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Biomedical subjects

P A Helm

Publications and source records attributed to P A Helm.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Gait pattern alteration by functional sensory substitution in healthy subjects and in diabetic subjects with peripheral neuropathy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the ability of diabetic and nondiabetic individuals to learn to use a lower extremity sensory substitution device to cue gait pattern changes. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: Gait laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty diabetic persons and 20 age- and education-matched nondiabetic controls responded to advertisements for study participation. INTERVENTION: Participants walked on a treadmill at three speeds (1, 2, and 2.5mph) with auditory sensory feedback to cue ground contact greater than 80% duration of baseline. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: The variables measured included gait cycle (steps per minute) and number of times per minute that any step during a trial exceeded 80% duration of ground contacted compared with a measured baseline step length for each speed. RESULTS: Persons in both groups were able to rapidly and significantly alter their gait patterns in response to signals from the sensory substitution device, by changing their gait cycles (nondiabetic group, F(17,124) = 5.27, p < .001; diabetic group, F(5,172) = 3.45, p < .001). Post hoc analyses showed early gait cycle modification and error reduction among both groups. The nondiabetic group learned to use the device significantly more quickly than the diabetic group during the slow (1mph, t = 3.57, p < .001) and average (2mph, t = 2.97, p < .05) trials. By the fast (2.5mph) ambulation trial, both groups were performing equally, suggesting a rapid rate of adjustment to the device. No technical failures from gait trainer malfunction occurred during the study. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetic persons with neuropathy effectively used lower extremity sensory substitution, and the technology is now available to manufacture a durable, effective lower extremity sensory substitution system.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Is contractility depressed in the failing human heart?

Is contractility depressed in the failing human heart? The question must be approached in a stringent manner. Myocardium from failing human hearts has been shown to generate normal physiological force under the ideal conditions of low stimulation and an adequate energy supply. Nevertheless, even when subjected to physiologically conducive conditions, failing myocardium experiences a slowed relaxation, adversely affecting the diastolic properties of the heart. In addition, experiments have shown that increasing the contraction rates of failing hearts clearly results in lowered force and pressure evolution. This information indicates a decrease in contractile reserve in both a systolic and diastolic sense. Not surprisingly, the term end-stage heart failure becomes questionable when applied to myocardium obtained from patients undergoing cardiac transplantation. A number of studies involve such myocardium from feasible regions of the heart perfused within ideal physiological conditions yielding, at times, nonfailing performance. Therefore, it becomes imperative to bear in mind the role of such myocardium within the framework of the entire diseased heart.

Calcium↗
PubMed1995

Total-contact casting, sandals, and insoles. Construction and applications in a total foot-care program.

It must be stressed that these tools do not exist in a vacuum and that no single tool is particularly useful unless it is a part of a comprehensive, lifelong foot-care program. A partnership between the health care provider and the patient is essential in making any of these techniques useful. On the positive side, a program incorporating these techniques can be very successful with even the most difficult population. The very successful Parkland Memorial Hospital program provides care for a county hospital population that is often difficult in terms of compliance. Without question, the reasons for incorporating such a program in a public facility are sound. Amputations are avoided; and patients remain or become more functional, thus decreasing hospital cost and patient morbidity and mortality and increasing the patient's potential for contributing to society. Similarly, in private facilities, once the program is established, costs need not run high and considerable amounts can be saved by helping heal and/or prevent the horrendous sequelae of diabetic neuropathies.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMed1992

Burn rehabilitation: dimensions of the problem.

Recent improvements in the mortality rates of burned patients are attributed to the expansion of specialized burn centers. Satellite treatment areas with trained personnel need to be developed, located away from the burn center, and efforts should be made to increase the number of patient programs at existing burn centers. In addition, studies need to be conducted on cost consequences, hypertrophic scarring, peripheral and central nervous system involvement, musculoskeletal changes, sleep deprivation, and the comparison of various treatment techniques to determine what protocols provide the best treatment outcome.

Burn Units↗
PubMed1991

Recurrence of neuropathic ulceration following healing in a total contact cast.

Total contact casting has been clearly shown to be an effective technique in the healing of diabetic neuropathic foot ulcerations. The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to determine the rate of ulcer recurrence in a large population of patients whose ulcerations had healed in a total contact cast, and (2) to determine the reason for which ulcerations had recurred. A random sample of 102 patients was taken from a much larger population, all of whom had healed in a total contact cast. There were 54 men and 48 women, all of whom were diabetics, averaging 50.5 years of age. These patients had an average wound size of 2.6cm by 1.9cm prior to casting and an average healing time of 33.9 days. At the time the sample was drawn, it had been an average of 25 months since casting for this group. Twenty (19.6%) of the 102 patients had ulcer recurrences since initially healing in a cast. Causes of ulcer recurrence were failure to comply with follow-up foot-wear/foot-care protocol (n = 8), biomechanical faults (n = 5), osteophyte or bone fragment (n = 4), osteomyelitis (n = 5), and Charcot joint (n = 4). Some patients had multiple etiologies.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Total contact casting and chronic diabetic neuropathic foot ulcerations: healing rates by wound location.

