Cobb angle, and to examine whether in scoliosis the deformity of the thorax or that of the spine develops first. ⋯ The DRCS primarily appears because of the rib deformation and secondarily because of the vertebral rotation, as it could be present in straight spines with no vertebral rotation. In all our school-screening referrals, (having ATI > or = 7 degrees), the thorax deformity, in terms of the DRC sign, has already been developed. 70% of these children were scoliotic. The others had a curvature of less than 9 degrees of Cobb angle (10%) or they were children with straight spines (20%) who were followed because of their existing rib hump. The non-scoliotics were 1,5-2 years younger than the ones who had already developed scoliosis, and they had both approximately a "rib index" of 1,5. The DRC sign is present in all referrals. In contrary, there is no scoliotic spine without it, as the DRC sign is always present in scoliotic lateral spinal radiographs with no exception. This observation supports our hypothesis that in idiopathic scoliosis, the deformity of the thorax develops first and then the deformity of the spine follows.
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Successful applications of haptic displays are limited to tool-based interfaces that simulate haptic effects on surgical and other medical instruments. However, no satisfactory haptic display exist so far, that enable the simulation of high fidelity palpation of human tissue or body segments. Existing approaches developed for medical training fail due to unrealistic haptic effects, time-consuming donning and doffing, and inconvenient use (e.g., mechatronic tactile and kinesthetic displays) or due to restricted function and adjustability (e.g., passive mannequins). ⋯ The new haptic display has been verified with a setup developed for the training of functional joint evaluation after knee injuries. Compared to classical approaches, this display is convenient to use, provides realistic tactile properties and can be partly adjusted to different system properties (e.g. pathological joint properties). This kind of new interface can be applied to many different medical applications, where the clinician directly touches human limbs or tissue, such as in obstetrics, reanimation, organ palpation, etc.
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Stud Health Technol Inform · Jan 2002
Visible Korean Human: another trial for making serially-sectioned images.
In this ongoing study, we are trying to make Visible Korean Human (Mar 2000--Feb 2005). The complete MRIs and CTs of the Korean cadaver's entire body are scanned. The cadaver is serially-sectioned at 0.2 mm thickness without any missing images. ⋯ Fifth, small pixel size (0.2 mm x 0.2 mm) and thin thickness (0.2 mm) of sectioned images will be more helpful in showing the small anatomical structures greater than 0.2 mm. Sixth, the additional segmented images will be more helpful in making the 3D image and virtual dissection software. The Visible Korean Human will be the basis for making better 3D image and virtual dissection software which will be more helpful in medical education.
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Stud Health Technol Inform · Jan 2002
CTM brace effect on scoliotic intervertebral discs using MRI method.
MRI has been clinically only used for investigation of intervertebral disc disorders. In this study, MR images were used and a new 3D modelling of the intervertebral discs was proposed. MRI examination had been performed on fourteen girls presenting an idiopathic scoliosis and wearing a first CTM brace. ⋯ The intervertebral disc informations obtained represented new data in the scoliotic deformation description. But this method was not adapted for a clinical use. The qualitative and quantitative data obtained will help the orthopaedist in the brace design and also the clinician in the scoliosis comprehension.
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Stud Health Technol Inform · Jan 2002
Spine deformity correlates better than trunk deformity with idiopathic scoliosis patients' quality of life questionnaire responses.
To determine whether either spine or trunk deformity measurements correlate with patients quality of life questionnaire responses. ⋯ Spine deformity correlates well with quality of life questionnaire responses whereas trunk deformity magnitude does not. This is somewhat surprising as it is the trunk deformity that the patient can they themselves see. These findings illustrate the pitfalls of assuming what is important to the patient based on clinical measurements.