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Biomedical subjects

M Bhandari

Publications and source records attributed to M Bhandari.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Dorsal placement of the pedicled preputial/penile onlay flap for anterior urethral stricture: is it more logical?

OBJECTIVES: We present our preliminary experience in the management of inflammatory anterior urethral strictures with a dorsally/dorsolaterally placed penile/preputial vascularized flap and discuss the distinct advantages of this procedure over a traditional ventrally placed flap. METHODS: Twelve patients (age, 20-66 years; mean age, 40.5 years) with recurrent inflammatory strictures of the penile and/or bulbar urethra (penile, 2; bulbar, 5 and bulbopenile, 5) were treated with dorsally/dorsolaterally placed penile/preputial (penile skin, 5; prepuce, 7) vascularized flap substitution urethroplasty. Prior to surgery, 7 patients had suprapubic cystostomy for acute urinary retention and 5 had a mean peak flow rate of 6.2 ml/sec. Inferior pubectomy was performed as an adjunct in two patients to facilitate proximal placement of the flap. Follow-up (5 to 24 months; mean, 15.5) included uroflowmetry and retrograde urethrograms at 6, 12 and 18 months, and thereafter as required. RESULTS: The mean stricture length was 5.8 cm (range, 3 to 12 cm) and all strictures were associated with dense spongifibrosis. Temporary urethral fistulae, which healed spontaneously, occurred in 4 patients. The clinical and radiological outcome during the mean follow up of 15.5 months was gratifying. The mean peak flow rate improved to 24.2 ml/sec. No stricture recurrence has been noted to date. Sacculation of the flap, diverticulum formation and post-void dribble have not been encountered. None of the patients developed chordee or erectile dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: Dorsal onlay preputial/penile flap urethroplasty is a versatile procedure in the treatment of inflammatory anterior urethral strictures. The dorsal pedicle flap may be anatomically and functionally more logical as compared to the traditional ventrally placed flap.

Adult↗

Effect of altered physical loading on bone and muscle in the forearm.

Cast immobilization of injured forearms is common clinical practice yet little is known about the effect of reduced skeletal loading in the absence of pathology. This study reports the changes in the forearms of nine healthy young adults owing to six weeks in a plaster cast followed by 1 year of either habitual activity or a strengthening program. Both groups exhibited similar patterns of change in wrist mobility, forearm muscle strength, and bone variables. Because of small sample size and poor compliance with the exercise protocol, no conclusions can be drawn about the effect of exercise. In all subjects, reduced loading caused a decrease in wrist mobility (p < 0.02) and grip strength (p = 0.01) with full recovery following 3 months of remobilization. Six months after removing the cast, bone size was reduced in the middle region of the radius (p = 0.02) and recovered after 1 year of remobilization. Given that radial bone mass tended to decrease while bone density was unchanged, we conclude that the effect of casting was modulated by changes in gross bone morphology rather than in material characteristics.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Delayed presentation of spinal stab wound: case report and review of the literature.

Stab wounds to the spinal cord are relatively uncommon in North America, but even rarer is the presentation of such an injury in a delayed fashion. We report a case of a 31-year-old male who presented with neurologic deficit 4 weeks after a stab wound injury to the spine. Because of worsening neurologic deficit, the retained knife fragment was operatively removed, and the patient had an uneventful recovery. The management of such an injury is discussed, with a review of the literature.

Adult↗

Reliability in grading the severity of lumbar spinal stenosis.

Stenosis of the lumbar spinal canal is a major cause of disability and lost productivity. Computed tomography (CT) is used commonly to assess the presence and severity of spinal stensosis, because it is relatively inexpensive, readily available, and has few adverse effects. The ability of four surgeons to agree about the presence and severity of lumbar spinal stenosis based on plain CT scans was evaluated from 30 scans of varying stenosis severity (normal to severe). Kappa, a measure of chance-corrected agreement, was calculated. Surgeons exhibited moderate agreement for the presence or absence of spinal stenosis (kappa = 0.58+/-0.06). Agreement regarding the severity of stenosis, when present, was poor (kappa = 0.26+/-0.04). The ability of surgeons to agree was not improved when individual features of the CT scans were assessed (facet joint arthrosis, ligamentum flavum hypertrophy, disk protrusion, and nerve root impingement). This study suggests that CT scans are not a reliable method by which to examine the severity of lumbar spinal stenosis.

