Skiing injuries.

Skiing is a winter sport enjoyed by approximately 200 million people worldwide. An overall injury rate of approximately 3 per 1000 skier-days means that skiing certainly is the riskiest sport undertaken by adults on a routine basis. However, the data suggest that one can anticipate years of enjoyable recreation free from injury. Many troubling injuries, particularly to the lower leg, have shown a steady decline over the past 20 to 30 years because of advances in boot design and binding capabilities. In addition, as information has been gathered regarding the importance of proper maintenance and adjustments, equipment now available can protect a skier more effectively than at any time in the past. Nevertheless, skiing continues to present inherent risks that can be minimized through the following strategies: 1. Enroll in a conditioning program before skiing that focuses on strength and endurance components particularly of the legs and back. 2. Have equipment that is compatible with the skier both from the standpoint of size and expertise. 3. Have equipment adjusted professionally. 4. Do routine testing of binding releases each day before beginning to ski. 5. Ski under control at speeds that are consistent with ability. 6. Stop skiing before fatigue becomes the limiting factor.

Brachytherapy for early endometrial carcinoma: a comparative study with long-term follow-up.

The current study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of preoperative uterine or postoperative vaginal brachytherapy compared to no adjuvant therapy on the disease-free interval, sites of recurrence, and survival in favorable stage IB endometrial carcinoma. One hundred and forty-six patients with FIGO grade 1 and 2 endometrial carcinoma and 1-33% myometrial invasion treated between 1974 and 1992 were retrospectively studied. The use of brachytherapy varied among the treating physicians during the study period. A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to estimate disease-free survival and differences between treatment groups were evaluated with the Mantel-Cox statistic. Recurrent disease occurred in 7 patients (5.3%). Vaginal recurrences accounted for 6 of the 7 sites of recurrences. Recurrences occurred in 1.3% of grade 1 vs. 8.7% of grade 2 tumors (P = 0.04). Among 69 grade 2 tumors, recurrences occurred in 7.5% of those treated with brachytherapy vs. 10.3% of those not treated (P = 0.68). Brachytherapy did not affect the disease-free or overall survival. No serious complications directly related to therapy occurred. Vaginal recurrences occur even in early endometrial carcinoma. This study demonstrates no apparent benefit to brachytherapy. A larger study would be required to see a recurrence or survival difference.

Acute skier's thumb repaired with a proximal phalanx suture anchor.

The purpose of this study was to determine the functional outcome of a surgical technique for the repair of injuries of the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb. A 14-point questionnaire was developed to determine functional outcome after surgical repair of acute ulnar collateral ligament rupture. Early ulnar collateral ligament repair was performed on 58 patients with grade III sprains (complete rupture) of the ligament using a new technique that employs a suture anchor for fixation. Forty-five patients were interviewed at a minimum postoperative interval of 12 months and were included in this study. Forty-four patients (98%) believed they had a stable repair, were satisfied with their surgery, and would have it again if necessary. Forty-four patients (98%) were not hindered in their day-to-day activities and had a functional range of motion. Mild discomfort was felt by eight of our patients (17%), but only three patients (7%) had pain with activities. The average time to return to skiing was 1.7 days. The use of a suture anchor provided a strong and stable repair if the surgery was performed early.

Primary traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation in patients 40 years of age and older.

During three consecutive ski seasons (1991 to 1994), 125 patients 40 years of age and older without previous shoulder injuries or surgery sustained a traumatic first-time anterior shoulder dislocation. At a minimum of 2 years' follow-up, patients were contacted to determine long-term outcome and to identify factors leading to prolonged morbidity or the need for surgical intervention. Fifty-two patients were available for interview. A modified Rowe shoulder score showed 32 excellent, nine good, eight fair, and three poor results. Eighteen (35%) rotator cuff tears were subsequently identified, with only 11 (61%) of these patients obtaining an excellent or good outcome (P = .011). Of the 11 patients with a fair or poor result, seven (64%) had a rotator cuff tear. Of the 12 patients with isolated cuff tears, 84% had an excellent or good result when treated surgically, compared with 50% when treated nonsurgically. Our findings indicate that recurrence is not a frequent complication of traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation in this age-group (4%). However, prolonged morbidity secondary to rotator cuff tear is more prevalent than in a younger population. We believe early diagnosis of rotator cuff pathology by either magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or arthrogram with subsequent surgical repair can lead to faster restoration of function and a better outcome in these select individuals.

The snowboarder's foot and ankle.

