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Biomedical subjects

R H Daffner

Publications and source records attributed to R H Daffner.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Helical CT of the cervical spine for trauma patients: a time study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to determine the time needed to perform a helical CT examination of the entire cervical spine. Our study population included 156 trauma victims: 100 of these patients underwent CT examination in conjunction with a cranial examination; the remaining 56 patients underwent a primary cervical examination only. CONCLUSION: Performing a cervical CT examination in conjunction with a cranial CT examination added an average of 12 min to the overall study time. The time for performing a primary cervical examination was 11 min on average. These times are approximately half of those required for a six-view radiographic evaluation. Helical CT has been suggested as a replacement for the more traditional radiographic evaluation of the cervical spine in trauma victims. Evidence now exists to support that recommendation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

A new classification for cervical vertebral injuries: influence of CT.

OBJECTIVE: Computed tomography (CT) has been demonstrated to be superior to radiography in identifying cervical vertebral injuries. However, many of these injuries may not be clinically significant, and require only minimal symptomatic and supportive treatment. It is therefore imperative that radiologists and spine surgeons have criteria for distinguishing between those injuries requiring surgical stabilization and those that do not. The authors propose a new classification of cervical vertebral injuries into two categories: major and minor. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: A data base, acquired on 1052 separate cervical injuries in 879 patients seen between 1983 and 1998, was reviewed. Four categories of injury based on mechanism [hyperflexion (four variants), hyperextension (two variants), rotary (two variants), and axial compression (five variants)] were identified. "Major" injuries are defined as having either radiographic or CT evidence of instability with or without associated localized or central neurologic findings, or have the potential to produce the latter. "Minor" injuries have no radiographic and/or CT evidence of instability, are not associated with neurologic findings, and have no potential to cause the latter. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Cervical injury should be classified as "major" if the following radiographic and/or CT criteria are present: displacement of more than 2 mm in any plane, wide vertebral body in any plane, wide interspinous/interlaminar space, wide facet joints, disrupted posterior vertebral body line, wide disc space, vertebral burst, locked or perched facets (unilateral or bilateral), "hanged man" fracture of C2, dens fracture, and type III occipital condyle fracture. All other types of fractures may be considered "minor".

Cervical Vertebrae↗
PubMed2000

On improvement of scientific presentations.

Scientific presentations require a great deal of preparation. Background lettering colors on the slide, the number of words on a slide, and the elimination of distracting factors are all important in determining the success of one's presentation. This brief paper has attempted to address some of these issues.

Audiovisual Aids↗
PubMed2000

Is a mixture of gadolinium and iodinated contrast material safe during MR arthrography?

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to determine whether a mixture of iodinated contrast material and gadopentetate dimeglumine used during MR arthrography yields free gadolinium ion, a systemically toxic metal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mixtures of commercially available nonionic and ionic iodinated contrast agent, gadopentetate dimeglumine, lidocaine, and epinephrine were analyzed using a spectrophotometric titration with a gadolinium ion titrant and methyl thymol blue indicator. RESULTS: We found no significant dissociation of gadolinium ion when gadopentetate dimeglumine was mixed with iodinated contrast agents, lidocaine, or epinephrine in any of the dilutions tested. CONCLUSION: Gadopentetate dimeglumine and iodinated contrast material can be mixed before MR imaging without any release of free gadolinium and are therefore safe for confirming the intraarticular placement of contrast material before MR arthrography.

Arthrography↗
PubMed2000

Cervical radiography for trauma patients: a time-effective technique?

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the time necessary to perform a six-view radiographic examination of the cervical vertebral column of trauma victims. In addition we compared the added examination times for 30 patients who underwent an additional helical CT examination of the cervical region immediately after cranial CT. CONCLUSION: Cervical radiography is a time-consuming procedure, which is a concern for trauma surgeons. A more efficient way for cervical evaluation of trauma patients needs to be adopted. Evidence now exists in the literature to suggest that helical CT can serve that purpose.

Accidents, Traffic↗