Biomedical subjects

S Orkun

Publications and source records attributed to S Orkun.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Brucellar spondylodiscitis: a case report.

Brucellosis is a common zoonosis which still remains as a major health problem in certain parts of the world. Osteoarticular involvement is the most frequent complication of brucellosis, in which the diagnosis of brucellar spondylodiscitis is often difficult since the clinical presentation may be obscured by many other conditions. Herein, we reported an uncommon case of spondylodiscitis due to brucella in an elderly male who had diabetes mellitus and degenerative spinal disease as underlying conditions. The diagnosis was established by using magnetic resonance imaging after the brucella-agglutination test was found to be positive. The diagnosis was also confirmed by positive blood culture. A high degree of suspicion in the diagnosis of brucellar spondylitis is essential to reduce the delay for the treatment. Thus, it should be essentially included in the differential diagnosis of longstanding back pain particularly in regions where brucellosis is endemic. Screening serologic tests for brucella should be used more widely in cases with low index of suspicion, especially in endemic areas.

Aged↗

PubMed2000

Traumatic spinal cord injuries in Turkey: a nation-wide epidemiological study.

STUDY DESIGN: An epidemiological study conducted all over the country. OBJECTIVE: The present retrospective study was conducted to survey the new traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) cases during 1992 in Turkey. SETTING: Intensive care units, emergency services and departments of orthopaedic surgery, neurosurgery and rehabilitation of state hospitals, rehabilitation centers, military and university hospitals. METHODS: Postal questionnaires were used for data collection and the records from medical institutes nation-wide were reviewed for the analysis of the epidemiological factors. RESULTS: Five hundred and eighty-one new traumatic SCI cases were reported in 1992. The annual incidence was found to be 12.7 per million population. Male to female ratio was 2.5:1 and the average age at injury was 35.5+/-15.1 (35.4+/-14.8 for males and 35.9+/-16.0 for females). The most common cause of injury was motor vehicle accidents (48.8%) followed by falls (36.5%), stab wounds (3.3%), gunshot injuries (1.9%) and injuries from diving (1.2%). One hundred and eighty-seven patients (32.18%) were tetraplegic and 394 patients (67.8%) were paraplegic. The most common level of injury was C5 among tetraplegics and T12 among paraplegics. The most prevalent associated injury was head trauma followed by extremity fractures. Severe head trauma resulting in death may obscure the real incidence of SCI and may cause underreporting of cases in epidemiological studies. CONCLUSION: Considering that motor vehicle accidents and falls were found to be the leading causes of traumatic SCI, it was concluded that the prevention measures should be focused mainly on these in order to reduce the frequency of SCI in Turkey.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Postacute predictors of functional and cognitive progress in traumatic brain injury: somatosensory evoked potentials.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prognostic value of electrophysiologic studies performed during the postacute phase after traumatic brain injury (TBI). DESIGN: A prospective comparative study in which 26 patients with TBI participated. Patients were grouped according to their admission short-latency somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) results. Nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were applied to different SEP groups to determine the differences among them in specific functional and cognitive outcome measures. SETTING: An inpatient brain injury rehabilitation unit. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-six patients with TBI who were admitted to the rehabilitation center at the postacute phase for a late inpatient rehabilitation program and 15 age-matched healthy subjects who served as a control group for the electrophysiologic comparison. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Motricity Index, Barthel Index, Disability Rating Scale, Mini-Mental Status Exam, and Rancho Los Amigos Scale. RESULTS: Disability Rating Scale scores at discharge and rate of change of Barthel Index scores differed between median nerve SEP classification groups (p<.05 for both). Disability Rating Scale scores at admission (p<.05) and at discharge (p<.01), Barthel Index scores at discharge (p<.05), and rate of change of Barthel Index scores (p<.05) differed between tibial nerve SEP classification groups. There was a relation between Motricity Index side scores at discharge and the different body side SEP response groups (p<.0001). Cognitive results showed no relation to the SEP groups. CONCLUSIONS: Postacute SEP scores after a late admission to a rehabilitation center showed a relation to measures of functional and motor progress. Patients with better SEP responses were more likely to experience greater functional and motor improvement. Cognitive functions were not related to SEP results.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

The Turkish experience of poliomyelitis before and after a vaccination campaign.

It is very important that the poliovirus is eradicated as it has caused serious and permanent disabilities during the present century. In order to achieve success in the rehabilitation of poliomyelitis patients the role of vaccination compaigns as an essential part of preventive medical care should be appreciated. After every vaccination campaign successful results have been obtained. Thus we are optimistic that if these vaccination campaigns are carried out successful results will be achieved as was obtained after the 1985 vaccination campaign. As is understood from our report, according to the results of the 1985 vaccination campaign successful long-term results have been achieved. The results of the 1995 campaign will also be seen at a future date as this article does not report them. We appreciate the cooperation and support given by WHO during the staging of these campaigns.

Humans↗

PubMed1996

Delayed post-traumatic syringohydromyelia after an uncomplicated fracture of the spine: case report and literature review.

A patient who had had a traffic accident resulting with a compression fracture of the L1 vertebra but with no neurological deficits, developed urinary incontinence and weakness in his lower extremities 25 years after the spinal injury. An MRI scan of the spine revealed gliosis of the conus medullaris at the level of the compression fracture, with syringohydromyelia extending from T6 to conus medullaris. The patient underwent a rehabilitation program at the end of which he was able to ambulate independently.

Accidents, Traffic↗

PubMed1993

Kinematic gait analysis in hemiplegic patients.

Temporal-distance variables of gait were investigated in 8 female and 23 male hemiplegic patients in order to assess the distribution of these variables according to functional ambulation category and to evaluate their validity. Video-recording technique was used for obtaining the temporal-distance values. Velocity, step-time, stride length and stride length in relation to lower extremity length proved to be valuable measures in the gait analysis, while cadence, step-time and step-time differential values seemed to be less important.

Female↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Two clinical problems in elderly men: osteoporosis and erectile dysfunction.

Seventy-six of 108 random men aged 50 years or over were evaluated for erectile dysfunction with interviews of patients using the International Index of Erectile Function Form and minimal evaluation. Serum hormone concentrations were measured. Bone mineral density was measured using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Hormone levels did not show significance in terms of erectile dysfunction or bone mineral density results. Erectile dysfunction was determined in 57 (75%) of 76 patients. Ten (13.2%) patients had osteoporosis and 45 (59.2%) had osteopenia at the bone mineral density measurements. The distribution of bone mineral density groups relating to erectile dysfunction did not show significance. The frequencies of osteoporosis and erectile dysfunction increased with age, but the association of these conditions seems to be independent of each other and hormonal changes appear not to be the major determinants for both conditions in elderly men.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