Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to C Gama.
Three thousand four hundred and four adults were randomly examined and 38 cases of extensor digitorum brevis manus were identified. This short, anomalous muscle located on the dorsum of the hand occurred in 1.1% of the people examined and 19 of the 38 cases required surgery because of pain precluding work. This report reviews the literature and describes the clinical picture of the 38 cases.
Compression of nerves of the hand by hyperplasia of pacinian corpuscles is a rare occurrence. Six cases with previous history of trauma in the hand in four of them have been reported in the literature. We present two cases of nerve compression of the two varieties reported, both with previous histories of trauma. In these two cases, surgical excision of the tumor determined the disappearance of clinical symptoms.
Between December 1971 and December 1977, 41 patients with long-standing boutonnière deformities were treated by Matev's operation. The average follow-up time was 13 months (range 8 to 18 months). The duration of their lesions varied from 32 to 176 days. The digits most affected were the long finger (14) and the ring finger (11). Postoperatively, all patients showed excellent flexion of the fingers with only a very slight deficit in extension of the PIP joint. Eight of them also had some deficit in extension of the DIP joint, with flexion there of 10 degrees to 15 degrees, but little real disability. The results indicate that when the Matev operation is clearly indicated and properly performed, it is an excellent one for the treatment of this condition.
Occupational acro-osteolysis is a serious disease definitely related to the inhalation of agents involved in the polymerization of vinyl chloride. After variable periods of latency, the more or less characteristic clinical picture appears. A Raynaud's phenomenon is usually a premonitory sign indicating that alterations in bone will probably ensue. Scleroderma-like skin lesions and systemic involvement of variable degree occur frequently. The pathophysiology of the disease is unknown, but obstructive lesions of small peripheral arteries are thought to cause osteolysis of the distal phalanges of the fingers.
A new technic for surgical treatment of dorsal wrist ganglia is described. Our results are compared with the best results obtained by other authors in the treatment of all types of ganglia.
Myositis is recognized as one of several neurologic complications encountered in Kawasaki disease. We report an unusual patient with Kawasaki disease which was complicated by severe myositis and respiratory failure secondary to weakness. Comparison of our patient with previously reported cases leads us to conclude that myositis in Kawasaki disease usually is present within 1-3 weeks of illness; the symptoms usually are mild and probably remain unnoticed by most physicians, but weakness can be severe and respiratory failure may occur. The degree of creatine kinase elevation may be useful in predicting the severity of myopathy and in alerting the physician to the need for close respiratory monitoring. Therapy is supportive and complete recovery is to be expected.