Humans↗

Reamed versus nonreamed intramedullary nailing of lower extremity long bone fractures: a systematic overview and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of reamed versus nonreamed intramedullary (IM) nailing of lower extremity long bone fractures on the rates of nonunion, implant failure, malunion, compartment syndrome, pulmonary embolus, and infection. DESIGN: Quantitative systematic review of prospective, randomized controlled trials. DATA IDENTIFICATION: MEDLINE and SCISEARCH computer searches provided lists of published randomized clinical trials from 1969 to 1998. Extensive hand searches of major orthopaedic journals, bibliographies of major orthopaedic texts, and personal files identified additional studies. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: Of 676 citations initially identified, sixty proved potentially eligible, of which four published and five unpublished randomized trials met all eligibility criteria. Each of three investigators assessed study quality and abstracted relevant data. RESULTS: The pooled relative risk of reamed versus nonreamed nails (nine trials, n = 646 patients) was 0.33 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.16 to 0.68; p = 0.004]. The absolute risk difference in nonunion rates with reamed IM nailing was 7.0 percent (95% CI, 1 to 11 percent). Thus, one nonunion could be prevented for every fourteen patients treated with reamed IM nailing [number needed to treat (NNT) = 14.28]. The risk ratios for secondary outcome measures were: implant failure, 0.30 (95% CI, 0.16 to 0.58; p < 0.001); malunion, 1.06 (95% CI, 0.32 to 3.57); pulmonary embolus, 1.10 (95% CI, 0.26 to 4.76); compartment syndrome, 0.45 (95% CI, 0.13 to 1.56); and infection, 0.98 (95% CI, 0.21 to 4.76). Sensitivity analyses suggested that reported rates of nonunion and implant failure were higher in studies of lower quality. The type of long bone fractured (tibia or femur), the degree of soft tissue injury (open or closed), study quality, and whether a study was published or unpublished did not significantly alter the relative risk of nonunion between reamed and nonreamed IM nailing. CONCLUSIONS: There is evidence from a pooled analysis of randomized trials that reamed IM nailing of lower extremity long bone fractures significantly reduces rates of nonunion and implant failure in comparison with nonreamed nailing.

Bone Nails↗

Evaluation of the urological complications of living related renal transplantation at a single center during the last 10 years: impact of the Double-J* stent.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the impact of the routine use of Double-J stents for decreasing urological complications in living related renal transplantation at a single center during the last 10 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our 3-phase longitudinal study included 670 consecutive living related renal transplants from 1989 to 1998. In phase 1 from 1989 to 1993 a stent was introduced as and when required in only 15 of 170 patients. In phase 2 from January 1994 to April 1995 we randomized 57 and 43 cases to stenting and no stenting, respectively. The stent was removed after 4 weeks. In phase 3 from May 1995 to December 1998 all patients received a stent, which was removed 10 to 14 days just before discharge home. We reviewed urological complications at various time frames to determine the impact of routine Double-J stenting on decreasing urological complications. RESULTS: In phase 1 the major ureteral complication rate was 8.8%, which decreased to 3% in phase 2 when half of our cases were stented. In phase 3 there was only 1 ureteral complication (0.04%) in 400 patients, of whom all received a stent. The overall ureteral complication rate in nonstented and stented cases was 8.5% (18 of 213) and 0.22% (1 of 457). There was no difference in urological complications or stent related problems whether the stent was removed at 4 or 2 weeks. However, stent removal at 2 weeks eliminated the possibility of a forgotten stent, avoided repeat hospitalization for stent removal and decreased the cost. Routine stenting was cost-effective and almost eliminated urological complications. CONCLUSIONS: Routine Double-J stenting prevents ureteral complications. Early removal at 2 weeks is advisable. The short duration of stenting is effective and saves the cost of repeat hospitalization at a later date.

Adolescent↗

Expanding the living related donor pool in renal transplantation: use of marginal donors.

