1/10. Full-thickness burn of the foot: successful treatment with Apligraf. A case report.Burn wounds, although uncommon in the foot, present a uniquely challenging opportunity to physicians. The keys to successful management include a proper and specific initial evaluation of the burning agent, the location, the TBSA affected, and the depth. Ultimately, proper recognition and meticulous wound care with skin grafting, when necessary, bring about the desired results. A case report of a patient with a third-degree burn over the dorsum of the left foot is presented. This case is unique in that Apligraf, a human skin equivalent, was used to gain coverage and eventual resolution of the wound. It is the authors' opinion that the use of Apligraf in this application is a viable alternative to traditional methods of skin harvesting and grafting. To the authors' knowledge, there have been no other cases reported of Apligraf use in burn wound coverage of the foot.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/10. Clinical holistic medicine: chronic infections and autoimmune diseases.The consciousness-based (holistic) medical toolbox might be useful in general practice and in cases of recurrent infections and chronic infection or inflammation. From our clinical experiences, there is hope for improvement from a number of diseases caused by disorders affecting the regulation of the immune system when the physician includes the holistic medical approach. Our scientific understanding of the connection between consciousness and cellular order is still limited. consciousness-based holistic medicine removes (as explained by the holistic process theory of healing) the "blockages" in the tissues of the body and facilitates function and informational exchange of the cells of the body. Many blockages and repressed feelings in an area would imply "noise and disturbances" on the level of intercellular communications, which in turn means major difficulties for the cells of the immune system. For this they are totally dependent on the body information system, which the holistic treatment aims to recover. Processing the blockages increases the coherence of the cells and organism, thus increasing the intercellular flow of information in the area and thus strengthening the immune defense and healing the disease. The area of clinical holistic medicine is going through a rapid development and the toolbox of consciousness-based medicine is available for dealing with many diseases arising from disturbances in the regulation of the immune system. Holistic medicine has yet to be better explained scientifically and our proposed holistic cures have yet to be documented clinically. We invite the medical community to cooperate on this important challenge.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/10. Altered host response and special infections in the elderly.Infection remains one of the most common causes for Emergency Department evaluation and hospital admission in the elderly. Unfortunately, aged individuals may not manifest the typical symptoms and signs as their younger counterparts. The emergency physician must recognize that the elderly individual may exhibit a less vigorous physiologic response to infectious states, which can delay or make diagnosis difficult. This article attempts to explain the apparent dysfunctions in the elderly that places this important population at greater risk for certain infections.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/10. diabetic foot amputations. Part I: Digital.Foot lesions in diabetic patients with sensory deficiencies are ignored or not noted by the patients, therefore, leading to major infections of the soft tissue and/or bone. This can be quite devastating with subsequent loss of limb and life-threatening if the extent of the problem is not recognized and prompt treatment initiated. If an amputation is necessary, it should be performed at the lowest level possible. Part I of this series of articles, concerning diabetic foot amputations, will review the pathogenesis, indications, objective vascular criteria, basic surgical principles and complications of diabetic foot amputations. case reports with various digital amputation procedures and their postoperative care will also be presented in detail. A team approach should be used in the treatment of diabetic foot disorders. The podiatrist, along with admitting internist, leads a team of other specialists including: radiologist, vascular surgeon, infectious disease physicians and plastic surgeon, depending on the progression of foot pathology.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/10. Grisel's syndrome. Cervical spine clinical, pathologic, and neurologic manifestations.Grisel's syndrome involves the subluxation of the atlantoaxial joint from inflammatory ligamentous laxity following an infectious process. Even though it was first described in 1830, it is a rare disease usually affecting children, but infrequent adult cases do occur. patients generally seek treatment for progressive unrelenting throat and neck pain followed by torticollis and subluxation. Neurologic complications occur in approximately 15% of cases and can range from radiculopathy to myelopathy and even death. Principles of management include bacteriologic cure and correction of bony deformity and neurologic protection. The authors present two adult patients with Grisel's syndrome. The first illustrates the permanent spinal deformity that can occur if the disease remains unrecognized for a prolonged period of time. The second case demonstrates a delayed neurologic complication in an adult who had Grisel's syndrome in childhood. It is hoped that these two examples, together with a detailed discussion of the literature, will inform physicians of an unusual but important condition to be considered in the differential diagnosis of any patient complaining of neck pain.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/10. life-threatening deep fascial space infections of the head and neck.In the preantibiotic era, deep fascial space infections were common, and physicians were well acquainted with their complex and sometimes subtle manifestations. Widespread use of antibiotics, however, not only has significantly decreased the incidence of deep neck infections but also has altered their clinical manifestations. This article is designed to emphasize the key clinical manifestations of the several life-threatening deep neck infections and relate them to critically important anatomic structures in the neck.