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Biomedical subjects

S W Becker

Publications and source records attributed to S W Becker.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

The role of plasma transglutaminase (F XIII) in wound healing of complicated pressure sores after spinal cord injury.

STUDY DESIGN: A case report. OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate stimulating action of F XIII in wound healing of complicated pressure sores. SETTING: A Spinal Cord Injury Center in Germany. METHODS: Clinical exam, clinical and photographic wound control, biochemical serum monitoring. RESULTS: Recurrent pressure sores in plegic patients are common complications requiring long-standing conservative or operative therapy. Additional risk factors such as diabetes increase the complication rate for surgery. Surgery itself may be difficult in recurrent pressure sores due to limited remaining soft tissues. We report the case and treatment of a 47-year-old patient with long-standing and recurrent ulcers and complications after flap surgery. As a final option we added plasma transglutaminase (factor XIII) to our treatment scheme which changed the course of the disease dramatically and we achieved complete and rapid healing. CONCLUSION: Our experience suggests that F XIII has a positive role in treating pressure sores as shown already in several other surgical fields. Its use is giving the surgeon an additional tool in complicated cases.

Humans↗
PubMed1985

An instrument to measure the activity level of the blind.

A questionnaire to measure the activity level of people with visual handicaps was developed in which separate components of activity are measured: "independence" and "difficulty" in performing various activities, "felt loss" in not performing the activities, and "motivation to learn" the activities. The responses of 129 veterans who completed this questionnaire were analyzed. Attempts were made to determine the reliability and validity of the scales. The questionnaire can be regarded as useful to evaluate both what patients are specifically taught and how that training effects activities not specifically taught.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1982

Evaluating the rehabilitation process: an example with the blind.

The research methods presented here were developed for the evaluation of the CBRC (Central Blind Rehabilitation Center) at Hines. These methods are applicable to the evaluation of other blind rehabilitation programs. In addition, most of the strategies are applicable to other kinds of rehabilitation programs. The process of defining goals and of determining outcome variables is a necessary step in effective evaluation regardless of the population and program in question. It is essential to measure the influence of patient variables on treatment outcomes for all populations undergoing rehabilitation. The measures to evaluate these out-come and patient variables must be demonstrably reliable and valid. The methods used to identify and define variables, the research design and methods to produce reliable measures all can be used to evaluate a variety of programs as well as individual treatments and devices.

Blindness↗