PURPOSE: In a living related transplantation program it is not always possible to find an ideal donor. Sometimes the only available donor in the family has some benign disease or suboptimal renal anatomy or physiology, or is too old to be accepted and defined as a marginal donor. However, with proper screening the donor pool can be increased by accepting these marginal donors and treating the benign diseases which is beneficial to the donor. We evaluate the outcome of grafts from marginal donors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From July 1988 to August 1997, 581 live related transplantations were performed. Of the donors 52 were older than 60 years and 34 had associated benign renal or nonrenal anomaly or disease. These donors were accepted after thorough questioning and consultation with family members. The recipients of graft from elderly donors were evaluated for the number of rejections, serum creatinine at last followup and graft survival. RESULTS: Of the recipients 52 received grafts from elderly donors with a mean age of 62.6+/-3.7 years. Mean followup was 34.14+/-0.7 months. The 2 and 5-year actuarial graft survival was 96% and 74%, respectively. Creatinine was normal (less than 1.5) in 37% of recipients and 1.5 to 2.5 mg.% in 46%. The rejection rate in postoperative month 1 was 29%. All donors underwent simultaneous surgery to treat the benign disease, and all did well after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: By accepting these marginal donors a 14.6% increase in the living related donor pool was achieved without compromising recipient or donor safety. Otherwise these recipients would have been forced to undergo unrelated transplantation or be maintained on dialysis, which is particularly difficult in a developing country. Donors with associated disease benefited from cure.

Female↗

Long-term followup of elderly donors in a live related renal transplant program.

PURPOSE: It is a concern that elderly donors may have increased risks in the perioperative period due to age related changes in various organ systems. Nephrosclerosis, atherosclerosis and low glomerular filtration rate may portend a poor graft outcome. We performed a study to determine function and outcome of kidneys from elderly donors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of our live related transplant program from November 1989 to December 1998 revealed that 112 donors were older than 55 years (range 55 to 81). Of the recipients of these kidneys from elderly donors 98 had a followup of more than 2 years (group 1), and they were compared to a cohort of 87 patients whose kidney donors were younger than 45 years (group 2). Allograft function was evaluated by serum creatinine and differential glomerular filtration rate was determined by (99m)technetium diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid renal scan. All donors were followed regularly. RESULTS: Mean donor age plus or minus standard deviation was 57.4 +/- 4.3 and 31.4 +/- 7.6 years in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Mean followup plus or minus standard deviation was 42.44 +/- 20.46 months in group 1 and 40.04 +/- 27.28 months in group 2. The 1-year graft survival rate was 91.84% and 88. 51%, and the 5-year graft survival rate was 72.72% and 75.13% in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Serum creatinine was 1.5 +/- 0.65 and 1.7 +/- 1.52 mg./dl. in group 1 and 1.4 +/- 0.55 and 1.5 +/- 1.41 mg. /dl. in group 2 at 1 year and last followup, respectively. Glomerular filtration rate was 37.2 +/- 11.2 and 37.3 +/- 10.7 ml. per minute in group 1 and it was 45.3 +/- 8.6 and 47.7 +/- 11.3 ml. per minute in group 2 at 1 year and last followup, respectively. Acute rejection rate was significantly higher in group 1 (42%) compared to group 2 (19%). Both groups were comparable in terms of infectious episodes, antihypertensive requirement and incidence of acute tubular necrosis. There was no added morbidity for elderly compared to younger donors. CONCLUSIONS: In view of acute donor shortage and if properly screened, elderly kidneys can be used without increasing the risk to donor or compromising graft outcome.

Adult↗

Endoscopic injection sclerotherapy control of intractable hematuria following radiation-induced hemorrhagic cystitis. A novel approach.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the utility of endoscopic sclerotherapy using 1% ethoxysclerol for the control of intractable hematuria following post-irradiation telangiectatic cystitis (PTC). METHODS: Our experience of treating 4 patients (one female and three male) with massive exsanguinating hematuria resulting from PTC, using a combined intralesional and perilesional injection of 1% ethoxysclerol, is presented. Observation on the distribution, grading of telangiectasis and pattern of bleeding are made. RESULTS: A dramatic and lasting cessation of the hematuria in all the 4 patients was achieved during the follow-up period varying from 1 month to 4 years. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic injection sclerotherapy is a simple, highly effective, less invasive new technique in the management of massive and intractable hematuria due to radiation-induced telangiectasia of the urinary bladder.

Adult↗

High and low pressure irrigation in contaminated wounds with exposed bone.

BACKGROUND: Irrigation and debridement are essential in the initial management of traumatic wounds. The relative efficicacy of low pressure irrigation compared with high pressure irrigation remains unclear. AIMS: The purpose of this study was to examine the time dependent efficacy of both high and low pressure lavage in removing adherent bacteria from traumatic wounds with exposed bone. METHODS: Using an in-vivo model, we created bilateral Staphylococcus aureus contaminated femoral wounds in 30 mice. The wounds were incubated for 1 to 10 hours and lavaged with either high (70 psi) or low pressure lavage (1-2 psi). The mean colony forming units of bacteria were compared between groups at each time point. RESULTS: High and low pressure lavage were effective in removing adherent bacteria from contaminated wounds up to 8 hours and 4 hours, respectively. High pressure lavage was more effective than low pressure at every time point. CONCLUSION: The efficacy of low pressure lavage in wounds with exposed bone is questionable when irrigation is delayed beyond 4 hours.