We undertook a prospective study to determine the type and distribution of foot and ankle snowboarding injuries. Reports of 3213 snowboarding injuries were collected from 12 Colorado ski resorts between 1988 and 1995. Of these, 491 (15.3%) were ankle injuries and 58 (1.8%) were foot injuries. Ankle injuries included 216 (44%) fractures and 255 (52%) sprains. Thirty-three (57%) of the foot injuries were fractures and 16 (28%) were sprains. The remaining injuries were soft tissue injuries, contusions, or abrasions. There was no significant correlation between boot type (soft, hybrid, or hard) and overall foot or ankle injury rate. There were significantly fewer ankle sprains in patients wearing hybrid boots and fewer fractures of the lateral process of the talus in patients wearing soft boots. An unexpectedly high number of fractures of the lateral process of the talus were noted. These 74 fractures represented 2.3% of all snowboarding injuries, 15% of all ankle injuries, and 34% of the ankle fractures. Many of these fractures are not visible on plain radiographs and require computed tomography imaging to be diagnosed. Diagnosis of this fracture pattern is paramount; the physician should be very suspicious of anterolateral ankle pain in the snowboarder, where subtle fractures that may require surgical intervention can be confused with anterior talofibular ligament sprains.

Delta Dental Plan of Massachusetts' perspective on financing.

The continually increasing costs of dental treatment have stimulated searches for alternative means of financing care. Cost has also raised questions about the definition of quality in oral health. Payers are beginning to evaluate alternatives based on prevention and health outcomes rather than volume of treatment delivered. Not-for-profit organizations, such as the Deltas, have a proactive role to play in this search for alternatives. In the end, it is the combination of market forces which will shape both how dentistry is financed and how it is defined.

The impact of surgical timing on postoperative motion and stability following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

A prospective study was designed to determine the impact of surgical timing on postoperative motion and stability following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructive surgery. The study population was limited to acute ACL ruptures from downhill skiing undergoing arthroscopic ACL surgery without arthrotomy or surgical intervention for other ligamentous structures; 185 patients were entered into four separate groups based on the time interval from injury to surgery. Motion and stability were tested at multiple time points from the index surgery and adverse events were recorded. We found no statistical difference in restoration of extension or flexion in any group at any time point. KT-1000 data at 12 months showed a side-to-side difference of < or = 3 mm in 94%, with 6% showing a side-to-side difference of > 3 and < or = 5 mm. We conclude that, in this population, by using modern arthroscopic surgical techniques and an aggressive postoperative physical therapy protocol, motion and stability can be restored in a high percentage of patients and that surgical success is independent of the timing of surgery.

Cervical spinal fractures in Alpine skiers.

A 5-year review of skiing injuries in the Aspen/Snowmass area revealed 18 cervical fractures. This represents a yearly average of 3.6 fractures (range: 2 to 5). There were 16 men and 2 women identified, with an average age of 40.8 years (range: 20 to 73). Using estimates of skier days and total injuries, cervical fractures represented approximately 0.1% of all skiing injuries. Six of 18 injuries (33%) were avulsion injuries of the spinous processes and were treated symptomatically with a soft collar. However, five patients had neurologic involvement secondary to fracture displacement, two with lasting quadriparesis. In addition, there was one death attributed to cervical fracture. Forty-four percent of the patients had associated injuries, most commonly facial and head (33%). The three oldest patients (average age: 67 years, range: 57 to 73) had three of the more serious injuries. Two of these patients were the quadriplegics, and a third required halo stabilization of bilateral C2 facet fractures. Typically, those patients who were involved in collisions with immovable objects (trees or fences) had more severe injuries and a greater chance of neurologic involvement.

Advanced ovarian cancer in a woman with a family history of ovarian cancer, discovered at referral for prophylactic oophorectomy. A case report.

Despite an initial complete response to therapy, she died of the disease 60 months after the diagnosis. Although only a small percentage of ovarian cancer patients report a family history positive for ovarian cancer, such a history remains the most recognizable risk factor in this elusive disease. Accurate prediction of the risk of ovarian cancer in subjects with multiple affected family members and the efficacy of prophylactic oophorectomy need to be determined.

Accuracy of frozen-section (intraoperative consultation) diagnosis of ovarian tumors.

