Search

Objective: To investigate the effects of chronic renal failure (CRF) on the distal femoral cartilage thickness by using ultrasonography and to determine the relationship between cartilage thickness and certain disease-related parameters., Design: Fifty-seven CRF patients (41 male and 16 female) (mean [SD] age, 44.7 [12.1] years) and 60 healthy controls (41 male and 19 female) (mean [SD] age, 43.5 [13.3] years) were enrolled in this study. Demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded. Cartilage thickness measurements were taken from the medial and lateral condyles, and intercondylar areas of both knees., Results: Groups were similar in terms of age, weight, height, body mass index and gender (all p>0.05). The mean cartilage thickness was found to be less in CRF patients than in controls (statistically significant for medial condyles and intercondylar areas both in right and the left knees [all p<0.05]). Cartilage thickness showed no correlation with eGFR, and with the levels of serum urea, creatinine, calcium, magnesium, phosphor, hemoglobin, uric acid and as well as steroid use (all p>0.05) in CRF patients., Conclusion: In the light of our findings, we imply that patients with CRF have thinner femoral cartilage than healthy controls. This result may support the view that patients with CRF are at increased risk for developing early knee osteoarthritis. Last but not least, clinicians should be aware of the importance of rehabilitation strategies aimed at decreasing onset and progression of knee osteoarthritis in patients with CRF.

Introduction: Spasticity is an important early complication of stroke, which may lead to shortening of gastrocnemius and soleus muscles and contracture in the Achilles tendon and soft tissues of the ankle. Botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) is a promising drug for the management of focal spasticity. Serial casting is another alternative method for reducing contractures due to spasticity. The present study aimed to determine if serial casting after BTX-A injection could help to limit the development of calf contracture in chronic hemiplegic patients., Method: The records of patients with stroke that were treated in the brain injury rehabilitation clinic between January 2007 and December 2008 were screened. In all, 10 patients that underwent a serial casting programme for 24 days following BTX-A injection were included in the study. Goniometric scores for ankle ROM, Physician Rating Scale (PRS) and Functional Independence Measurement (FIM) scores were recorded., Results: Mean age of the patients was 33.2 years. Mean time interval after stroke onset was 35.0 months. Improvements in ROM were quite significant after serial casting. Moreover, FIM and PRS scores improved significantly., Conclusion: Serial casting may be an appropriate intervention following BTX-A injection to prevent equinovarus deformity and improve the quality of walking in chronic stroke patients. The role of casting and splinting are important topics that require further research.

Objective: The aim of this retrospective study was to review the medical complications of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) who were followed in 2000-2006., Methods and Procedures: The demographic data, functional and cognitive status of 116 persons with TBI were noted. The presence of communication problems, swallowing disturbances, urinary and faecal incontinence, pressure ulcer, deep venous thrombosis (DVT), post-traumatic seizure (PTS) and heterotopic ossification (HO) were recorded at first admission and follow-up., Main Outcome and Results: This study detected aphasia in 19.0%, dysarthria in 30.2%, dysphagia in 17.2%, pressure ulcers in 6.9% and DVT in 2.6% the our patients with TBI. Urinary and faecal incontinence on admission were 32.7% and 26.7%, respectively. Patients with incontinence had poorer cognitive function than those with normal continence. HO rate was 18.1% and the ambulation levels of patients with HO were worse than those without HO. PTS was seen in 13.8% of the patients on admission and this ratio increased to 21.6% during the follow-up. In these patients, the aetiological risk factors for PTS were gunshot and fall injuries., Conclusions: Considering the wide spectrum of complications, this study advocates that these persons with TBI should be followed promptly by a multidisciplinary team.