Complex clubfoot: my 5 tips for appropriate evaluation and treatment with the Ponseti method.

Complex clubfoot is a term used to describe a subset of patients that received previous treatment, and have distinctive anatomical features: severe equinus, with short first metatarsal, hyperextended big toe, severe plantar flexion of all metatarsals and deep folds through the sole of the foot and above the heel. Most complex clubfeet appear to be idiopathic and is usually associated with a poor casting technique. Complex clubfoot requires an early recognition and an adjustment of the casting protocol using the four finger Ponseti technique. This article gives the treating physician a general overview of the evaluation, treatment, and outcomes of complex clubfoot with the Ponseti method.

El pie equinovaro complejo es un término utilizado para describir un subconjunto de pacientes que recibieron tratamiento previo y tienen características anatómicas distintivas: equino severo, con primer metatarsiano corto, dedo gordo hiperextendido, flexión plantar severa de todos los metatarsianos y pliegues profundos en la planta del pie y por encima del talón. Los pies equinovaros más complejos parecen ser idiopáticos y generalmente se asocian con una mala técnica de yeso. El pie equinovaro complejo requiere un reconocimiento temprano y un ajuste del protocolo de yeso utilizando la técnica de Ponseti de cuatro dedos. Este artículo le brinda al médico tratante una descripción general de la evaluación, el tratamiento y los resultados del pie equinovaro complejo con el método Ponseti.

Morphologic Features on MR Imaging Classify Multifocal Glioblastomas in Different Prognostic Groups.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Multifocal glioblastomas (ie, glioblastomas with multiple foci, unconnected in postcontrast pretreatment T1-weighted images) represent a challenge in clinical practice due to their poor prognosis. We wished to obtain imaging biomarkers with prognostic value that have not been found previously. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of 1155 patients with glioblastomas from 10 local institutions during 2006-2017 provided 97 patients satisfying the inclusion criteria of the study and classified as having multifocal glioblastomas. Tumors were segmented and morphologic features were computed using different methodologies: 1) measured on the largest focus, 2) aggregating the different foci as a whole, and 3) recording the extreme value obtained for each focus. Kaplan-Meier, Cox proportional hazards, correlations, and Harrell concordance indices (c-indices) were used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: Age (P < .001, hazard ratio = 2.11, c-index = 0.705), surgery (P < .001, hazard ratio = 2.04, c-index = 0.712), contrast-enhancing rim width (P < .001, hazard ratio = 2.15, c-index = 0.704), and surface regularity (P = .021, hazard ratio = 1.66, c-index = 0.639) measured on the largest focus were significant independent predictors of survival. Maximum contrast-enhancing rim width (P = .002, hazard ratio = 2.05, c-index = 0.668) and minimal surface regularity (P = .036, hazard ratio = 1.64, c-index = 0.600) were also significant. A multivariate model using age, surgery, and contrast-enhancing rim width measured on the largest foci classified multifocal glioblastomas into groups with different outcomes (P < .001, hazard ratio = 3.00, c-index = 0.853, median survival difference = 10.55 months). Moreover, quartiles with the highest and lowest individual prognostic scores based on the focus with the largest volume and surgery were identified as extreme groups in terms of survival (P < .001, hazard ratio = 18.67, c-index = 0.967). CONCLUSIONS: A prognostic model incorporating imaging findings on pretreatment postcontrast T1-weighted MRI classified patients with glioblastoma into different prognostic groups.

Patología degenerativa en la columna lumbar / Degenerative disease of the lumbar spine

En los últimos 25 años, la investigación científica ha cambiado drásticamente el concepto y el manejo clínico de la lumbalgia. La mayoría de los hallazgos por la imagen, incluyendo los degenerativos, reflejan peculiaridades anatómicas o propias del envejecimiento normal, y resultan clínicamente irrelevantes; las pruebas de imagen sólo han demostrado ser útiles cuando se sospecha enfermedad sistémica o existe indicación quirúrgica por compresión medular o radicular persistente. El informe radiológico debe indicar los puntos clave de la compresión neural, soslayando otros hallazgos intrascendentes. Muchos tratamientos han demostrado ser ineficaces, y algunos contraproducentes, pero existen incentivos económicos y demandas asistenciales para seguir prescribiéndolos. Aplicar las pautas de manejo clínico comprobadamente efectivas mejora los resultados clínicos, disminuye la iatrogenia y reduce el derroche injustificado de gastos sanitarios (AU)

