Usefulness of an organ donation opinion survey as a tool to promote organ donation among the adolescent population.

Opinion surveys on health issues are considered health promotion tools. However, no studies have confirmed this in deceased organ donation for transplantation. This study aimed to analyse the impact of completing an opinion questionnaire about deceased organ donation on the attitude towards organ donation among the adolescent population. This longitudinal study with repeated measurements of attitude towards deceased organ donation was conducted with an adolescent population. The measurement instrument was a validated questionnaire of the attitude towards organ donation (PCID-DTO-Ríos). The study process involved the application of the questionnaire at an initial time, 1 month later, and 6 months later. A total of 1374 adolescents participated in this study. The favourable attitude towards donation was 43.1%, which fell to 41.4% at 1 month (P = 0.145), and to 39.7% at 6 months (P = 0.019). Changes in the attitude were observed in all groups, both 1 and 6 months after the questionnaire was completed. There was no objective relationship between the adolescent's socio-family environment and the effect of completing the questionnaire on their attitude towards deceased organ donation. In conclusion, the opinion questionnaire was not useful for promoting organ donation and did not have a positive effect on adolescents' attitudes towards organ donation in the medium or long term.

Valoración funcional mediante técnicas biomecánicas en un caso de cervicalgia postraumática atípica / Functional assessment using biomechanical techniques in a case atypical post-traumatic neck pain

La cervicalgia postraumática es la patología más prevalente en los Servicios de Clínica Médico-Forense en España. Por ello, toda herramienta diagnóstica capaz de mejorar la precisión en la valoración médica puede tener un gran impacto profesional, socioeconómico y judicial. Presentamos el caso de una mujer de 21 años, que sufrió un accidente de tráfico por colisión posterior, pero con mecanismo lesional atípico, y refiere en distintas valoraciones cervicalgia, mareo, vértigo y pérdida de fuerza en ambas manos. Se realizó valoración funcional mediante técnicas biomecánicas de raquis cervical, equilibrio, y fuerzas de empuñamiento y pinzas lateral y distal, objetivándose la funcionalidad normal en raquis y la falta de colaboración en la valoración de la fuerza de la mano. Por parte del médico-forense se consideraron útiles los resultados obtenidos para el establecimiento de la sanidad, la cual se consideró ad integrum (AU)

Post-traumatic neck pain is the most prevalent pathology in Forensic Medical Clinics in Spain. Because of this, any diagnostic tool capable of improving the accuracy of the medical assessment can have an important professional, socioeconomic or legal impact. We present the case of a 21 year-old woman who suffered a rear-end collision with a non-typical mechanism of injury. The patient described neck pain, dizziness and vertigo, andloss of strength in both hands on several medical examinations. Cervical function, balance, and the ability of the hand muscle for gripping, lateral clipping and distal clipping were evaluated using biomechanical techniques. Normal function was observed in cervical function and balance, as well as a lack of collaboration in the hand evaluation. The Forensic examiner considered the obtained results to be useful in establishing the final conclusion, which was restitutio ad integrum (AU)

Reliability and validity of a new objective tool for low back pain functional assessment.

STUDY DESIGN: Classification and functional assessment model for nonspecific low back pain (LBP) patients and controls on the basis of kinematic analysis parameters. OBJECTIVE: Develop a logistic regression model using kinematic analysis variables to (1) discriminate between LBP patients and controls and (2) obtain objective parameters for LBP functional assessment. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Functional assessment of spinal disorders has been carried out traditionally by means of subjective scales. Objective functional techniques have been developed, which usually involve the application of external loads or the analysis of highly standardized trunk flexion-extension maneuvers. Few studies have used everyday activities such as sit-to-stand or lifting an object from the ground. They have shown that the motion patterns of LBP patients differ from those of healthy subjects. Nevertheless, very few studies have tried to correlate objective findings to the results of subjective scales, and no previous study has developed a LBP classification and functional assessment model on the basis of kinematic analysis of everyday activities. METHODS: Sixteen controls and 39 LBP patients performed a sit-to-stand task, and lifted three different weights from a standing position. The vertical forces exerted and the relative positions of the lower limb and the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacroiliac regions were recorded. Reliability was determined from repetitions of the tests performed by the control group. Binary logistic regression analyses were computed. The results of the selected regression equation were correlated to the Oswestry Disability Index scale results, to check the validity of the procedure for the measurement of functional disability. RESULTS: Reliability of the parameters was good. The selected regression model used two variables, and correctly classified 97.3% of the patients. High correlations were found between the results of this regression equation and the Oswestry Disability Index scale. CONCLUSION: It is possible to distinguish LBP patients from healthy subjects by means of the biomechanical analysis of everyday tasks. This kind of analysis can produce objective and reliable indexes about the patients' degree of functional impairment.