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/10. superinfection: another look.superinfection in the compromised host often poses a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma for the physician who is concerned that a perplexing array of microorganisms might be involved. We believe that the differential diagnosis list can often be narrowed considerably by separating superinfection in the compromised host into five convenient categories: (1) infections due to the underlying disease itself; (2) infections due to the underlying disease plus therapy for that disease; (3) infections due solely to medicaments, operations, or procedures; (4) infections increased in severity but probably not in incidence; and (5) societally related infections. Use of this or a similar categorization should result in a more rational approach to differential diagnosis, should encourage a more focused diagnostic work-up, whould reduce the necessity for invasive procedures, should provide the microbiology laboratory information about specific organisms that should be sought sedulously, and should permit the selection of a more rational antimicrobial regimen prior to the availability of definitive microbiologic information.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/10. Spinal infections in the immunocompromised host.There is an increasing population of immunocompromised patients with hiv, IV drug abuse, organ transplantation, and long-term steroid treatment developing spinal infections. delayed diagnosis because of blunted host immune response and lack of outward signs and symptoms places the treating physician at a disadvantage in the treatment of this type of disease, which presents at a later stage of development. Immunocompromised patients are infected by a different group of pathogens than their healthier cohorts (e.g., pseudomonas, gram-negative bacteria and fungal infections) because their host defenses are diminished. osteomyelitis with or with out pyomyositis and epidural abscess may occur. The overriding symptom is back pain. radiculopathy, myelopathy, and sensory loss may accompany local pain and tenderness. Plain film radiography, CT scan, MR image, and bone scan is invaluable in the diagnosis of these infections. The cornerstone of treatment is identification of the responsible pathogen, appropriate medical therapy, immobilization of the affected segment of the spine, and physical therapy to combat physical deconditioning. Psoas abscesses may require surgical debridement if they cannot be adequately drained by CT-guided percutaneous catheterization. Epidural abscesses with neurologic compromise require surgical drainage. Impingement of the spinal cord or cauda equina by collapsed osteomyelitic vertebral bodies requires surgical debridement by anterior vertebrectomy, with an autologous tricortical iliac crest strut and immobilization of the spine using external bracing or posterior instrumentation as dictated by the disease.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/10. Mucocutaneous manifestations of the hyper-igm immunodeficiency syndrome.BACKGROUND: The recurrent pyogenic infections of patients with hyper-IgM syndrome are controlled by intravenous gamma globulin administration, but patients may suffer from early-onset oral ulcerations and warts. OBJECTIVE: We have characterized the mucocutaneous manifestations associated with this condition to allow physicians to more readily identify it. methods: Three male patients with the mucocutaneous manifestations of the hyper-IgM syndrome are described. In one, histopathologic examination of the oral mucosal lesion was performed. RESULTS: Recurrent large, painful oral ulcerations can occur that are not necessarily associated with neutropenia nor do they respond to granulocyte colony-stimulating factor administration. Histopathologic examination of an ulcer showed a heavy infiltrate of mixed inflammatory cells. warts tend to be widespread and resistant to traditional therapy. CONCLUSION: physicians should consider this uncommon condition when examining a male patient with severe oral ulcers or recalcitrant widespread warts.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/10. Diabetes and transport: a potentially bittersweet combination.These cases represent a portion of the spectrum of medical issues that may be seen in patients with a diagnosis of IDDM. As the first case suggests, knowledge of the disease process and an expanded differential diagnosis is imperative when acting as medical command for these patients. Interfacility transport does not only involve rapid and safe transport between institutions, but must also offer the highest level of expertise available for the referring physician and the patient. For this reason, we recommend the immediate availability of a senior level experienced pediatric physician for involvement in all but the most routine pediatric interfacility transports. Rapid recognition at the time of initial presentation or transport of the correct diagnosis in patient one may have altered potential outcome. Case 2 represents a potential untoward outcome which might be potentiated or exacerbated by the care given during transport. Although this patient's transport time was short, a similar patient may present who needs prolonged transport. The patient might also present to the transport service prior to neurologic deterioration. One must be prepared to intervene for all potential complications as they arise. Case 3 represents a patient whose physical examination suggested more intense therapy was needed than is offered by many DKA protocols. It is important to listen to what the patients are trying to tell us, rather than relying strictly on protocols or guidelines. While protocols or guidelines offer a menu of potential therapies, one must be prepared to vary from these guidelines if suggested by the patient's condition. Recognition of delayed capillary refill in patient 3 allowed for an increase in fluid administration and rapid patient improvement. While not evident with the presented short transports, the use of point of care testing in a transport vehicle can be useful for these types of patients. The opportunity to closely monitor blood chemistry evaluations and gasses can give insight about an ongoing process, suggest therapies, and help direct interventions that, in the past, often waited until the patient arrived at the receiving hospital. That additional information can be invaluable for the ill patient whose outcome may hinge on early recognition of subtle changes with subsequent appropriate interventions.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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