Studies in health technology and informatics
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Stud Health Technol Inform · Jan 2006
Soprano Specialty Forms Project--A solution that empowers clinicians in the management of research and audit data.
Throughout the world, clinicians (including nurses) create ad-hoc stand-alone databases in order to meet their individual research and audit requirements. These databases often exist in large numbers within an institution. ⋯ The Soprano Specialty Forms solution developed by Orion Health in collaboration with Auckland District Health Board resolves this problem. The solution provides a common data storage and coding infrastructure within which clinicians can create their own forms for data collection, enter data through an integrated portal used as part of their everyday clinical practice, and easily query the data collected regardless of its source.
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Stud Health Technol Inform · Jan 2006
Brachial plexus palsy associated with halo traction before posterior correction in severe scoliosis.
To retrospectively analyse clinical features and related factors of brachial plexus palsy associated with halo traction before posterior correction in severe scoliosis. ⋯ Brachial plexus palsy associated with halo traction in severe scoliosis is related to the weight of traction, body type and patient-pathology status. If the symptoms are promptly detected with rehabilitation training and appropriate drug treatment adopted, complete nerve functional restoration can be achieved.
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Stud Health Technol Inform · Jan 2006
Intervertebral disc biomechanics in the pathogenesis of idiopathic scoliosis.
The aim of the present study is to investigate whether the deformation of the intervertebral disc contributes to the progression of idiopathic scoliotic curves. In the standing posteroanterior x-rays of 92 scoliotic curves the following readings were obtained: Cobb angle (CA), apical vertebral rotation (AVR), apical vertebral wedging (AVW) and the adjacent to the apical vertebra Upper (UIVDW) and Lower (LIVDW) InterVertebral Discs Wedging. The statistical analyses included inter - intraobserver reliability test, descriptives, monofactorial linear regression and Pearson correlation coefficient, with p<0.05 considered statistical significant (SS). ⋯ The eccentric intervertebral disc in the scoliotic spine, through variation in its water concentration produces asymmetrically cyclical load during the 24-hour period and an asymmetrical growth of the vertebral body (Hueter-Volkman's law). The statistical analysis revealed that AVW appears later when already CA increases, the IVDW is more important than AVW and the LIVDW, which is greater than UIVDW, is the most frequent correlated radiographic parameter. The deformation of the apical intervertebral disc seems to be an important contributory factor in the progression of a scoliotic curve.
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In this paper we present the concept and the first results of the Fibre Optic Pointer - a miniaturized Augmented Reality system for craniofacial surgery. The objective is the integration into surgical instruments.
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Stud Health Technol Inform · Jan 2006
Relation between the sagittal pelvic and lumbar spine geometries following surgical correction of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a preliminary study.
The influence of surgery on the relationship between the lumbar spine and the pelvis in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) remains mostly unknown. The sagittal spinopelvic balance of 40 patients with AIS undergoing posterior spinal instrumentation and fusion was studied. After surgery, the total lumbar lordosis (LL) and the LL below fusion remained correlated to the sagittal pelvic geometry. ⋯ This preliminary study shows that pelvic morphology probably has an important impact on the postoperative sagittal lumbar alignment. Evaluation of the sagittal pelvic geometry could therefore be useful in the preoperative planning of surgery for AIS. Further studies with more patients are still needed in order to confirm this hypothesis and to evaluate if the distal fusion level influences the spino-pelvic balance.