Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J D de Beer.
A patient with HLA-B27 and rheumatoid factor positive rheumatoid arthritis presented with a painless swelling in his popliteal fossa. Clinical features were atypical for a Baker's cyst, and subsequent investigation showed this lesion to be a primary malignant lymphoma.
Eight patients with 9 calcaneal fractures were reviewed. Of the fractures 6 were intra-articular and 3 extra-articular, but in children this distinction appears to have little relevance to treatment or prognosis. While these fractures are relatively uncommon in children, clinical suspicion is important in making the diagnosis, since the presentation may be subtle. The overall prognosis in children is excellent.
Ten patients with closed multiple carpo-metacarpal dislocations have been reviewed. Closed manipulation was found to be successful if performed within two days of the injury. Plaster cast immobilisation supplemented by percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation is recommended to maintain the reduction, due to the unstable nature of the dislocation. Early appropriate treatment of these injuries carries a good prognosis.
We have reported a rare case of acute large bowel obstruction complicating acute pancreatitis. The diagnosis of pancreatitis is often initially not considered in such patients, and is established only at laparotomy. The splenic flexure is the most common site of large bowel involvement. A proximal defunctioning colostomy is the preferred primary management.
We report four children who sustained traumatic atlantoaxial subluxation without a rotatory component, underlying congenital anomaly, or inflammatory cause. Three patients were involved in motor vehicle accidents as pedestrians, and one sustained a rugby injury to his neck. Only one patient sustained an associated head injury. Two patients had neurologic signs on admission directly attributable to the atlantoaxial subluxation. The signs resolved after reduction and stabilization of the subluxation. Three patients were treated conservatively and one operatively. To date, all four patients have had a satisfactory outcome.
Six patients with subacute diaphyseal osteomyelitis of 200 with acute osteomyelitis who were seen and treated at the Red Cross Children's Hospital in a 3-year period (1985-1987) are reported. All six patients had a history of a minimum of 2 weeks' duration and the radiographic picture of a linear periosteal reaction, which was either single or laminated. This radiographic picture was indistinguishable from round cell tumors of bone. The final diagnosis was established by a histology consistent with a subacute osteomyelitis. In two patients, a positive culture of Staphylococcus aureus was obtained. All of the patients healed after treatment with cloxacillin. Radiographic resolution was noted in all patients within 6 months of treatment.