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Biomedical subjects

P A Griffin

Publications and source records attributed to P A Griffin.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

A dynamic anatomical study of ulnar nerve motion after anterior transposition for cubital tunnel syndrome.

Cubital tunnel syndrome is the second most commonly encountered compression neuropathy of the upper limb. Multiple techniques for surgical management have been proposed but no universally accepted algorithm for management exists. Six cadaveric upper limbs underwent ulnar nerve decompression and anterior transposition into subcutaneous and then submuscular positions. After marking nerves with tungsten, radiological examination of nerve motion was performed and nerve angulations were measured in the region of the flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU) origin. Comparison of ulnar nerves in each position revealed statistically significant greater angulation after subcutaneous transposition than after submuscular transposition with the elbow held in full flexion. This point of angulation may act as a secondary point of compression or as a focus for neuritis and scar formation. This finding can contribute to the understanding of why differing outcomes may be observed after different forms of anterior transposition.

Cadaver↗

Statistical approach to shape from shading: reconstruction of three-dimensional face surfaces from single two-dimensional images.

The human visual system is proficient in perceiving three-dimensional shape from the shading patterns in a two-dimensional image. How it does this is not well understood and continues to be a question of fundamental and practical interest. In this paper we present a new quantitative approach to shape-from-shading that may provide some answers. We suggest that the brain, through evolution or prior experience, has discovered that objects can be classified into lower-dimensional object-classes as to their shape. Extraction of shape from shading is then equivalent to the much simpler problem of parameter estimation in a low-dimensional space. We carry out this proposal for an important class of three-dimensional (3D) objects: human heads. From an ensemble of several hundred laser-scanned 3D heads, we use principal component analysis to derive a low-dimensional parameterization of head shape space. An algorithm for solving shape-from-shading using this representation is presented. It works well even on real images where it is able to recover the 3D surface for a given person, maintaining facial detail and identity, from a single 2D image of his face. This algorithm has applications in face recognition and animation.

Brain↗

Burns to the hand.

Hands are a common area for burns to occur. Small, superficial burns may need little medical care whereas larger, deeper burns require the services of a specialised burn team and a variety of reconstructive plastic surgical techniques to avoid long-term stiffness and minimise functional loss.

Burns↗

Designing conditional release systems for insanity acquittees.

Monitored treatment in the community, also known as conditional release, has been described as the most important advance in the treatment of insanity acquittees in the last decade. Despite the importance of the development of conditional release, however, there has been relatively little written about relevant issues and planning principles important in designing and implementing conditional release systems. The present paper discusses important considerations relevant to conditional release that are associated with key decision points within systems for persons found not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI). Four planning principles, generalizable to all NGRI systems, are then presented in a way that integrates the previous discussion. It is concluded that conditional release plays a crucial role in the treatment of insanity acquittees and that mental health administrators may either proactively modify their systems, in a way that balances public safety with individual rights and treatment needs, or wait for the modification mandate to be forced upon them in the wake of a highly publicized, heinous offense.

Community Mental Health Services↗

Cardiac rehabilitation in the workplace. Current concepts and methodology.

Identification and modification of risk factors for cardiovascular disease can be carried out effectively in the workplace. Coronary artery disease is multifactorial. A cardiac exercise program conducted by the occupational health nurse should serve as a catalyst for modification of all coronary risk factors. Employers have begun to value and support worksite cardiac rehabilitation programs because of the benefits of health care cost avoidance, increased attendance and productivity at work, and improved employee relations. It is the responsibility of the occupational health nurse and other health care providers to see that this continues.

Cardiac Rehabilitation↗

Paediatric hand injuries and the galvanized-iron fence.

A review of all cases of operative hand surgery at The Adelaide Children's Hospital during the period January 1-June 30, 1988 yielded 38 cases that resulted from trauma (burns and fractures excluded). Lacerations from uncapped galvanized-iron fences occurred in 10 patients. Of these patients, two patients required skin grafts, seven patients had flexor-tendon injuries and three patients suffered digital-nerve lacerations. Twenty-five fingers were damaged. The pattern of injury involves multiple digits at different levels, with distally-based skin flaps, frequent divisions of flexor tendons and less-frequent nerve damage. This serious injury is common in South Australia but could be prevented easily by capping all iron fences.

Accidents, Home↗

Late arterial thrombosis in a replanted thumb: a case report.

A case of arterial occlusion occurred nine years after replantation of a thumb. Factors implicated were smoking and repeated blunt trauma to the first web space. The digit was successfully revascularized after excision of a segment of thrombosed arterial vein graft.

Adult↗