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Biomedical subjects

N S Dwyer

Publications and source records attributed to N S Dwyer.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

Comparison of results of two approaches to hip screening in infants.

We compared the success of the screening programmes for congenital dislocation of the hip in two hospitals in the same district, as applied to 68,861 live births over 11 years. Both used only clinical tests on new-born infants. Screening was less successful when the tests were done by junior paediatric physicians than by senior physiotherapists supervised by an orthopaedic surgeon. Clinical screening can be highly effective provided that all babies are screened at birth, and high-risk cases are followed up by a properly trained team with a well-designed protocol.

England

Acute osteomyelitis in a district general hospital.

A survey of the 58 patients with acute osteomyelitis seen in one general hospital between 1969 and 1979 has shown that, although the condition is less common now than in the pre-antibiotic era, it remains a serious disease. Bone pain and tenderness are still the commonest symptoms, but the source of the infection is less apparent now than it used to be, and this may lead to delay in diagnosis. The antecedent trauma experienced by nearly half the patients probably predisposes to infection by causing local bone damage and thus a focus for secondary infection. The pattern of infecting organisms has not changed much over the past 11 years, but Haemophilus influenzae must be considered in children aged under 5 years. Treatment was the use of antibiotics, with surgical drainage if necessary. The commonest antibiotic used was clindamycin, and chronic osteomyelitis did not develop in patients treated with this antibiotic, whereas all 9 patients who had chronic sequelae necessitating sequestrectomy had received cloxacillin either alone or in combination with another antibiotic.

Acute Disease

An improved screening system for the early detection of congenital dislocation of the hip.

A screening programme for congenital dislocation of the hip in which physiotherapists examine all neonates is described, together with the results over a 7-year period. All easily reducible dislocated and dislocatable hips are splinted within 2-5 days of birth. Subluxable or "slidey" hips are identified and followed up but not splinted. Risk groups are also identified and followed up. There was a progressive decrease in the number of late diagnosed cases, a result suggesting that even late-presenting acetabular dysplasia can be eliminated by neonatal screening.

England

Early results of medial approach open reduction in congenital dislocation of the hip: use before walking age.

The operative findings and results in our first 40 consecutive open reductions of the congenitally dislocated hip by the medial approach are presented. These were all performed by one surgeon before walking age and, with one exception, all patients were aged less than 11 months at operation. Follow-up was from 2 to 7 years (mean 4.6 years). A vascular necrosis did not occur, but coxa magna and significant acetabular dysplasia were each present in one case. We have not performed any secondary operations.

Age Factors