In the last 25 years, scientific research has brought about drastic changes in the concept of low back pain and its management. Most imaging findings, including degenerative changes, reflect anatomic peculiarities or the normal aging process and turn out to be clinically irrelevant; imaging tests have proven useful only when systemic disease is suspected or when surgery is indicated for persistent spinal cord or nerve root compression. The radiologic report should indicate the key points of nerve compression, bypassing inconsequential findings. Many treatments have proven inefficacious, and some have proven counterproductive, but they continue to be prescribed because patients want them and there are financial incentives for doing them. Following the guidelines that have proven effective for clinical management improves clinical outcomes, reduces iatrogenic complications, and decreases unjustified and wasteful healthcare expenditures (AU)

Degenerative disease of the lumbar spine. / Patología degenerativa en la columna lumbar.

In the last 25 years, scientific research has brought about drastic changes in the concept of low back pain and its management. Most imaging findings, including degenerative changes, reflect anatomic peculiarities or the normal aging process and turn out to be clinically irrelevant; imaging tests have proven useful only when systemic disease is suspected or when surgery is indicated for persistent spinal cord or nerve root compression. The radiologic report should indicate the key points of nerve compression, bypassing inconsequential findings. Many treatments have proven inefficacious, and some have proven counterproductive, but they continue to be prescribed because patients want them and there are financial incentives for doing them. Following the guidelines that have proven effective for clinical management improves clinical outcomes, reduces iatrogenic complications, and decreases unjustified and wasteful healthcare expenditures.

Lectura crítica de artículos de pruebas diagnósticas I: ¿Son válidos los resultados del estudio? / Critical reading of articles about diagnostic tests (Part 1): Are the results of the study valid?

En la era de la medicina basada en pruebas, una de las habilidades más importantes de un radiólogo es la capacidad de analizar la bibliografía diagnóstica críticamente. El objetivo de este tutorial es presentar una guía para determinar si los artículos diagnósticos primarios son válidos en la práctica clínica. Los elementos que se van a valorar son los siguientes: si el estudio es aplicable a la práctica clínica, si se ha comparado con la prueba de referencia, si incluyó un espectro adecuado de sujetos, si se limitaron los sesgos de verificación y expectación, reproducibilidad, consecuencias prácticas del estudio, intervalos de confianza para los parámetros analizados, rango de normalidad en los valores continuos y lugar de la prueba en el contexto de otras pruebas diagnósticas. Se ilustran ejemplos prácticos básicos para seleccionar e interpretar la bibliografía diagnóstica por imagen al igual que las referencias donde ampliar detalles (AU)

In the era of evidence-based medicine, one of the most important skills a radiologist should have is the ability to analyze the diagnostic literature critically. This tutorial aims to present guidelines for determining whether primary diagnostic articles are valid for clinical practice. The following elements should be evaluated: whether the study can be applied to clinical practice, whether the technique was compared to the reference test, whether an appropriate spectrum of patients was included, whether expectation bias and verification bias were limited, the reproducibility of the study, the practical consequences of the study, the confidence intervals for the parameters analyzed, the normal range for continuous variables, and the placement of the test in the context of other diagnostic tests. We use elementary practical examples to illustrate how to select and interpret the literate on diagnostic imaging and specific references to provide more details (AU)

[Critical reading of articles about diagnostic tests (part I): Are the results of the study valid?]. / Lectura crítica de artículos de pruebas diagnósticas I: ¿Son válidos los resultados del estudio?

In the era of evidence-based medicine, one of the most important skills a radiologist should have is the ability to analyze the diagnostic literature critically. This tutorial aims to present guidelines for determining whether primary diagnostic articles are valid for clinical practice. The following elements should be evaluated: whether the study can be applied to clinical practice, whether the technique was compared to the reference test, whether an appropriate spectrum of patients was included, whether expectation bias and verification bias were limited, the reproducibility of the study, the practical consequences of the study, the confidence intervals for the parameters analyzed, the normal range for continuous variables, and the placement of the test in the context of other diagnostic tests. We use elementary practical examples to illustrate how to select and interpret the literature on diagnostic imaging and specific references to provide more details.

