High-resolution MRI of the ulnar and radial collateral ligaments of the wrist.

Background Accurate diagnosis of injuries to the collateral ligaments of the wrist is technically challenging on MRI. Purpose To investigate usefulness of high-resolution two-dimensional (2D) and isotropic three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for identifying and classifying the morphology of the ulnar and radial collateral ligaments (UCL and RCL) of the wrist. Material and Methods Thirty-seven participants were evaluated using 3T coronal 2D and isotropic 3D images by two radiologists independently. The UCL was classified into four types: 1a, narrow attachment to the tip of the ulnar styloid (Tip); 1b, broad attachment to the Tip; 2a, narrow attachment to the medial base of the ulnar styloid (Base); and 2b, broad attachment to the Base. The RCL was also classified into four types: 1a, separate radioscaphoid and scaphotrapezial ligaments (RS + ST) with narrow scaphoid attachment; 1b, RS + ST with broad scaphoid attachment; 2a, continuous radio-scapho-trapezial ligaments (RST) with narrow scaphoid attachment; and 2b, RST with broad scaphoid attachment. The inter-observer reliability of these classifications was calculated. Results Type 1a was the most common of both collateral ligaments. Of UCL classifications, 31.4% were revised after additional review of multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) images from isotropic data. The inter-observer reliability of UCL classification was substantial (k = 0.62) without MPR, and almost perfect (k = 0.84) with MPR. The inter-observer reliability of RCL classification was almost perfect (k = 0.89). Anatomic delineation between the two sequences was not statistically different. Conclusion The UCL and RCL were each identified on high-resolution 2D and isotropic 3D MRI equally well. MPR allows accurate identification of the UCL attachment to the ulnar styloid.

Onabotulinumtoxin A (BOTOX®) for ProphylaCTIC Treatment of Pediatric Migraine: A Retrospective Longitudinal Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The use of onabotulinumtoxin A in the pediatric population has not been evaluated for chronic migraine in a longitudinal study. This retrospective study sought to determine the efficacy and safety of onabotulinumtoxin A in prophylactic treatment of chronic migraine in the pediatric population. METHODS: The authors retrospectively evaluated pediatric patients who had been treated with onabotulinumtoxin A in the outpatient pain clinic for chronic migraine. Demographic data and pre- and posttreatment migraine days (frequency), pain scores (intensity), and duration of migraine episodes were collected from patient records. RESULTS: Ten patients were included. Median pretreatment to posttreatment headache frequency was 15.5 [8, 29.5] to 4 [2, 10] days/month ( P < .0001), durations were 8 [0, 24] to 1 [0, 7] hours ( P = .025), and intensity was 6 [4, 8] to 4 [2, 5] ( P = .0063). No serious adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: This review over a 5-year longitudinal period demonstrates statistically significant improvement from baseline.

Joint arthroplasty Perioperative Surgical Home: Impact of patient characteristics on postoperative outcomes.

AIM: To determine the impact of different characteristics on postoperative outcomes for patients in a joint arthroplasty Perioperative Surgical Home (PSH) program. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed for patients enrolled in a joint arthroplasty PSH program who had undergone primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Patients were preoperatively stratified based on specific procedure performed, age, gender, body mass index (BMI), American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Classification System (ASA) score, and Charleston Comorbidity Index (CCI) score. The primary outcome criterion was hospital length of stay (LOS). Secondary criteria including operative room (OR) duration, transfusion rate, Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) stay, readmission rate, post-operative complications, and discharge disposition. For each outcome, the predictor variables were entered into a generalized linear model with appropriate response and assessed for predictive relationship to the dependent variable. Significance level was set to 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 337 patients, 200 in the TKA cohort and 137 in the THA cohort, were eligible for the study. Nearly two-third of patients were female. Patient age averaged 64 years and preoperative BMI averaged 29 kg/m(2). The majority of patients were ASA score III and CCI score 0. After analysis, ASA score was the only variable predictive for LOS (P = 0.0011) and each increase in ASA score above 2 increased LOS by approximately 0.5 d. ASA score was also the only variable predictive for readmission rate (P = 0.0332). BMI was the only variable predictive for PACU duration (P = 0.0136). Specific procedure performed, age, gender, and CCI score were not predictive for any of the outcome criteria. OR duration, transfusion rate, post-operative complications or discharge disposition were not significantly associated with any of the predictor variables. CONCLUSION: The joint arthroplasty PSH model reduces postoperative outcome variability for patients with different preoperative characteristics and medical comorbidities.

Principles of pharmacologic hemodynamic management and closed-loop systems.

Every day, physicians in critical-care settings are challenged with the hemodynamic management of patients with severe cardiovascular derangements. There is a potential role for closed-loop (automated) systems to assist clinicians in managing these patients and growing interest in the possible applications. In this review, we discuss the basic principles of critical-care hemodynamic management and the closed-loop systems that have been developed to help in this setting.