Clinics in occupational and environmental medicine
-
Clin Occup Environ Med · Jan 2006
ReviewLumbar spine injection and interventional procedures in the management of low back pain.
Lumbar spine injections play a role in the evaluation and treatment of low back pain and lumbar radiculopathy. These injection procedures have been demonstrated to be effective in determining the pain generator for low back pain. ⋯ Current evidence validates that these injections provide temporary relief of low back and radicular leg pain up to several months, if not longer. This duration of pain relief creates an opportunity to maximize rehabilitation efforts while symptoms are minimal.
-
Clin Occup Environ Med · Jan 2006
ReviewExposure to airborne particulate matter in the ambient, indoor, and occupational environments.
Exposure to airborne particulate matter results in various adverse health effects. Unlike other pollutants, such as ozone, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and oxides of nitrogen, for which there is significant exposure, particulate matter exposure is much more complex because it is not a single chemical species or even a limited number of chemical species. ⋯ People are exposed to particles in the ambient environment, in indoor spaces, and in the occupational environment. This article reviews the information available on the concentrations of particulate matter and its composition in these general environmental categories.
-
Work-related upper extremity burns often occur. The cause directs the course of action. Thermal burns should be assessed for system alterations, and depth of burn should be determined. ⋯ Some chemical burns, such as those that involve phenols and metal fragments, require specific topical applications before water lavage. Hydrofluoric acid burns can cause life-threatening electrolyte abnormalities with a small, highly concentrated acid burn. The goal with any extremity burn is to provide the patient with a multidisciplinary team approach to achieve a functional, usable extremity.
-
The use of tobacco can be traced back to ancient times. Its popularity grew exponentially during the twentieth century, surging during wartime and with the advent of mass media. The tobacco industry in the United States has been under constant legal pressure during the past 40 years. Despite the well-known and continually increasing morbidity and mortality related to smoking, it continues to be a prominent feature in worldwide culture and health.
-
Tendinopathy in the upper extremity continues to be a source of morbidity and disability in the working population despite a benign clinical course. Risk factors include high force, repetition, and awkward positions. An understanding of the pertinent anatomy and pathophysiology should help clinicians in the management of these conditions. ⋯ Clinical presentation includes localized pain and tenderness. Most treatment options have yet to undergo evaluation for efficacy in well-designed clinical trials, yet there is a generally favorable response to nonoperative or conservative management. Cases resistant to conservative treatment may require surgical intervention.