Tractografía del fascículo uncinado y el fascículo uncinado posterior en pacientes con deterioro cognitivo leve y enfermedad de Alzheimer / Tractography of the uncinate fasciculus and the posterior cingulate fasciculus in patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer disease

Introducción: La tractografía cerebral es una técnica que permite visualizar los fascículos de sustancia blanca que conectan distintas partes del cerebro y realizar estudios cuantitativos de diversa índole sobre ellos. En este trabajo de investigación se realizó un estudio cuantitativo por tractografía cerebral mediante imágenes de resonancia magnética potenciadas en difusión en pacientes con deterioro cognitivo leve, enfermedad de Alzheimer y controlesnormales, con el fin de analizar la reproducibilidad y validez de los resultados. Sujetos y métodos: Se realizaron mediciones de anisotropía fraccional (FA) y difusividad media (MD) en el fascículo uncinado y el fascículo cingulado posterior, en imágenes obtenidas de una base de datos y de un centro de investigación, en 52 sujetos distribuidos en los 3 grupos de interés. Dos observadores realizaron las mediciones 2 veces para evaluar la reproducibilidad intra- e interobservador. Resultados: En el estudio de reproducibilidad se obtuvieron coeficientes de correlación intraclase superior a 0,9 para las medidas de FA y MD del fascículo uncinado, y mayor de 0,68 para las del fascículo cingulado posterior. Los pacientes con enfermedad de Alzheimer mostraron menores valores de FA y mayores valores de MD para el fascículo uncinado derecho correspondiente al centro de investigación. Existieron diferencias significativas en la comparación entre los datos de la base de datos y los del centro de investigación. Conclusiones: Se estableció una metodología reproducible para realizar tractografía en los fascículos estudiados. Los índices de FA y MD podrían ser indicadores tempranos de la enfermedad de Alzheimer, siendo necesario considerar el equipo y el método de adquisición de imágenes ya que pueden influir en los resultados como se comprobó en la comparación entre los 2 conjuntos de datos empleados

Introduction: Brain tractography is a non-invasive medical imaging technique which enables in vivo visualisation and various types of quantitative studies of white matter fibre tracts connecting different parts of the brain. We completed a quantitative study using brain tractography with diffusion tensor imaging in patients with mild cognitive impairment, patients with Alzheimer disease, and normal controls, in order to analyse the reproducibility and validity of the results. Subjects and methods: Fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) were measured across the uncinate fasciculus and the posterior cingulate fasciculus in images, obtained from a database and a research centre, representing 52 subjects distributed among the 3 study groups. Two observers took the measurements twice in order to evaluate intra- and inter-observer reproducibility. Results: Measurements of FA and MD of the uncinate fasciculus delivered an intraclass correlation coefficient above 0.9; ICC was above 0.68 for the posterior cingulate fasciculus. Patients with Alzheimer disease showed lower values of FA and higher MD values in the right uncinate fasciculus in images from the research centre. A comparison of the measurements from the 2 centres revealed significant differences. Conclusion: We established a reproducible methodology for performing tractography of the tracts in question. FA and MD indexes may serve as early indicators of Alzheimer disease. The type of equipment and the method used to acquire images must be considered because they may alter results as shown by comparing the 2 data sets in this study

[Tractography of the uncinate fasciculus and the posterior cingulate fasciculus in patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer disease]. / Tractografía del fascículo uncinado y el fascículo uncinado posterior en pacientes con deterioro cognitivo leve y enfermedad de Alzheimer.

INTRODUCTION: Brain tractography is a non-invasive medical imaging technique which enables in vivo visualisation and various types of quantitative studies of white matter fibre tracts connecting different parts of the brain. We completed a quantitative study using brain tractography with diffusion tensor imaging in patients with mild cognitive impairment, patients with Alzheimer disease, and normal controls, in order to analyse the reproducibility and validity of the results. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) were measured across the uncinate fasciculus and the posterior cingulate fasciculus in images, obtained from a database and a research centre, representing 52 subjects distributed among the 3 study groups. Two observers took the measurements twice in order to evaluate intra- and inter-observer reproducibility. RESULTS: Measurements of FA and MD of the uncinate fasciculus delivered an intraclass correlation coefficient above 0.9; ICC was above 0.68 for the posterior cingulate fasciculus. Patients with Alzheimer disease showed lower values of FA and higher MD values in the right uncinate fasciculus in images from the research centre. A comparison of the measurements from the 2 centres revealed significant differences. CONCLUSION: We established a reproducible methodology for performing tractography of the tracts in question. FA and MD indexes may serve as early indicators of Alzheimer disease. The type of equipment and the method used to acquire images must be considered because they may alter results as shown by comparing the 2 data sets in this study.