Animals↗

A histomorphometric evaluation of heparin-induced bone loss after discontinuation of heparin treatment in rats.

Although it is well established that long-term heparin therapy causes osteoporosis, it is unknown whether heparin-induced bone loss is reversible when heparin treatment is stopped. To address this question, we randomized rats to once daily subcutaneous injections of either unfractionated heparin (1.0 U/g or 0.5 U/g) or saline for 28 days and then followed the rats for an additional 28 days off treatment. Based on histomorphometric analysis of the distal third of the right femur proximal to the epiphyseal growth plate, 1.0 U/g heparin caused a 30% loss in cancellous bone volume over the first 28 days. This was accompanied by a 137% increase in osteoclast surface and a 60% decrease in both osteoblast and osteoid surface. One month after cessation of heparin treatment, no recovery in these parameters was observed. Similarly, serum levels of alkaline phosphatase, a biochemical marker of bone formation, which continued to decrease over the course of heparin treatment, showed no signs of recovery in the subsequent 28 days off treatment. To explore the mechanism responsible for the prolonged effect of heparin on bone, we repeated the experiment giving 125I-labeled heparin in place of unlabeled heparin. 125I-labeled heparin was found to accumulate in bone during the course of its administration, and be retained in bone for at least 56 days after stopping heparin treatment. These findings suggest that heparin-induced osteoporosis is not rapidly reversible because heparin is sequestered in bone for an extended period.

Animals↗

High and low pressure pulsatile lavage of contaminated tibial fractures: an in vitro study of bacterial adherence and bone damage.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to examine the effect of pulsatile irrigation on microscopic bone architecture and its time-dependent efficacy in removing adherent slime-producing bacteria from cortical bone. DESIGN: Using an in vitro model, ten-millimeter transverse cut sections from five human tibiae were contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus and subjected to either high pressure pulsatile lavage (HPPL; seventy pounds per square inch, normal saline) or low pressure pulsatile lavage (LPPL; fourteen pounds per square inch, normal saline) or served as controls. Alteration of bony architecture was quantified by using a previously described ordinal scale and histomorphometric analysis of each transverse cut section of tibia. To assess the time-dependent effectiveness of pulsatile lavage in removing adherent bacteria from bone, ten-millimeter transverse cut sections from ten canine tibiae were contaminated with S. aureus and subjected to high or low pressure pulsatile lavage immediately or after one, three, or six hours. Scanning electron microscopy and bacterial cultures were used to assess the removal of adherent bacteria. RESULTS: HPPL resulted in significantly greater macroscopic damage than was seen with LPPL or in controls (ANOVA, p < 0.001). Histomorphometry revealed that HPPL was associated with significantly larger and more numerous fissures or defects in the cortical bone when compared with low pressure irrigation (p < 0.001). However, high and low pressure lavage were associated with similar degrees of periosteal separation from the cortical bone surface (p = 0.87). Both high and low pressure lavage were effective in removing adherent bacteria from bone at three hours irrigation delay, but only high pressure lavage removed adherent bacteria from bone at six hours delay. CONCLUSION: In this in vitro study, compared with HPPL, LPPL led to less structural damage and was equally effective in removing bacteria within three hours debridement delay; however, the efficacy of LPPL at six hours debridement delay is questionable. This finding may have clinical significance in the development of infection following open tibial fractures.

