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Biomedical subjects

R O Pierce

Publications and source records attributed to R O Pierce.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

The effect of ethanol on bone mineral.

Chronic alcoholics frequently have osteopenia. This usually leads to an increase in long bone fractures. The exact cause of these changes is unknown. They could be caused by a change in the calcium metabolism or a change in the organic phase of bone. To elucidate the exact mechanism by which these changes occur, the following study was done. Forty-six Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups. Two groups received alcohol, and two groups served as control. One set of each group received a fracture to the leg in order to study any change that might occur in the organic phase of bone. Our findings in these animals demonstrated that alcohol causes osteopenia due to a change in calcium metabolism and does not appear to effect the organic phase of bone.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Comparison of hip fracture mortality: 1946 to 1955 vs. 1982 to 1986.

Hip fracture mortality was compared for patients treated surgically at the same hospital from 1946 to 1955 and from 1982 to 1986. Almost all hip fractures were treated surgically (98%) in the 1980 series, compared to the 1950 series (69%). The four-week surgical mortality rate decreased significantly from 13% to 4.2%. The internal fixation implants were different except for Knowles pins. The use of prostheses had increased four-fold from 4% to 17%. Most hip fracture patients were mobilized out of bed and earlier in the 1980 series, and most patients started physical therapy earlier. Possible factors contributing to this decrease in mortality include better medical management, better implants to allow rapid mobilization of the patient, emphasis on early physical therapy and advances in anesthesia.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Simultaneous bilateral tibial tubercle avulsion fracture.

Bilateral simultaneous tibial tubercle avulsion fractures are extremely rare. The present case was a 16-year-old boy who sustained bilateral simultaneous tibial tubercle avulsion fractures (Watson-Jones Type III) from jumping while playing basketball. Both fractures were treated successfully by open reduction and internal fixation with screws. Three years later, the patient had the screws removed because of knee pain and tenderness over the screws.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Fractures of the humerus, radius, and ulna in the same extremity.

Fracture of the humerus, radius, and ulna is a rare combined injury. In our review of 21 cases, it was found that this injury was usually a result of rather severe trauma. There are frequently associated injuries to other organ systems. The most common associated injury was residual nerve damage, which occurred in over 50% of cases. Of all the different treatment modalities no one was found to be better than the others.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Aseptic necrosis of the hip in sickle cell disease.

Aseptic necrosis of the hip occurs in people with sickle cell disease. No one physician has had a great deal of experience treating this lesion. Because sickle cell patients are felt to have decreased longevity, traditional treatment is frequently not offered or considered. The purpose of this paper is to report the results in patients using a more conservative approach.

Anemia, Sickle Cell↗
PubMed1979

Internal derangement of the sternoclavicular joint.

Indirect injuries to the sternoclavicular joint can result in an internal derangement. The major injury is to the intra-articular disk. The condition is generally caused by indirect injury to the shoulder, and causes tenderness, mild swelling and a clicking sensation over the joint. An arthrogram may well prove helpful in diagnosis. The lesion is treated by simple disk excision.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Bone changes in alcoholics.

Man has consumed alcohol for its euphoric and sedative effect down through the ages. Attention in the medical literature has been primarily focused on the effects of alcohol on the nervous system and liver. In the past few years, isolated reports have appeared in the medical literature concerning the effects of alcohol on the bony skeleton. The purpose of this paper is to classify these lesions, discuss their pathophysiology, and briefly review their clinical course. The lesions discussed include osteoporosis, hip fractures, aseptic necrosis of the hip, and fat embolism. For the purpose of this discussion these lesions are divided into two groups. Group I includes the battered alcoholic syndrome. Group II includes fat embolism, both acute and chronic, and aseptic necrosis of the hip.

Adult↗