Epidemiology of Stress Fracture in Police Trainees.

BACKGROUND: Military recruits and athletes have high occurrence of stress fractures, with very high incidence among military recruits. Symptomatic stress fractures can be disabling in some people. This study aims at identifying pattern and distribution of such fractures in Nepal Police trainee and assess the risk factors and demographics that may help to develop the local guidelines. METHODS: This study analysed 65 police trainees who presented to the orthopaedic Out Patient Department at Nepal Police and Province Police Hospital diagnosed as a case of stress fracture from 29 December, 2020 to 29 December, 2021. Ethical approval was obtained and different variables analysed were age, sex, Body Mass Index, location of fracture, duration of pain, method of treatment, time to heal the fracture and time to pain free mobilisation of patient. RESULTS: There were 65 trainees with 86 sites of fracture at different bones with 50.8% (33) of male population. The majority of fracture was located at tibia (58.1%) followed by pubic rami (33.7%) with potentially debilitating fracture neck of femur seen in 4.6% subjects. Mean duration of pain was 20.7±14.2 days with mean time for pain free mobilisation 42.2±17.7 days after presentation. 96.5% of those recovered with conservative treatment (activity restriction or cast). CONCLUSIONS: The location of stress fracture depends upon the type of training or activities. Modification of activities in early phase of training with early visit for medical care in case of trainees with increasing pain may decrease morbidities and complications requiring operative treatment.

Isolated Cysticercosis of Sternocleidomastoid Muscle: Role of Ultrasonography.

Cysticercosis is considered a common healthcare problem, especially in developing countries. The invasion of muscle by the larval stage of the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium (i.e., Cysticercus cellulosae) usually occurs in association with CNS cysts, concurrent muscle cysts, or both. Isolated skeletal muscle involvement is rare and presents with nonspecific symptoms resulting in a diagnostic dilemma for the treating physician. We report a 20-year-old female with isolated cysticercosis of right sternocleidomastoid muscle presenting as a right neck swelling and mild pain for 4 months, whose diagnosis was established by ultrasonography (USG) and computed tomogram (CT) scan. She was managed conservatively with oral albendazole therapy for four weeks resulting in complete resolution.

Assessment of the availability of technology for trauma care in Nepal.

BACKGROUND: We sought to assess the availability of technology-related equipment for trauma care in Nepal and to identify factors leading to optimal availability as well as deficiencies. We also sought to identify potential solutions addressing the deficits in terms of health systems management and product development. METHODS: Thirty-two items for large hospitals and sixteen items for small hospitals related to the technological aspect of trauma care were selected from the World Health Organization's Guidelines for Essential Trauma Care for the current study. Fifty-six small and 29 large hospitals were assessed for availability of these items in the study area. Site visits included direct inspection and interviews with administrative, clinical, and bioengineering staff. RESULTS: Deficiencies of many specific items were noted, including many that were inexpensive and which could have been easily supplied. Shortage of electricity was identified as a major infrastructural deficiency present in all parts of the country. Deficiencies of pulse oximetry and ventilators were observed in most hospitals, attributed in most part to frequent breakdowns and long downtimes because of lack of vendor-based service contracts or in-house maintenance staff. Sub-optimal oxygen supply was identified as a major and frequent deficiency contributing to disruption of services. All equipment was imported except for a small percent of suction machines and haemoglobinometers. CONCLUSIONS: The study identified a range of items which were deficient and whose availability could be improved cost-effectively and sustainably by better planning and organisation. The electricity deficit has been dealt with successfully in a few hospitals via direct feeder lines and installation of solar panels; wider implementation of these methods would help solve a large portion of the technological deficiencies. From a health systems management view-point, strengthening procurement and stocking of low cost items especially in remote parts of the country is needed. From a product development view-point, there is a need for robust pulse-oximeters and ventilators that are lower cost and which have longer durability and less need for repairs. Increasing capabilities for local manufacture is another potential method to increase availability of a range of equipment and spare parts.