Lipoinfiltrado enriquecido con células madre en población pediátrica con síndrome de Parry-Romberg. Actualización / Stem-cells enriched lipofilling in pediatric population with Parry-Romberg syndrome. Update

La Hemiatrofia Facial Progresiva, comúnmente conocida como Síndrome de Parry-Romberg (SPR), es una enfermedad idiopática, progresiva y autolimitada, que afecta de manera variable y unilateral en la mayor parte de los casos a la piel, tejido celular subcutáneo, grasa, músculo y, con menor frecuencia, a las estructuras osteocartilaginosas faciales produciendo asimetría craneofacial. En el manejo quirúrgico del SPR en estadios medios y moderados se ha empleado desde hace años la infiltración de injertos grasos; sin embargo, se trataba de una técnica de resultados impredecibles dada su tendencia a la reabsorción. Gracias a los avances en biología molecular se ampliaron nuestros horizontes ante la posibilidad de usar las células madre propias del tejido adiposo con el fin de asegurar la viabilidad y permanencia del implante graso a través del tiempo. En este trabajo presentamos nuestra experiencia de los últimos 3 años en el tratamiento del SPR en pacientes pediátricos, consiguiendo la restauración de la volumetría y la simetría faciales mediante el uso de injertos grasos enriquecidos con células madre extraídas del propio paciente y en el mismo acto quirúrgico (AU)

Progressive Facial Hemiatrophy, also known as Parry-Romberg Syndrome (PRS), is an idiopathic, progressive and self-limited disease, that affects in a variable manner skin, subcutaneous tissue, fat, muscle, cartilage and bone on one side of the face resulting in craniofacial asymmetry. In the management of middle and moderate stages of PRS the use of fat transfer has been described with unpredictable results. However, advances in molecular biology allowed the use of adipose stem-cells in order to ensure the viability and permanence of the fat graft over time, offering a new possibility in the surgical treatment of this syndrome. In this paper, we present our experience of the last 3 years in the management of PRS in pediatric population with authologous stem-cells enriched lipofilling, achieving restoration of facial volumes and symmetry (AU)

Evaluación económica de intervenciones en enfermedades oncológicas en España: revisión sistemática y análisis comparativo / Economic evaluation of interventions for malignant neoplasms in Spain: systematic review and comparative analysis

Objetivo Revisar los métodos utilizados para elaborar evaluaciones económicas de intervenciones en enfermedades oncológicas y comparar sus principales características con las de los estudios dirigidos a otras enfermedades. Métodos Revisión sistemática y análisis comparativo calculando odds ratios (OR). Se realizaron búsquedas bibliográficas para identificar las evaluaciones económicas sobre enfermedades oncológicas realizadas en España entre 1983 y 2008. Se revisaron y describieron sus características, incluyendo las siguientes variables: revista y año de publicación, intervención, tipo de estudio, diseño, perspectiva, tipo de costes, fuente de financiación, y si se presentaban (o no) recomendaciones. Resultados Se incluyeron 63 estudios. Principalmente, resultaron ser análisis coste-efectividad y evaluaban tratamientos (60,3%; n=38). Diecisiete estudios (27,0%) utilizaron un diseño observacional. Los trabajos sobre enfermedades oncológicas mostraron las siguientes asociaciones (respecto a los estudios en otras causas [n=411]) con: análisis de minimización de costes (OR=1,73; intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95%: 0,91-3,27), diagnóstico (OR=2,18; IC95%: 1,07-4,43), análisis de decisiones (OR=0,46; IC95%: 0,24-0,87), perspectiva social (OR=0,20; IC95%: 0,05-0,86) y fuente de financiación con ánimo de lucro (OR=0,52; IC95%: 0,30-0,93).Conclusiones El número de evaluaciones económicas es escaso a pesar del aumento progresivo producido en los últimos años. Los estudios identificados presentaron heterogeneidad en cuanto a los métodos y las fuentes de información utilizadas. Es necesario aumentar la evaluación de la eficiencia de intervenciones oncológicas y garantizar su calidad metodológica (AU)