This study investigated healing rates of chronic diabetic neuropathic foot ulcerations located on the plantar surface of the forefoot (n = 30) versus those located on other parts of the foot (n = 25). Each type of ulceration was treated with total contact casting. Ulcerations in the first group were located on the metatarsal heads and toes, while ulcerations in the second group were located on the dorsum of the foot, heel, plantar arch, ankle, medial aspect of foot, and toe or transmetatarsal amputation sites. Successfully healed diabetic neuropathic foot ulcerations treated with total contact casting were rated according to patient age, ethnic origin, sex, patient weight, ulcer size, ulcer location, duration of ulcer prior to casting, and ulcer grade. Analysis of variance and posthoc analyses demonstrated that (1) total contact casting was a highly effective method of treatment regardless of ulcer location (forefoot ulcer healing time mean = 30.6 days; nonforefoot ulcer healing time mean = 42.1 days) and (2) forefoot ulcerations healed significantly faster than ulcerations located on other parts of the foot. Complex correlational relationships were explored in this study, and multiple regression equations were developed for each location grouping.

Casts, Surgical↗
PubMed1987

New bone formation at amputation sites in electrically burn-injured patients.

Sixty-one amputation sites in 43 electrically injured men were examined for significant new bone formation. Twenty-eight amputations were classified as long bone (6 above knee, 4 below knee, 4 above elbow, 14 below elbow); 28 small bone (9 hand or finger and 19 foot or toe); and 5 disarticulations. Significant new bone formation occurred at the amputation site in 23 (82%) of the 28 long bone cases, but none occurred in the small bone or disarticulation cases. This difference was significant at the 0.0001 level (chi square = 40.53, 2 df). Fourteen (78%) of upper and nine (90%) of lower extremity sites had significant new bone formation. The average time from amputation to diagnosis of new bone was 38 weeks, range from 5 to 110 weeks. Eight of these 23 patients required surgical revision of the stump and/or revision or reconstruction of their prosthesis. Clearly, the ability to predict new bone formation in electrical burn amputees has important clinical and economic applications.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Return to work following hand burns.

Time to return to work following hand burns was studied in 70 patients in relation to several variables: 1. total body surface area (TBSA) burned; 2. hand burned; 3. grafting; 4. patient age; 5. occupational category. Return to work data were also compared by meta-analysis to data in prior reports on return to work in nonburn hand injuries. Patients were evaluated during their hospital stay on all independent variables, and at 8 months following discharge as to the date of return to work. Of the 70 patients selected for the study, 52 (74%) had returned to work at the 8-month assessment. The best predictor of time to return to work was TBSA burned, followed by "grafting" and "hand burned." No significant differences or predictors were found for patient age, occupational category, or between nonburn hand trauma patients in prior reports. Conclusions are drawn concerning the usefulness of these results in terms of case management and economic impact in hand-burn injuries.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Neuromuscular problems in the burn patient: cause and prevention.

Neuromuscular complications of the burn patient that occur during hospitalization frequently are overlooked. Eighty-eight patients with signs of weakness or complaints of easy fatigability were examined clinically and electrodiagnostically. The most frequently diagnosed neuromuscular abnormality in this study was generalized peripheral neuropathy. Other specific neuromuscular problems, in order of frequency of occurrence, were found to involve the deltoid muscle, peroneal nerve, ulnar nerve, median nerve, and brachial plexus. These lesions are found to be commonly due to (1) poor positioning, both in bed and in the operating room, and (2) heavy bulky dressings over superficial nerves. Thus, it is concluded that many of these injuries offer a significant potential for prevention through attention to physiologic positioning and meticulous patient care.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Total contact casting in diabetic patients with neuropathic foot ulcerations.

This study investigated total contact casting in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcerations and factors affecting the rate of ulcer healing. Twenty-two diabetic patients with foot ulcerations were rated on the basis of age, weight, ulcer size, and ulcer grade. After treatment with total contact casting, 16 patients (72.7%) healed in an average of 38.3 days, 3 refused treatment, 1 developed a small tibial ulceration, and the remainder were discontinued due to excessive edema. A significant (p less than 0.01) t test for differences between means was calculated comparing ulcer duration prior to casting to healing rate during casting. All patient variables were intercorrelated, and significant (p less than 0.01) intercorrelations among patient variables were as follows: age with grade, 0.58; grade with healing time, 0.49; size with healing time, 0.50; age with ulcer size, 0.36; weight with ulcer size, 0.37; age with healing time, 0.32. A multiple correlation of 0.69 (p less than 0.01) was found for age, grade, size, and weight with healing time. Ulcer grade and size contributed most directly to the total multiple correlation; age contributed equally to size, grade, and healing time; and weight contributed primarily to ulcer size. These results suggest the following: 1) total contact casting is an extremely valuable method of treatment for diabetic foot ulcerations, and 2) when using this treatment technique associated factors (ulcer size, ulcer grade, patient age, patient weight) may be utilized to help predict patient healing.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Burn injury: rehabilitation management in 1982.

