[Feasibility and benefit of an active screening for rehab need and subsequent written advice to file an application for rehab treatment in AOK-insurants enrolled in the disease management program diabetes type 2 (PARTID-trial)]. / Praktikabilität und Nutzen eines aktiven Screenings auf Rehabedarf mit anschließender schriftlicher Beratung zur Rehaantragstellung bei AOK-Versicherten im Disease-Management-Programm Diabetes Typ 2 (PARTID-Studie).

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Type 2 diabetes (DM II) is the world's most widespread metabolic disease. Numerous investigations have demonstrated that intensive, multimodal interventions can reduce the occurrence of DM-associated comobidities and mortality. Medical rehabilitation could offer such an alternative, albeit one with an obvious time limit. There is currently no active program in Germany designed to screen for pa-tients' need for rehab. Here, we investigated -whether screening for rehab need in DMII pa-tients accompanied by written advice to file an application for rehab treatment would generate a relevant number of rehab measures, whether -inpatient rehab results in improved mid-term prognoses, and which patients demonstrate a particular benefit from such a program. METHODS: We screened 5 500 employed individuals aged 18-54 years for their need for rehab via an extensive questionnaire based on the "Lübeck Algorithm". The patients were registered in the DMP (disease management program) Diabetes mellitus Type 2 in the AOK Rheinland/-Hamburg health insurance division, and payed into DRV (German statutory pension insurance -scheme) Rheinland retirement insurance. Pa-tients needing rehab who presented no exclusion criteria (i. e., for a rehab intervention far from their place of residence) were randomized to a control or intervention group at a ratio of 3:1. Patients in the intervention group received a letter from the AOK advising them to fill out an application for rehab. A very short, simple application form was included in the mailing. 12 months after randomization we conducted a query to determine the effects of rehab. Our primary endpoint was a cardiovascular risk score specifically devised for diabetics. Multi-level models were applied to measure changes in cardiovascular risk. RESULTS: 850 patients (rate of return=16%) returned completed screening forms to us. After having excluded those with faulty diagnoses and/or those who had refused to participate, 829 patients remained. 94% of them presented a need for rehab according to specific criteria (39% with a simple and 55% with complex problem profiles). 266 patients stated in the questionnaire that a rehab program was impossible for them for personal reasons. Of those patients who remained, we randomized 299 to the intervention cohort and 102 to the control group. Almost 70% of the intervention group completed an application for rehab, and our follow-up revealed that most of them participated in a rehab intervention. Return rate after one year was 82%. Analysis on the intention-to-treat (ITT) principle revealed no significant effect on cardiovascular risk (p=0.68); however, per-protocol analysis demonstrated a significant effect in the intervention cohort (p=0.025). Males, and patients with an uncomplicated problem profile profited from the intervention. DISCUSSION: We discovered that a proactive procedure leads to the identification of a highly relevant group of insured individuals, and that it is suited to generating a large number of medically -justified rehab applications. ITT analysis on the effi-cacy of inpatient rehabilitation for type 2 diabetes mellitus in terms of the cardiovascular 5-year risk, however, failed to display a significant statistical effect in this study population (insurees of generally lower socioeconomic status having no intention to apply for rehab treatment). Rehab treatment for type 2 diabetes does not seem to be universally effective. This of course does not apply to rehab in general, as patients usually participate in rehab of their own volition. More research is needed on this issue.

[Proactive screening for rehabilitation need in type 2 diabetics from an AOK Disease Management Programe: which patients will be identified?]. / Proaktives Screening nach Rehabilitationsbedarf bei Typ-2-Diabetikern im Disease-Management-Programm einer AOK: Welche Patienten können identifiziert werden?

BACKGROUND: Medical rehabilitation seems suitable for implementing multimodal interventions for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Rehabilitation in Germany on principle requires that insurees file an application. Proactive screening for rehabilitation need has only been explored in pilot projects so far. It seems a promising attempt to assess rehab need by questionnaire especially in patients with type 2 diabetes. We do not know though how patients who have been screened positive for rehab need differ from other patients with type 2 diabetes as to their health and risk profiles. This could provide an indication of the validity of the proactive approach. METHODS: Members of an Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse (AOK) Disease Management Program (DMP) for type 2 diabetes were screened for rehab need by questionnaire. 13 diabetes-specific problem areas were assessed. Problems were assigned to 10 specific treatments (problem-treatment-pairs). Rehab need was presumed if patients needed 3 or more treatments. Patients were then compared to regular rehab patients as well as patients with type 2 diabetes from primary care medical offices. RESULTS: From 5500 DMP-patients 829 returned the questionnaire (return rate: 15.5%). From these 94% met the criteria for rehab need; of these 55% needed 6 or more treatments (complex problems). Patients who screened positive for rehab suffered from more health problems and had worse risk profiles as compared to patients from medical offices, and disease burden was comparable or worse as compared to regular rehab patients. CONCLUSIONS: This indicates that proactive screening for rehab need in patients with type 2 diabetes leads to reasonable (valid) results. The very low return rate suggests that the sample may be considerably biased, though. Possibly, mainly patients with greater impairment to health responded to the screening.

