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Biomedical subjects

T Wencel

Publications and source records attributed to T Wencel.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

How should we manage children after mild head injury?

There are many controversies concerning the management of children after mild head injury. Most of these patients achieve a full recovery without medical or surgical intervention. A small percentage of them deteriorate owing to intracranial complications. The goal of this study was to identify significant factors that might allow the identification of patients at risk of subsequent deterioration. Its secondary goal was to establish a clinical protocol for the management of mild head injuries in children. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 166 children and adolescents with head trauma who had Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) or Children Coma Scale (CCS) scores of 13-15 at the time of admission. The patients were divided into five age categories: babies younger than 1 year, children 1-3, 4-6, and 7-14 years old, and adolescents 15-17 years of age. The largest age group consisted of children 7-14 years old (83 cases). There was a male predominance (2:1). The main causes of injury were traffic accidents (55 cases) and falls (53 patients). Neurosurgical procedures were required in 93 of the 166 patients (56%). The most common intracranial lesion was subdural and epidural hematoma (60 cases). In 26 children (15.6%) diffuse brain swelling was the only lesion. A skull fracture was found in 103 cases and was accompanied by epidural hematoma (HED) in 19 cases (18%) and by subdural hematoma (HSD) in 12 cases (12%). However, the 63 children without a fracture also included 18 (29%) who had HSD and 11 (17%) who had HED. In our population 165 (99%) of the patients obtained a very good or good result. None was left severely disabled or in a vegetative state. One patient with GCS 13 died of an infection. We concluded that skull X-ray examination is not sufficient to rule out intracranial hematoma. We recommend CT scanning and admission to hospital for 24-h observation for all children with minor head injury, because of the risk of delayed hematoma.

Adolescent↗

Surgery or conservative treatment in children with traumatic intracerebral haematoma.

In contrast to the case of extracerebral haematomas, the criteria for operative treatment of traumatic intracerebral haematoma (TIH) are not clear. The purpose of this study was to find factors that would be helpful in reaching a decision for surgical or conservative treatment of TIH. We performed a retrospective analysis of 31 consecutive cases of TIH treated in our department. The following factors were estimated: age, mechanism of injury, initial GCS or CCS score, neurological deficits, coexistence of arterial hypotension and respiratory disturbances, and localisation and size of the haematoma. The outcome was evaluated according to a modified GOS. Treatment was surgical for 20 patients and conservative for 11. Patients with GCS or CCS scores of 3-8 were treated surgically significantly more often than those with higher scores. The other factors did not correlate with type of treatment. It seems, then, that the clinical status of the patient, especially the level of consciousness according to the GCS or CCS score, is the most important predictor of the need for surgery in children with TIH.

Adolescent↗

The prognostic value of some clinical and diagnostic factors in traumatic intracranial haematoma.

In order to carry out the analysis of predictive values of some clinical and diagnostic features, 146 patients of the Neurosurgical Clinic of the Silesian School of Medicine, were examined in 1980-1986. All the patients were in coma when admitted while CT findings showed traumatic intracranial haematomas. The examination included neurological diagnosis and CT examination. The analysis of statistical discrimination let us specify the probability of predicting death or survival of every patient. On the basis of 10 prognostic factors applied, the compatibility of prognosis and the real outcome for patients who survived was 78.2% and for those who died 91.2%.

Adult↗

[Results of toothlessness treatment by calottic method in the Cracow modification. Clinical studies].

The purpose of the paper was to control the new method of teeth positioning in complete dentures based on the modification of callottic method in clinical practice. Clinical studies depended on occlusion and articulation estimation, examination of denture statics, control of occlusion height and registration of the patients' subjective experiences. They concerned 81 toothless patients divided into 2 groups according to the specific classification and wearing complete dentures in which the teeth had been positioned according to the modified method and Gysi-Fischer' method. In the groups of patients under examination that had teeth positioned according to the modified method significantly better results of the values estimated than in comparative groups have been achieved. It has been found that using the modified method smooth OA surface of artifical teeth is obtained without necessity of its correction satisfactory denture statics is obtained and rehabilitation of mastication function and adaptation to the dentures take place in a short period of time.

Denture Design↗

Possible significance of juvenile oral venous angioma as marker of intracerebral vascular lesion.

This 10-year-old child suffered a hemorrhage into the right parietal lobe, the result of a ruptured arteriovenous angioma. From birth, the boy had a venous angioma of the mucous membrane of the cheek, lower lip, and hypoglossal area on the right side. The coexistence of these two vascular defects is most unusual, and venous angioma in early life may suggest the presence of cerebral angioma.

Cheek↗

[Transient involuntary movements after severe cranio-cerebral trauma].

In a patient rhythmic, coarse tremor of the right hand and fingers 5/sec. was observed 5 weeks after severe craniocerebral injury. The tremor occurred at rest and increased during movements but disappeared in sleep. In view of associated mask-like facial expression, salivation, cog-wheel sign in the right upper extremity the diagnosis of traumatic, hemiparkinsonian syndrome was made and treatment with Nacom was started. Normal concentration of homovanilic acid in the cerebrospinal fluid and lack of effect of Nacom treatment failed to confirm this diagnosis. Nine weeks after trauma a rotatory movement of the right upper extremity appeared additionally. It is to be accepted that this was an involuntary movement poorly classificable which disappeared spontaneously.

Adult↗

Grave cranio-cerebral trauma 30 years ago as cause of the brain glioma at the locus of the trauma particulars of the case.

A glioblastoma multiforma developed 30 years after a penetrating craniocerebral injury in the left parietal region caused by fragments of an artillery projectile. The 3 cm large bone defect was located directly above the tumour. There were close scarry connections between dura, brain and tumour. Partial removal could not prevent the lethal exitus. Causal connection with the accident is assumed to exist.

Brain Injuries↗