Objective To review standard methods used to evaluate the efficiency of oncology interventions, comparing their main characteristics with those of the studies aimed for other conditions. Methods We performed a systematic review and comparative analysis calculating odds ratios (OR). We searched the biomedical literature to assess economic evaluation studies on malignant neoplasms in Spain published between 1983 and 2008. Their characteristics were reviewed and summarised, including the following variables: journal and year of publication, intervention, type and design of study, perspective, type of costs, financing source, and decision-making recommendations. Results Sixty-three studies were included. Main characteristics of the reports were: cost-effectiveness analysis and therapeutic interventions (60.3%; n=38). Seventeen studies (27.0%) used an observational design. Economic evaluations of malignant neoplasms showed the following associations (compared to those studies addressing other causes [n=411]): cost minimisation analysis (OR: 1.73; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.91-3.27), diagnostic interventions (OR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.07-4.43), decision analysis design (OR: 0.46; 95% CI: 0.24-0.87), societal perspective (OR: 0.20; 95% CI: 0.05-0.86) and for-profit source of financing (OR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.30-0.93). Conclusions Economic evaluations of interventions for malignant neoplasms are not common despite the gradual increase produced during recent years in Spain. Reports presented heterogeneity in the quality of the information regarding the methods and the data sources used. Further efficiency evaluations of oncology interventions are needed and methodological quality should be warranted (AU)

Enfermedades dolorosas del raquis: precaución y oportunidades con las técnicas de imagen / Painful spine disorders: chance and opportunities with imaging techniques

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Vertebral endplate changes are not associated with chronic low back pain among Southern European subjects: a case control study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Data on the association between vertebral endplate changes and low back pain are contradictory. This study was designed to assess whether this association exists among Southern European subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients in this study serving as cases were 35-50 years of age with low back pain lasting >90 days, for whom a lumbar MR imaging had been prescribed. Controls were subjects 35-50 years of age, having a cranial MR imaging for headache with normal findings, and no history of clinically relevant LBP. Two hundred forty cases and 64 controls were recruited consecutively in the radiology services across 6 cities in Spain. Imaging findings and subject characteristics were gathered through previously validated instruments. Radiologists who interpreted MRI were blinded to the subject characteristics. A multivariate logistic regression model was developed to assess the association of vertebral endplate changes with LBP, adjusting for sex, age, body mass index, lifetime exposure to smoking, physical activity, disk degeneration, and the interaction between disk degeneration and vertebral endplate changes. RESULTS: Vertebral endplate changes were found in 80.4% of the cases and in 87.5% of the controls. In the regression model, disk degeneration was the only variable showing a confounding effect. Results showed that after adjusting for disk degeneration, the presence of vertebral endplate changes is associated with the absence of chronic LBP (OR for LBP: 0.31; 95% CI, 0.10-0.95). CONCLUSIONS: In Southern European subjects, vertebral endplate changes are not associated with chronic LBP.

Agreement between semi-automatic radiographic morphometry and Genant semi-quantitative method in the assessment of vertebral fractures.

UNLABELLED: Semi-automatic morphometry is highly reproducible and not time intensive; however, no study has evaluated agreement between semi-automated morphometric methods and the Genant semi-quantitative method performed as a rule by radiologists. Our study shows substantial agreement between both methods; however, semi-automatic morphometry upgrades mild deformities and overestimates the prevalence of fractures. INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate the agreement between radiologists using the Genant semi-quantitative (SQ) method and semi-automated morphometry in the diagnosis of vertebral fractures in post-menopausal women. METHODS: Cross-sectional study was conducted in 2006-2007 in an age-stratified population-based sample of 824 post-menopausal women over the age of 50. From this population two sets of 95 and 50 X-ray were randomly extracted to test inter-rater agreement and agreement between SQ and semi-automated morphometry, and vertebral fractures were classified according to both methods. The Genant method was used to homogenise the diagnosis of fractures. Agreement was evaluated with weighted kappa. We evaluated each vertebral body independently and also the whole vertebral column (T4-L4) classifying women into the worst grade of fracture. For the qualitative interpretation of the agreement, we used the criteria described by Landis and Koch (Biometrics 33:159-174, 1977). RESULTS: The radiologists' agreement was 98.4% (Kappa, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.42-0.89). Agreement between semi-automated morphometry and SQ reached 97.6% and Kappa was 0.86 (95% CI, 0.66-0.94). In the whole evaluation of the spine semi-automated morphometry overestimates, the prevalence of fractures compared with the radiologists were 15.8% of women with fractures and 7.4% of women with moderate-severe fractures by semi-automated morphometry vs. 8.4% and 3.2% by the SQ method. The negative predictive value for MorphoXpress was 99% while the positive was 40%. CONCLUSIONS: Semi-automated morphometry shows high reliability and a substantial agreement with the SQ approach but overestimates the prevalence of fractures. Its role in routine clinical practice is limited because positive results should be reassessed by qualitative or semi-quantitative methods.