Biomedical subjects

Jeffrey M Whitaker

Publications and source records attributed to Jeffrey M Whitaker.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2002

Scoring system for estimating age in the foot skeleton.

This study assesses chronological age of immature individuals from the degree of ossification evident in the foot skeleton. We considered all tarsal and ray bones in various combinations to determine the most sensitive indicators of chronological age. Skeletal maturity was rated according to a subjective but simple scoring system applied to radiographs of normal feet of children of known chronological age. Scales for assessing the primary center of ossification, secondary center of ossification, and state of fusion are defined. In general, as expected, females show earlier onset of skeletal maturity than males; in particular, females in our sample are skeletally mature in most elements beginning 48 months prior to the earliest incidence of skeletal maturity in males for the same bones. Females in our sample show a marked tendency toward skeletal maturity of all elements by 150 months of age, while males do not show the same tendency until approximately 200 months of age. In general within each sex, consecutive states of fusion show broad overlap in range of chronological age within each bone. Combining scores from several different bones enables a reasonable estimate of potential age in a test application of the model.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Realignment considerations in the triple arthrodesis.

Triple arthrodesis is indicated for pain, deformity, and instability of the tritarsal complex. Although osseous consolidation is important to outcome, success depends primarily on appropriate realignment. A poorly positioned triple arthrodesis may result in continued pain and disability, gait disturbances, excessive stress in adjacent joints, and footwear problems. We present a protocol for intraoperative realignment of the triple arthrodesis guided by image intensification. This protocol for alignment evaluation was followed in nine patients who underwent triple arthrodesis for a variety of pathologies.

Arthrodesis↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of the low-Dye strap on pronation-sensitive mechanical attributes of the foot.

The low-Dye strap is used routinely to temporarily control pronation of the foot and, thereby, to diagnose and treat pronatory sequelae. However, the exact biomechanical effects of this strapping technique on the foot are not well documented. The main purpose of this study was to establish the specific mechanical effects of the low-Dye strap on the pronatory foot. Within this context, the specific aim was to assess the effect of the low-Dye strap on three distinct pronation-sensitive mechanical attributes of the foot in the weightbearing state: 1) calcaneal eversion, 2) first metatarsophalangeal joint range of motion, and 3) medial longitudinal arch height. Weightbearing measurements of these three attributes were made before and after application of a low-Dye strap, and statistical comparisons were made. The results of this study indicate that the low-Dye strap is effective in reducing calcaneal eversion, increasing first metatarsophalangeal joint range of motion, and increasing medial longitudinal arch height in the weightbearing state. Knowledge of the exact mechanisms of action of the low-Dye strap will provide practitioners with greater confidence in the use of this modality.

Bandages↗