Outcome of a Simple Novel Technique to Reduce Soft Tissue Complications in Open Tendoachilles Injury: A Series of 20 Patients.

Introduction: Open tendoachilles injuries are rare and associated with significant soft tissues complications. The objective of the present study was to assess the clinical outcome and safety of a simple and minimally invasive technique, with a goal to assess if it may help minimise flap and wound related complications in open tendoachilles injuries. Materials and methods: This prospective study of four years duration included 20 patients with open tendoachilles injuries managed with a simple minimally invasive tunnel technique. The primary outcome variable was occurrence of a major soft tissue complication. The secondary outcome variables included functional outcome measured using AOFAS Ankle hind foot score, re-rupture of tendoachilles and need for revision surgery. Results: None of the patients in the present series developed a serious soft tissue complication. Based upon the AOFAS hind foot scoring system, good to excellent outcome was achieved in 19 (95%) patients. All the patients were able to perform tip toe walking at six months post-surgery. None of the patients had a re-rupture of the tendoachilles and no patient needed a revision surgery. The complications encountered include thickening of the tendon at the repair site (15%), superficial wound infection (5%), stitch granuloma (5%) and hypertrophic scar (5%). Conclusion: This technique seems to be promising in reducing the soft tissue complications associated with the surgical management of open tendoachilles injuries. Most patients had a good final clinical outcome. The technique is safe, simple and reproducible. However, further randomised control studies with a larger sample size assessing the technique are recommended.

Molecular phylogeny, pathogenic variability and phytohormone production of Fusarium species associated with bakanae disease of rice in temperate agro-ecosystems.

Bakanae is the emerging disease threating the rice cultivation globally. Yield reduction of 4-70% is recorded in different parts of the world. A total of 119 Fusarium isolates were collected from rice plants at different geographical locations and seeds of different rice cultivars. The isolates were evaluated for morphological, biochemical and pathogenic diversity. The amplification of TEF-1α gene was carried out for exploring the species spectrum associated with the cultivated and pre-released rice varieties. The production of gibberellin varied from 0.53 to 2.26 µg/25 ml, while as that of Indole acetic acid varied from 0.60 to 3.15 µg/25 ml among the Fusarium isolates. The phylogenetic analysis identified 5 different species of the genus Fusarium viz. Fusarium fujikuroi, F. proliferatum, F. equiseti, F.oxysporum and F. persicinum after nucleotide blasting in NCBI. Only two Fusarium spp. F. fujikuroi and F. proliferatum were found to be pathogenic under virulence assays of the isolates. The isolates showed a considerable variation in morphological and pathogenic characters. The isolates were divided into different groups based on morphology and pathogenicity tests. The isolates showed a considerable variation in morphology, phytohormone profile and virulence indicative of population diversity. Three species F. equiseti, F.oxysporum and F. persicinum which have not been reported as pathogens of rice in India were found to be associated with bakanae disease of rice, however their pathogenicity could not be established.

Pre-operative manometry of the blind rectal pouch to predict post-operative potential for continence in anorectal malformation.

