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Biomedical subjects

B Sangeorzan

Publications and source records attributed to B Sangeorzan.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Sciatic nerve blockade improves early postoperative analgesia after open repair of calcaneus fractures.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of analgesia, with or without sciatic nerve blockade, after open repair of calcaneus fracture. DESIGN: Randomized, prospective trial involving 30 patients divided into 3 groups of 10, all having open repair of calcaneus fractures. Group 1 used morphine patient-controlled analgesia alone. Groups 2 and 3 had morphine patient-controlled analgesia and a "one-shot" bupivacaine sciatic nerve blockade, either presurgically (group 2) or postsurgically (group 3). SETTING: Harborview Medical Center operating rooms and orthopedic floors. OUTCOME MEASURES: Morphine use over 24 hours, visual analogue scale pain scores, and sciatic nerve blockade duration. RESULTS: In the absence of sciatic nerve blockade, initial postoperative pain was marked, even with a mean recovery room dose of intravenous morphine more than 30 mg. Sciatic nerve blockade with bupivacaine had a mean duration of 14 hours and substantially reduced pain for the first 24 postoperative hours. Presurgical blockade confers no advantage over postsurgical blockade. CONCLUSION: Sciatic nerve blockade confers significant benefit over morphine alone for analgesia after open repair of calcaneus fractures. Postsurgical sciatic nerve blockade provides the longest possible postoperative block duration.

Adult↗

Issues of importance reported by persons with lower limb amputations and prostheses.

The purpose of this paper is to report prosthesis-related issues of importance that were identified by a diverse group of persons living with lower limb amputations (LLA) and prostheses. These perceptions and themes validate some old assumptions and challenge others, report both common and unusual experiences, and indirectly identify the information level of our respondents concerning prostheses. Persons with LLA were identified from computerized rosters at a level one regional trauma center and at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System-Seattle, Division. Inclusion criteria specified that respondents were to: 1) be one or more years post-unilateral amputation at the Syme's level (ankle disarticulation) or higher, 2) use their prosthesis at least 5 days a week, 3) read English, and 4) be able to provide informed consent. Respondents completed the Prosthesis Evaluation Questionnaire-field version (PEQ) and the standard form (SF)-36, a health status measure. Of 114 persons who agreed to participate, 92 (85% male, mean age 55 years) responded to the questionnaire and graded the personal importance of various characteristics and qualities of their prosthesis. The number of years since their last amputation ranged from 1 to 53 years. Four Themes of Interest were identified from responses to open-ended questions about living with a prosthesis. These themes included the fit of the socket with the residual limb, aspects of the mechanical functioning of the prosthesis, other nonmechanical qualities, and advice about adaptation to life with a prosthesis with support from others. Future research is recommended to adjust aspects of the fit of the prosthesis with the residual limb. Implementing periodic check-up visits could uncover problems and eliminate unnecessary suffering.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Traumatic scapulothoracic dissociation: case report.

A 23-year-old man suffered traumatic scapulothoracic dissociation (TSD) in a car-vs.-bicyclist accident. TSD is a devastating forequarter injury characterized by brachial plexus damage, major upper extremity musculoskeletal disruption, and exsanguinating hemorrhage: our patient survived a hematocrit of 7. Prompt recognition and aggressive management of TSD's multiple injuries are crucial.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Open fractures of the tibia in children.

We treated 38 patients from 4 to 15 years old and with open growth plates for open fractures of the tibia. The average follow-up was 33 months (range, 9-122). All patients had repeated operative debridement, parenteral antibiotics, and immobilization by cast or fixation. Outcomes were analyzed with respect to age at the time of injury, grade of injury, and type of immobilization. The time to union was prolonged and averaged 21 weeks (range, 6-82). No patients younger than 11 years required bone grafting for union. The deep infection and nonunion rate was 8%, with all of these occurring in patients older than 11 years. Clinically significant leg-length discrepancy or functional limitation was encountered only in patients with an ipsilateral femur fracture or with deep infection requiring osseous debridement. Our data suggest that open tibia fractures in children older than 11 years have nonunion and infection rates that parallel those of adult patients, but that younger children have a more benign course. With aggressive wound care and adequate stabilization, few complications or sequelae should occur in open tibial shaft fractures in younger patients.

Adolescent↗

Design and validation of an instrument package designed to increase the reliability of ankle range of motion measurements.

OBJECTIVE: To validate a novel device termed the equinometer, which is designed to accurately measure ankle dorsiflexion. DESIGN: Test retest reliability analysis using serial measurements of dorsiflexion endpoint in a group of normal individuals. SETTING: Motion analysis laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Ten healthy individuals. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE: The mean and standard deviation of the absolute difference in dorsiflexion endpoint for the group. RESULTS: The mean absolute change in dorsiflexion endpoint for the group was 0.45 degrees with a standard deviation of 0.43 degrees. CONCLUSIONS: With the use of the device described, the mean change in dorsiflexion endpoint was well within acceptable clinical limits. The reliability of measurements obtained with the equinometer exceeds that which has been published with other techniques and devices.

Adult↗