[Littler tenodesis for correction of swan neck deformity in rheumatoid arthritis]. / Die Littler-Tenodese zur Behandlung der Schwanenhalsdeformität bei rheumatoider Arthritis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the results of operative treatment for rheumatoid swan neck deformity using Littler's technique consisting in the reconstruction of the oblique retinacular ligament. PATIENTS AND METHOD: From 2004 to 2007 twenty rheumatoid patients with 30 PIP-joints affected by swan neck deformity underwent surgical correction. In all cases the tenodesis described by Littler was used. Modification of the operative procedure because of insufficiency of the Cleland ligament or the A2-pulley was in no case necessary. Twenty six PIP-joints in 17 patients could be examined after an average follow-up of 22 months. In two PIP-joints the deformity was contract and in 12 PIP-joints partially contract. In 10 joints a dorsal arthrolysis had to be performed and in one a lengthening of the central slip. All PIP-joints were transfixed in 30 degrees flexion. After 6 weeks the transfixing wire was removed and active PIP- joint mobilisation was allowed. Active extension was limited to 20 degrees of flexion until the end of the 12 (th) postoperative week. During this time an extension blocking splint was used. After the 12 (th) week free active and passive mobilisation of the PIP-joint was allowed. In a retrospective study pre- and postoperative range of motion, X-ray findings, pain and patient's content were examined. RESULTS: Swan neck deformity was corrected in all cases. Preoperative hyperextension of 21 degrees on average was corrected to 24 degrees of flexion. Thereby the ROM of 48 degrees was shifted from the extension sector to a ROM of 51 degrees towards the flexion sector. Recurrence of the deformity or complications were not noted. Pain could be reduced except in one patient. Radiologic changes were classified Larsen grade 2.2 before and 2.3 after operation. CONCLUSION: With the oblique retinacular ligament repair described by Littler reliable results can be achieved in rheumatoid swan neck deformity. It is indicated in contract and non-contract rheumatoid swan neck deformity when th PIP-joints are radiologically in a stage of less than Larsen grade 3. It corrects the deformity at the level of the PIP-joint as well as the DIP-joint.

Mitomycin C in higher risk trabeculectomy: a prospective comparison of 0.2- to 0.4-mg/cc doses.

PURPOSE: This randomized, masked, prospective study was conducted to compare the outcome of filtering surgery using doses of 0.2 mg/cc or 0.4 mg/cc of mitomycin C (MMC) in eyes that were at higher risk from previous conjunctival incisional surgery. METHODS: Eyes of 50 consecutive patients with primary open-angle, pseudoexfoliation, or pigmentary glaucoma requiring trabeculectomy who had previously undergone either limbal cataract surgery or trabeculectomy were enrolled. Patients received an intraoperative dose of either 0.2 or 0.4 mg/cc MMC for 2 minutes (n = 25 in each study group). Intraocular pressure (IOP), logMAR visual acuity, and complications were monitored at regular intervals for 1 year. Unpaired student t tests were used to compare percent decrease in IOP in both study groups at each interval. RESULTS: The percent decrease in IOP was not significantly different between groups at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, or 1 year after surgery. LogMAR visual acuity was not significantly different between groups at 1 month, 6 months, or 1 year. Treatment failure occurred in seven patients in the 0.2 mg/cc group (28%) and seven patients in the 0.4 mg/cc group (29.2%). Postoperative hypotony, choroidal effusions and hemorrhages, and wound leaks occurred in both groups, but occurred more often in the group receiving 0.4 mg/cc MMC. CONCLUSION: Filtering surgery performed on higher risk eyes was as effective using a lower dose (0.2 mg/cc) of MMC as that using a higher dose (0.4 mg/cc). Incidence of complications and treatment failures was slightly higher in the group receiving high-dose MMC.

[Vascularization of the humerus]. / Vaskularisation des Humerus.

The proximal third of the humerus is fed by the anterior and posterior circumflex arteries of the axillary artery. They construct a fine anastomoses network at the humeral head as well as longitudinal anastomoses to the diaphysis. The middle third of the humerus is maintained by the rami musculoperiostales originating in both the brachial artery and the deep brachial artery. These periosteal vessels are formed both horizontally and vertically. The distal third of the humerus is mainly supplied by the horizontal anastomoses of the collateral arteries. The inner part of the bone is normally penetrated by just one nutrient artery entering the nutrient canal below the middle of the humerus.

A case of orbital emphysema as an ocular emergency.

Orbital emphysema is radiologically apparent in 50% of cases of orbital fractures, but it is generally a benign, self-limited condition. However, visual loss may occur if a fracture produces orbital compression via a ball-valve effect, allowing air to enter but not leave the orbit. A case of compressive orbital emphysema complicated by ischemic optic neuropathy is reported. Intraorbital needle aspiration relieved the compression with improvement of visual acuity and normalization of intraocular pressure.

Avellino corneal dystrophy. Clinical manifestations and natural history.

PURPOSE: The pathologic features of a variant of granular corneal dystrophy has been described in which the presence of lattice changes in addition to characteristic granular lesions has been documented. The authors investigated the mode of inheritance, natural history, and clinical manifestations of this dystrophy. METHODS: A family with this condition was investigated, and a pedigree was established. Family members underwent ophthalmic examination, and ophthalmic history was obtained. In addition, pathologic examination of corneal tissue from affected patients was performed. RESULTS: Similar to the four previously described cases, this family also traced its origins to Avellino, Italy. This autosomal dominant condition affected 27 of 92 family members, ranging in age from 5 to 77 years. Granular deposits were the earliest and most common manifestations. Lattice lesions were present in some patients with granular lesions. Older patients had anterior stromal haze between deposits, which impaired visual acuity. Recurrent granular deposits were noted in donor corneal tissue after penetrating keratoplasty for this condition. Pathologic examination of corneal tissue from affected patients confirmed the presence of hyaline material seen in granular dystrophy as well as fusiform deposits of amyloid, similar to those seen in lattice dystrophy type I. CONCLUSION: This study establishes the natural history and clinical manifestations of this condition.