AIM: Despite technical advances in the surgical repair of anorectal malformation, many children suffer post-operative faecal incontinence. There are many ways to assess postoperative continence in these patients but there is no manometry-based method to assess and make predictions pre-operatively. In this pilot study an attempt was made to correlate the pre- and postoperative manometry and electromyography findings in order to use the pre-operative findings to predict the postoperative potential for continence. METHODS: Ten patients aged 12 to 54 months were subjected to pre-posterior sagittal anorectoplasty manometry by introducing the balloon catheter probe through the distal colostomy into the blind rectal pouch. Electromyography activity in the striated muscle complex was also studied by placing electromyography needles in the midline in the anal dimple. A second study was repeated after posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP), the probe was introduced into the rectum via the neo-anus and the electromyography needles were placed on either side of the neo-anus. A third study was done, similar to the second study, after colostomy closure along with Kelly's scoring. Results of the three studies were compared. RESULTS: Pre-posterior sagittal anorectoplasty rectal pouch pressures were in the range of 18.3-93.3 cm H2O and electromyographic activity was between 43.6 and 383.0 microv. Post-posterior sagittal anorectoplasty studies showed anal canal pressure in a similar range of 16.0-95.5 cm H2O and electromyographic activity between 57.0-340.7 microv. The post-colostomy closure anal canal pressures ranged from 22.7 to 99.1 cm H2O and electromyographic activity ranged from 65.7 to 335.7 microv. The Kelly's score ranged from 1-6. CONCLUSION: Since, the pre-and postoperative manometry findings are quite similar and they correlate well with the surgical outcome, it may be possible to predict such an outcome before PSARP. Also, the pressure profiles and EMG activity in post-operative assessments suggest intact neural pathways despite blind pouch mobilisation.

Manometric evaluation of postoperative patients with anorectal anomalies.

AIM: To evaluate the outcome of surgical treatment in patients with anorectal malformations and to correlate the clinical, manometric and electromyographic studies in assessment of postoperative continence in these patients. METHODS: Forty-one patients operated on for anorectal malformations were evaluated retrospectively. These included 13 patients with low anomalies, 24 with high anomalies, and 4 with congenital pouch colon. Functional results after surgical correction were assessed on clinical basis using the Kelley's scoring system and by anorectal manometry. In addition, the electrical activity of contraction of the external sphincter muscle was studied using electromyography. RESULTS: There was direct correlation between anal canal pressures and Kelley's score in patients with both high and low anomalies; Kelley's score of 6, 5, 4, 3 and less had pressures ranging between 60-75, 45-59, 30-44, 15-29 and less than 15 cm H2O, respectively. However, the electromyographic activity did not correlate well with Kelley's score. CONCLUSIONS: Anorectal manometry correlates well with Kelley's scoring system and may be a more objective method of analyzing the results of surgery. Poor correlation between Kelley's score and electromyography may be a reflection of poor compliance with instructions to voluntarily contract the muscles of continence.

Sacrococcygeal teratoma with anorectal malformation.

A 7-month-old child presented with imperforate anus, penoscrotal hypospadias and transposition, and a midline mucosa-lined perineal mass. At surgery the mass was found to be supplied by the median sacral artery. It was excised and the anorectal malformation was repaired by posterior sagittal anorectoplasty. Histologically the mass revealed well-differentiated colonic tissue. The final diagnosis was well-differentiated sacrococcygeal teratoma in association with anorectal malformation.

Optical pulse propagation in nonlinear photonic crystals.

We present a formalism for optical pulse propagation in nonlinear photonic crystals of arbitrary dimensionality. Using a multiple-scale analysis, we derive the dynamical nonlinear Schrödinger equation obeyed by the envelope function modulating an underlying Bloch function. Effective coefficients appear in that equation characterizing the effects of Kerr nonlinearity, linear gain or loss, and material dispersion. They depend on how the underlying Bloch function "samples" these effects in the photonic crystal, and require for their calculation a specification of these effects throughout the photonic crystal, and the calculated bandstructure of the photonic crystals in the linear, nondispersive limit. We show that wave packets from different bands can experience significantly modified effective material properties.

Thoracoabdominal intestinal duplication with absent inferior vena cava.

We report a rare case of thoracoabdominal intestinal duplication with absent inferior vena cava (IVC). The patient was initially explored with a mistaken diagnosis of diaphragmatic hernia on the basis of a chest radiograph and barium meal. However, a subsequent computed tomography scan revealed a mediastinal mass with an air-fluid level, a hugely dilated azygos vein, and an absent IVC. Thoracoabdominal exploration was required to excise the duplication cyst arising from the jejunum. We believe that this is the first report of this association.

Duplications of the alimentary tract in children.