Coincident with the recent development of more effective acute care of burn injured patients, has been the growth of dynamic, integrated rehabilitative efforts. The physical, emotional, and social problems that face the thermally injured patient must be solved in a constructive, coordinated manner within the matrix of total patient care. Most burns are minor burns, which may be optimally treated on an outpatient basis in a physical medicine department. Hospitalized patients, with more extensive and severe burns, should have the benefit of rehabilitative team efforts immediately after injury. We describe a comprehensive approach to the rehabilitative care of the thermally injured, including the techniques of wound management, positioning, splinting, and exercise at all chronologic phases of care. The psychosocial component of patient care is also discussed and the importance of counseling and relaxation methods addressed. Specialized problems and therapeutic techniques associated with hand burns are explained and appropriate splinting methods are illustrated.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Lymphedema incidence after specific postmastectomy therapy.

In a retrospective study the incidence of lymphedema was analyzed in 58 women, ages 35 to 81 years, who had received a specific treatment program after radical or modified radical mastectomy for breast carcinoma in a county hospital. Thirty-nine percent (23 patients) had cobalt treatment and 48% (28 patients) had delayed wound healing. Circumferential measurements of both upper limbs were obtained at specific corresponding sites. At the end of the 12 months, 69% of the patients had no lymphedema, 22.4% had slight lymphedema, 5.2% had moderate lymphedema and 3.4% had severe lymphedema. The benefits of close follow-up and specific treatment of mastectomized patients are evidenced in this study by the relatively large group of patients which was free of lymphedema over an extended period of time in spite of wound healing complications.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Burn rehabilitation-a team approach.

The team concept in the treatment of burned patients is an effective approach in caring for the physical, psychological, and social needs of the patient. Through the initiation of early rehabilitation services, long-term problems can be prevented and a quicker return to a meaningful life style is possible.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The problem of Social Security disability determination for the burn patient. A report from the Committee on Rehabilitation of the American Burn Association (ABA).

The ABA Rehabilitation Committee has developed a form to be included in the hospital record at discharge that should facilitate the Social Security disability determination process for the burn patient. This form should aid in the disability determination process by guiding the Social Security disability examiner to the pertinent evidence of limitation and chronicity in the often cumbersome medical record and by emphasizing the multiple body system nature of the severe burn injury.

Burns↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Range of motion of the shoulder performed while patient is anesthetized.

Significant loss of shoulder range of motion (ROM) in the early stages of burn recovery is a common and frustrating complication of burn injury. Pain is a primary reason for decreased motion: it prevents the patient from cooperating in an aggressive therapy program that could minimize contracture formation. To combat loss of movement without inflicting severe pain, the performance of ROM exercises and gentle passive stretching while patients were anesthetized was used as a treatment. A total of 59 treatments were performed on 14 patients who had limited unilateral or bilateral shoulder motion. A significant gain in shoulder ROM was attained when this treatment was performed and resulted in an increase in shoulder ROM when the patient was alert after anesthesia compared with preanesthesia measurements.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Return to work after burn injury.

The research literature suggests but does not test the hypothesis that differential factors determine when a patient will return to work after serious burn injury. In this study, factors influencing time before return to work after serious burn injury were investigated prospectively as part of a large burn research project. Sixty-five patients with burns who had returned to work were followed. Several variables were examined, including percent total body surface area burned, total percent of partial-thickness burn, total percent of full-thickness burn, duration of treatment, payment source for treatment, sex, race, type of burn, and age. The most significant predictor of time before return to work was percent total body surface area burned, followed by percent body surface area with full-thickness burns, percent body surface area with partial-thickness burns, and number of weeks of treatment, respectively. Sufficient data were available to develop a regression equation to specifically predict time before return to work. The data presented here are useful in informing patients, families, employers, and health-funding agencies as to the probable delay before return to work that can be expected after serious burn injury. In particular, predictability refinements are possible with the regression equation developed in this study.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The status of burn rehabilitation services in the United States: results of a national survey.

A survey to determine the status of burn rehabilitation services in the United States was developed and sent to 186 burn treatment facilities. The facilities were divided into four groups based upon number of admissions per year (0 to 80, 81 to 120, 121 to 200, and 200+). Completed surveys were received from 114 facilities. Results indicated that burn facilities of different sizes were consistent with respect to the severity of burn injuries treated, the length of hospitalization for acute injuries, and the duration of physician follow-up after discharge. Burn facilities with more admissions were more likely to report (1) organized outpatient burn rehabilitation programs, (2) available specialized burn rehabilitation personnel, (3) regular interdisciplinary inpatient staffing conferences and outpatient clinics, and (4) structured educational activities for staff and Full-time equivalent burn rehabilitation personnel were equally represented across facilities of different sizes. The overall results suggest that there have been substantial improvements in the comprehensiveness of burn rehabilitation care since a previous survey in 1983. Minimum guidelines for burn rehabilitation are suggested based upon the relative consistency between burn facilities indicated by the survey results.

Burn Units↗