OBJECTIVE: Frozen-section evaluation of ovarian tumors can be used to establish a histopathologic diagnosis and guide the surgeon to perform the appropriate surgical procedure. A retrospective study was conducted to determine the accuracy of frozen-section diagnosis of ovarian tumors. STUDY DESIGN: Frozen- and permanent-section diagnoses were divided into three categories (benign, borderline, and malignant). The sensitivity, specificity and predictive values, and 95% percent confidence intervals of each frozen-section diagnosis were determined. RESULTS: Three hundred eighty-three ovarian tumors that underwent frozen-section evaluation between June 1983 and June 1993 were studied. The final histopathologic diagnosis was 61.1% benign, 7.6% borderline, and 31.3% malignant. Frozen section was accurate in 92.7% of all cases and inaccurate in 7.3%. The sensitivity for malignant tumors was 92.5% tumors (95% confidence intervals 87.7% to 97.2%), the sensitivity for borderline tumors was 44.8% (95% confidence interval 26.4% to 63.2%). The specificity for benign tumors was 92.0% (95% confidence interval 88.6% to 95.4%) but increased to 97.9% (95% confidence interval 96.1% to 99.7%) if borderline tumors were excluded. The positive predictive value and 95% confidence intervals were 92.0% (88.6% to 95.4%) for benign tumors, 65% (43.6% to 86.5%) for borderline tumors, and 99.1% (97.3% to 100.0%) for malignant tumors. Thirteen of 16 (81%) ovarian lymphomas and tumors metastatic to the ovary were correctly identified by intraoperative frozen section. The sensitivity for borderline serous tumors was 64.3% and for borderline mucinous tumors 30.8% (p = 0.48). CONCLUSION: With the exception of borderline tumors, the sensitivity and specificity of frozen-section diagnosis of ovarian tumors are high. Borderline tumors remain difficult to accurately diagnose at frozen section because of the extensive sampling required. Frozen-section diagnoses have important implications regarding the type and extent of surgery performed at the initial operation.

Cochlear polyamines: markers of otitis media-induced cochlear damage.

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) set to the femtomole [corrected] sensitivity level was used to identify and quantify the polyamines spermidine and spermine as well as the diamine putrescine in the different tissues of the inner ears of guinea pigs with experimentally induced otitis media. The tissues examined were the lateral wall (stria vascularis and the spiral ligament), the organ of Corti, and the cochlear nerve. The difference in polyamine profile in the different tissues of the control noninfected guinea pigs suggests a relation to the particular function of each of these tissues [see erratum notice re: preceding sentence]. The difference in polyamine profile in infected different inner ear tissues compared to controls encourages the assumption that the polyamines may be involved in a repair process of the inner ear after injury and that they may be considered as biochemical markers for inner ear damage secondary to acute otitis media.

Serial serum CA 125 measurements for evaluation of recurrence in patients with endometrial carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of serum assays for CA 125 to detect recurrent endometrial carcinoma. METHODS: Two hundred sixty-six patients were studied with 1101 post-treatment assays. Patients were categorized as low, medium, or high risk based on surgical-pathologic findings. CA 125 values were analyzed with respect to each patient's disease status. RESULTS: Serial CA 125 levels were elevated (greater than 35 U/mL) in 19 of 33 patients (58%) with recurrent disease. Among 236 surgically treated patients, 97 (41.1%), 42 (17.8%), and 97 (41.1%) were considered low, medium, and high risk, respectively. None of the low-risk and only two (4.7%) of the medium-risk patients developed recurrent disease. One of the latter patients was detected based on an elevated CA 125 level alone. Twenty-seven (27.8%) of the high-risk patients developed recurrent disease, 23 of whom had elevated pre-treatment CA 125. Fifteen of 16 (94%) with recurrent disease had an elevated CA 125 level. Nine of 12 patients with papillary serous carcinoma experienced recurrence; eight of these nine had elevated CA 125 levels at diagnosis and recurrence, in contrast to only one patient with a normal pre-treatment level (P = .018). False elevations were noted in 13 patients, 12 of whom had received radiation therapy. CONCLUSIONS: CA 125, if elevated at diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma, is an important marker for recurrent disease. The use of serial CA 125 assays is most beneficial in diagnosing recurrence in a high-risk population, including patients with papillary serous carcinomas. False elevations may occur following radiation therapy.

Primary radiation therapy for endometrial carcinoma: a case controlled study.

PURPOSE: Primary radiation therapy is generally considered inferior to a surgical approach for patients with endometrial carcinoma and is reserved for patients with a high operative risk. These patients are usually elderly, have multiple medical problems and frequently die of intercurrent disease. To evaluate the efficacy of primary radiation therapy a case controlled analysis comparing corrected survival of patients treated with primary radiation to patients treated with surgical therapy with or without radiation therapy was performed. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Sixty-four patients treated with primary radiation therapy were retrospectively studied. A Kaplan-Meier product limit survival analysis was used to estimate survival among patients treated with primary radiation therapy. A case control study matched by clinical stage, tumor grade, and time of diagnosis was performed. The Mantel-Cox statistic was used to evaluated the equality of the survival curves. RESULTS: Primary radiation therapy was used to treat 9.0% of the patients with endometrial carcinoma during the study period. Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, age greater than 80 and morbid obesity were the most common indications. Ninety percent of patients had either Stage I or II disease. Forty-eight of the 64 patients (75%) completed treatment which included both teletherapy and brachytherapy. Ten patients received brachytherapy only. Twelve complications, both acute and chronic, occurred in eleven patients (17%). Intercurrent disease accounted for 13 of the 36 (36%) of the deaths. Clinical stage of disease and histologic grade of the tumor were significant predictors of survival, p = 0.0001 and p = 0.013, respectively. The case controlled study of Stage I and II patients treated by primary radiation therapy matched to surgically treated controls showed no statistical difference in survival. Dilatation and curettage after the completion of radiation therapy was predictive of local control, p = 0.003. CONCLUSION: Although surgery followed by tailored radiation therapy has become widely accepted therapy for Stage I and II endometrial carcinoma, even in patients who are a poor operative risk, the survival with primary radiation therapy is not statistically different.

