PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P B Chacha

Publications and source records attributed to P B Chacha.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament of the cervical spine in non-Japanese Asians.

"The Japanese disease," ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, is not confined to the Japanese only. A similar incidence of 0.8% was found in this study among non-Japanese Asians. Of 5167 patients who attended the Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore for cervical spine complaints, 43 patients were found to have ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, forming the largest non-Japanese series. All but one patient were of Mongolian origin, and males were affected four times more commonly than females. Diabetes mellitus was present in 16%. There was a significant association between ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament and calcification of other cervical paraspinal ligaments. It is suggested that a generalized tendency to calcification may be an important etiological factor in ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Four of the patients required surgery, and in our experience, anterior spinal fusion with removal of the ossified ligament or multilevel laminoplasty gives satisfactory results.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Stress fractures around the knee in elderly patients. A cause of acute pain in the knee.

A review of the cases of sixteen elderly patients who had eighteen stress fractures around the knee revealed that thirteen fractures had been misdiagnosed, which led to inappropriate management of six. The most frequent factor contributing to misdiagnosis was the presence of other abnormalities of the knee for which the patient had previously consulted the physician. Conservative treatment with rest, walking aids, and, for some patients, splinting of the extremity resulted in relief of pain and healing of the fracture. A careful clinical assessment that includes new radiographs and, if necessary, bone scans is essential for early diagnosis in patients who have acute, incapacitating pain in the knee.

Aged↗
PubMed1979

Midline prolapse of a lumbar intervertebral disc with compression of the cauda equina.

Midline prolapse of a disc causing compression of the cauda equina is rare but needs urgent diagnosis and surgical treatment. The onset of bladder and rectal paralysis with saddle anaesthesia should be viewed with a high index of suspicion in a patient with backache and sciatica. Eight cases were seen over a period of five years, and they fell into three clinical groups. Group I patients presented with a sudden onset without any previous symptoms related to the back. Group II patients had a history of recurrent episodes of backache and sciatica, the latest episode resulting in involvement of the cauda equina. The group III patient was indistinguishable from one with a tumour as he presented with backache and sciatica slowly progressing to paralysis of the cauda equina. The prolapse was at the disc between L5 and S1 vertebrae in 50 per cent of the patients, most of whom did not have any limitation of straight leg raising. Urgent myelography and equally urgent removal of the disc within two weeks of the onset of the symptoms resulted in almost complete motor and bladder recovery within five months after the operation in most cases. However, recovery of sensation and sexual function was incomplete even four years after the operation.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Operating microscope, microsurgical instruments and microsutures.

A comprehensive knowledge of operating microscope, microsurgical instruments and microsutures is most essential for any beginner in this field. Magnification provided by an operation microscope is higher and variable to suit microsurgical procedures. Although zoom magnification and focussing are preferable for convenience, microscopes with manual controls can be used for clinical and experimental work. A beam splitter and camera equipment are essential accessories. Microsurgical instruments are delicate and expensive and must be bought with discretion and carefully protected. Fine dissecting forceps, needle holder, microscissors, microvascular clamps and clips and fine haemostats are the only essential instruments. Others are optional. Microsutures form the most expensive part of the microsurgical setup. 10-0polyamide suture mounted on a curved round bodied needle of 4 or 5 mm length is adequate for virtually all clinical and experimental microsurgical work.

Fiber Optic Technology↗
PubMed1979

Replantation of digits using microvascular technique.

This paper reports our experience of replantation of 31 digits. The operative technique and sequence of replantation is described. We have attempted to classify the functional results into three groups: near normal, useful and useless digits.

Amputation, Traumatic↗
PubMed1978

Primary repair of flexor tendons within the digital theca of the hand.

The results of primary repair of the flexor tendons within the digital theca of the hand in twenty-three fingers have been very encouraging. Eighty-seven percent of the fingers had excellent to good results. Primary tenorrhapy by the technique described in selected cases offers the patient a shorter period of disablement with functional results as good or even better than those after a free tendon graft.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Experimental sensory reinnervation of the median nerve by nerve transfer in monkeys.

Anastomosis of the superficial radial nerve, the dorsal cutaneous branch of the ulnar nerve, or both to the distal cut end of a widely resected median nerve in monkeys was followed by successful sensory reinnervation of the thumb, index finger, and long finger within thiry-five to forty weeks. Success was ascertained by the presence of an intact anastomosis as observed grossly without any evidence of spontaneous regeneration of the median nerve. Reinnervation was confirmed by histological and histochemical reactions observed in the Meissner's corpuscles in the skin innervated by the median nerve. The demonstration of nerve fiber and the presence of normal specific and non-specific cholinesterase reactions exhibited by the Meissner's corpuscles in the cholinesterase preparations were considered the histological criteria for successful reinnervation. These histological and histochemical observations may explain the reported functional sensory recovery in clinical cases when similar nerve transfers were done.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Fractures of the neck of the femur in childhood and adolescence.

Twenty cases of fracture of the neck of the femur in children and adolescents below the age of 20 were reviewed. The most important single prognostic factor was the degree of displacement of the fracture at the time of injury. Undisplaced fractures, whether treated conservatively or by internal fixation, did well. Displaced fractures, however, always required internal fixation with thin pins after accurate correction of displacement. The various complications of this fracture in children are discussed. Acute necrosis of articular cartilage following this fracture in children is recorded for the first time in 2 cases.

Adolescent↗