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T Pohjolainen

Publications and source records attributed to T Pohjolainen.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Calcitonin treatment in lumbar spinal stenosis: clinical observations.

The prognosis of patients with lumbar spinal stenosis is usually considered poor, and they often need decompression surgery. This study investigates the clinical efficacy and safety of intramuscular calcitonin therapy in 15 lumbar spinal stenosis patients with a neurogenic claudication syndrome. The study is based on several tests used to measure the patient's physical performance capacity. Calcitonin had some beneficial effects on the patients without appreciable side-effects. Because of possible placebo effect, a double-blind cross-over study has been started.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Primary survival and prosthetic fitting of lower limb amputees.

During the period 1984-1985 amputation of the lower limb at a level potentially requiring a prosthesis was performed on 577 patients in 16 operative units. The mean age was 75.7 years for females and 68.1 for males. The most common site of the amputation was above the knee (49.9%). The majority of amputations (93.8%) were performed for vascular diseases and diabetes. Survival figures showed that 25.5% of amputees died within 2 months of amputation, 60.7% were alive after one year and 43.2% after two years. Out of a total of 577 patients, 26.9% were fitted with a prosthesis. Out of below-knee and above-knee amputees surviving over 2 months, 61.5% and 27.2% respectively were fitted with a prosthesis. There were markedly fewer prosthetic fittings in the over-60 age group. Diabetic patients of both sexes were fitted with a prosthesis more often than arterio-sclerotic patients. Among tumour patients 82.4% received a prosthesis. In the study area more emphasis must be put on the concept of preserving the knee joint and preoperative assessment of vascular patients for selection of amputation level. Every effort must be made to avoid delay in the postoperative mobilization and rehabilitation. Prosthetic fitting of amputees could be improved by better liaison between surgical unit and specialized rehabilitation unit and by closer team approach of amputee care.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Lower limb amputations in southern Finland 1984-1985.

To assess the current epidemiological situation concerning lower limb amputations in southern Finland the data on all amputations made in the catchment area of the Helsinki University Central Hospital were analysed for the period 1984-85. During the two-year period, 880 amputations of lower limbs were performed on 705 patients. The amputation rate was 32.5 per 100,000 inhabitants in 1984 and 28.1 in 1985. Patients requiring amputation were arteriosclerotics in 43.1 per cent. and diabetics in 40.7 per cent. Diabetics underwent amputation 3 years younger on average than the arteriosclerotics. The most common site of unilateral amputations was above-knee (42.0 per cent) followed by below-knee (27.7 per cent) and toe amputations (22.2 per cent). The level of amputation tended to become more proximal with increasing age of the patients. The overall mortality figure during three postoperative months was 27.0 per cent. Amputation incidence increased sharply with increasing age. On the base of predictions, the overall age structure of the Finnish population will shift upward causing an increase in the proportion of elderly age groups. A 50% increase in amputation rate is expected in Finland within the next 20-30 years.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Upper limb amputations in southern Finland 1984-85.

There is a specific requirement for amputee statistics to facilitate the planning of prosthetic rehabilitation of amputee patients. The aim of this study was to analyse the epidemiological situation concerning upper limb amputations in southern Finland. The data on all limb amputations made in the catchment area of the Helsinki University Central Hospital were collected for the period 1984-85. During the two-year period upper limb amputations had been performed on 52 patients. A total of six major amputations had been performed on 52 patients. A total of six major amputations had been performed at a level potentially requiring a prosthesis, and 46 patients had undergone amputation distal to the carpal joint. The overall upper limb amputation rate was 2.2 and rate of major amputations 0.3 per 100,000 inhabitants per year. The ratio of men to women was 7.7 for all amputations and 10.5 for finger amputations. Of the 52 amputees, 62 per cent were in the 20-59 age group. The mean age of all amputees was 42.7 years. The typical upper limb amputee was a man of active working age. Trauma, mainly occupational accident, was the most common cause, accounting for 61 per cent of all upper limb amputations. The annual incidence of major amputations in the whole of Finland is as low as 20-30 cases. It would seem reasonable to concentrate prosthetic fitting of upper limb amputations at two or three prosthetic factories and rehabilitation centres.

Adult↗