Effect of anterior cruciate ligament graft tensioning direction, magnitude, and flexion angle on knee biomechanics.

The objective of this study was to determine the biomechanical effect of graft tensioning during reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament. We evaluated the magnitude of the tensioning force (22 or 67 N), the flexion angle at which the tension was applied (extension or 30 degrees of flexion), and the direction of application of the tensioning force (proximal, distal, or distal with a posterior force simultaneously applied to the tibia) on 10 fresh cadaveric knees. The anterior cruciate ligament was reconstructed using a bone-patellar tendon-bone graft. The graft was then temporarily fixed during the application of each of 12 combinations of tensioning variables listed above. After each fixation, graft force and joint motion were measured during anterior tibial loads. Tensioning direction and the flexion angle significantly affected graft force and joint motion, while the magnitude of the graft tensioning did not. Graft forces were greater when the tensioning was applied at 30 degrees of flexion. Compared with distal tensioning with and without posterior tibial force, graft forces with proximal tensioning were greater in extension and lower in flexion. The position of the tibia relative to the femur was posterior and externally rotated, compared with normal, for all combinations of tensioning variables in both unloaded and anterior load states.

Preoperative CA-125 levels predict poor prognostic pathologic features in early stage, FIGO grade 1 and 2 endometrial adenocarcinoma.

Preoperative CA-125 levels were studied in patients with favorable histology and early clinical stage endometrial adenocarcinoma to determine its ability to predict the presence of poor pathologic prognostic features on final pathology. One hundred and one patients with clinical stage I (N = 65) or II (N = 19) or diagnosed by endometrial curettage (EMC) only (N-17) with grade 1 or 2 endometrial adenocarcinoma without gross cervical involvement underwent preoperative CA-125 levels. Final pathology was reviewed for five poor prognostic pathologic features: FIGO grade 3 histology, unfavorable histologic type (sarcoma, clear cell, or papillary serous), invasion into the outer third of the myometrium, extension to the cervix, and extra-uterine metastases. Fifteen patients (14.9%) had CA-125 levels greater than 30 IU ml-1. Of these 15 patients, 12 had one or more of the five poor prognostic pathologic features (positive predictive value 80.0%, specificity 95.8%, P < 0.0001). However, since 30 of the 101 patients were found to have one or more of these poor prognostic pathologic features the sensitivity was only 40.0%. When clinical stage I patients were analyzed separately three patients (4.6%) had CA-125 levels greater than 30 IU ml -1 (positive predictive value 100%, specificity of 100%, sensitivity of 21.4%, P = 0.008). For patients with clinical stage II carcinoma, CA-125 was not predictive of pathologic findings except as a negative predictor of disease in a subgroup of patients whose endocervical curettage (ECC) demonstrated carcinoma unattached to endocervical tissue. In patients diagnosed by EMC only, an elevated CA-125 level was associated with poor prognostic pathologic features (P = 0.001). An elevated preoperative CA-125 reliably predicts advanced disease even in patients with apparently favorable histology and clinical stage, however the sensitivity of this method remains low.

Serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen levels in invasive cervical cancer: prediction of response and recurrence.

OBJECTIVE: The rate of normalization of human chorionic gonadotropin or CA 125 in other gynecologic malignancies is highly predictive of response to therapy and recurrence. Serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC antigen) levels were studied in patients with invasive cervical carcinoma to determine if the rate of normalization was associated with outcome. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred eighty-four patients were studied. A logistic regression of elevated SCC antigen levels was performed. RESULTS: In primary squamous cell carcinoma the SCC antigen level was elevated in stages I, II, III, and IV disease and all stages combined in 24%, 57%, 67%, 71%, and 43% of cases, respectively. Only 27% of patients with nonsquamous carcinoma of the cervix had elevated SCC antigen levels. SCC antigen levels were elevated in 50% of patients with recurrent disease. In both primary and recurrent disease elevated SCC antigen levels decreased with effective therapy. Normalization of elevated SCC levels was associated with a complete response; however, logistic regression of SCC antigen values was not. CONCLUSION: When initially elevated, SCC antigen assays aided in determination of response and detection of recurrences.