Animals↗

Organ injuries associated with femoral fractures: implications for severity of injury in motor vehicle collisions.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) resulting in femoral fractures were associated with a different injury severity and pattern of injury compared with crashes in which victims did not sustain femoral fractures. METHODS: Retrospective review of seriously injured motor vehicle occupants admitted to a regional trauma unit (Hamilton General Hospital) during a 69-month period (April 1991 to December 1996) for whom detailed crash details were known. RESULTS: Data for 733 motor vehicle occupants with Injury Severity Scores greater than 12 were available; 112 occupants (15.3%) sustained femoral fractures, and 621 occupants (84.7%) did not sustain femoral fractures. Victims with femoral fractures had a significantly higher mean Injury Severity Score (29.4 compared with 25.3 for non-femoral fracture group; p<0.001). The femoral fracture group had a higher incidence of bowel (p<0.012) and hemopneumothorax (p<0.02) injuries as well as an increased incidence of upper and lower extremity (p<0.001) and pelvic (p<0.05) fractures. CONCLUSION: The presence of a femoral fracture is strongly associated with the pattern and severity of injuries sustained by occupants in MVCs. A high index of suspicion is warranted in identifying associated organ injuries in MVC victims with concomitant femoral fractures.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Management of staghorn calculus: analysis of combination therapy and open surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the role of primary open surgery versus the recommended combination approach (percutaneous and lithotripsy) to treat staghorn calculi in a developing country. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Available records (n = 91) of patients with staghorn managed during the last 4 years were retrieved. Patients were placed in two groups, open surgery and combination group, according to the primary procedure chosen by the patient. Demographic data in two groups was comparable in most of the respects except that renal failure patients were more in the combination group. Stone clearance, major residue, auxiliary procedures, morbidity, hospital stay and the cost were studied in the two groups for comparison. RESULTS: Complete clearance could be obtained in 66 and 59% with open and combination method respectively. Major residue (> 16 mm2) was present in 21% of open and 38% of the combination group. In patients with primary stone burden < 900 mm2, the total clearance rates were 66 and 60% in open and combination group, respectively. Total clearance was not affected by caliceal dilatation, total stone burden, pelvic and caliceal bulk separately or their ratio, as arrived by logistic regression analysis. The incidence of haematuria in the combination group was marginally higher, probably due to more renal failure patients in this group. Hospital stay in the two groups was comparable (13.0 days in combination vs. 12.1 days for open). The cost of treatment with combination group was significantly higher. CONCLUSION: Open surgery for staghorn is still an economically viable option for difficult stone disease, specially in a developing country, with comparable efficacy, favourable morbidity and hospital stay.

Adult↗

Predictors of return to work after anterior cervical discectomy.

Return to previous level of employment after surgery is important to patients. Predictors of return to work have been well described in lumbar disc surgery. However, this information cannot be generalized to the population undergoing cervical discectomy. The authors retrospectively reviewed 67 consecutive patients who underwent anterior cervical discectomy. Strict inclusion criteria were used. Baseline demographics were recorded as well as other potential predictors of postoperative return to work such as number of levels of disease, smoking history, and disability claims. Follow-up information about work status was reviewed with each patient at office visit. Forty-five patients were found eligible for the study. At a mean follow-up of 2.8 years (SD 1.4), 38% had not returned to work by 1 year. Preoperative sick leave in this group was significantly greater than for those patients who returned to work within the year (p = 0.0014). Postoperative neck pain was more common in individuals who did not return to work after surgery (p = 0.01). Increasing age and disability claims also appeared to negatively impact the ability to return to work. Gender, type of work, smoking history, and number of levels of disc disease did not appear to have any association with postoperative return to work. The authors conclude that the duration preoperative sick leave and postoperative neck pain negatively impact postoperative work status in patients undergoing anterior cervical discectomy. Age and disability claims also influence return to work.

Adult↗

Early versus delayed operative management of closed tibial fractures.

Fractures of the tibial shaft are the most common long bone fractures. Operative treatment of isolated closed tibial shaft fractures frequently is delayed in favor of treatment of life threatening injuries. A retrospective chart review of 200 tibial fractures was performed. These injuries were managed by two surgeons at a Level 1 trauma center between 1989 and 1996. Strict inclusion criteria identified 54 patients with an isolated closed tibial fracture. Postoperative hospital stay and complication rates were recorded. At a mean followup of 3.6 years, a quality of life questionnaire was administered via telephone calls to these patients. Two patient groups were identified: Group 1, 21 patients (< 12-hour surgical delay); and Group 2, 33 patients (> 12-hour surgical delay). Both groups were similar for baseline characteristics. Group 2 patients remained an extra 4.6 days in the hospital. A Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that by the eighth postoperative day, all Group 1 patients were discharged from the hospital, whereas 47.8% of Group 2 patients remained in the hospital. Plate fixation was associated with a greater incidence of complications when compared with intramedullary nail internal fixation. Complication rates were significantly greater in the delayed surgical group. A multiple regression analysis revealed that surgical delay and postoperative complications accounted for 35% of the total variance in postoperative hospital stay. Time to surgical treatment was not prognostic of long term quality of life. Surgical delay results in longer postoperative hospital stays, greater complication rates, and increased total cost to the health care system.

Adult↗