This study was conducted to assess the clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic approach in patients with alimentary tract duplication and review the relevant literature. A retrospective analysis of 28 patients of alimentary tract duplications treated between January 1990-December 1999 was carried out. There was a male preponderance (25:3); 71% of the patients were under 2 years of age. The presenting features were related to the anatomic location. Three patients were diagnosed antenatally. Real time ultrasonography and CT scan was undertaken for preoperative evaluation in the majority of patients. In selected cases a 99m-Tc-pertechnetate scan and barium meal follow through examination were also performed. Majority of duplications were in the jejunum and ileum. Twenty percent of our patients had thoracoabdominal duplication as compared to 2% reported in literature. Four patients required to be operated upon in the emergency for related complications. In the remaining patients complete excision of the cyst was done in 21 and only mucosectomy in 3 patients. Because these lesions are rare and can present with a wide range of clinical manifestations or may even be encountered intraoperatively, the appropriate surgical management requires the surgeon to be familiar with the anatomy and clinical characteristics of these lesions.

Retrospective analysis of surgical outcome, symptom changes, and hearing improvement following myringoplasty.

This study examines the surgical and audiologic results of myringoplasty and what factors affect these outcomes. It also examines whether patients experience any improvement in their main symptoms following surgery. This was a retrospective analysis of case notes, patient questionnaires, and audiograms of all patients undergoing myringoplasty between 1990 and 1995 at Walsgrave Hospital, Coventry, UK. Overall success of myringoplasty for consultants was 81% and for trainees was 79%, with an overall success rate of 86% in children. Posterior and inferior perforations had a 90% success rate for repair, compared to only 67% of anterior perforations. There was a statistically significant reduction in air-bone gaps following myringoplasty, and the majority of patients felt that their ears were drier and had improved hearing. Myringoplasty is a successful procedure in the hands of consultants and trainees alike. The results are satisfactory enough to justify surgery purely for deafness and also in symptomatic children. There is a strong correlation between surgical success and resolution of symptoms and generally a satisfactory improvement in hearing.

Kikuchi's disease of the neck (histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis).

Histocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (HNL), also known as Kikuchi's disease is a benign self limiting disease of unknown origin. It effects cervical lymph nodes, predominantly in young females. It is well described in the pathology literature, but little is written about this in the ENT literature, as few clinicians are probably aware of this condition. Five cases of cervical Kikuchi's disease are presented with a brief review of the literature.

Efficiency of weight / height ratio in detection of protein energy malnutrition in Gujjar, Bakarwal and Pahari pre-school children.

PIP: Field experience in developing countries has indicated that mild forms of protein-energy malnutrition may not be clinically discernible. This study investigated the efficiency of the weight-for-height2 ratio in predicting protein-energy malnutrition among 334 randomly selected preschool children from India's Guijar, Pahari, and Bakarwal populations. The weight-for-height2 measure (with a value of 0.0018 or more used as a cut-off for malnutrition) detected malnutrition in 69.76% of the preschool children [grade 1 (28.74%), grade II (22.75%), grade III (13.18%), and grade IV (5.09%) malnutrition]. Use of this ratio had a sensitivity of 86.27% and a specificity of 83.17% compared with the weight-for-age method, with predictive values of 92.20% and 74.41%. Although the weight-for-height ratio misclassified 16.83% of children with normal weight-for-age as malnourished, it is preferable to measures that rely on typically inaccurate age-related parameters.^ieng

An unusual foreign body in the larynx: a case report.

Inhalation of a foreign body is a serious event. A small proportion of foreign bodies become impacted in the larynx, when urgent recognition is required to prevent disaster. The case of an 18-month-old baby with an impacted artificial finger nail in the larynx is described along with a brief review of the literature.

Tuberculous parotitis: a case report.

Tuberculosis of the parotid gland is rare. It cannot be distinguished d form a parotid tumour by clinical examination alone, so surgical exploration has usually been required for diagnosis. We present a case with the same diagnostic dilemma.