1/10. The importance of the complete history in the discovery of a potential suicide: a case report.suicidal ideation and completed suicides are an increasing problem among the elderly. In 1992, the elderly accounted for 13% of the population but represented 20% of all completed suicides. There are recognized risk factors for suicides in elderly patients, which include depression, deteriorating physical health, and loss of independent functioning. A complete history enables the examiner to establish a relationship with the patient and to formulate a diagnosis. Unfortunately, histories are often incomplete. Many factors can account for this, including financial pressures, patient volume, and overspecialization. The physiatric history is the integration of many parts. It incorporates not only the physiatrist's evaluation but those of other disciplines as well, for example, physical and occupational therapy. The physiatric history is a sensitive tool for assessing the state of being of the whole patient. We describe a case in which a careful and complete physiatric history and physical examination revealed an elderly patient with suicidal ideation and a plan.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/10. calciphylaxis: a case study with differential diagnosis.calciphylaxis is a relatively rare, but horribly disfiguring, skin condition that is most often associated with end-stage renal disease and long-term dialysis. Unfortunately, calciphylaxis-related morbidity and mortality are significant. The case study presented demonstrates many of the findings associated with the typical calciphylaxis patient; end-stage renal disease and an extensive, painful ulcer. The complexity of the patient s history and medical/surgical interventions, especially medication therapy with coumadin and heparin, complicated initial diagnostic processes. Close scrutiny of multiple physical assessment findings, historical factors, and test results was required for correct diagnosis. Crucial components of differential diagnosis of calciphylaxis versus coumadin-induced skin necrosis or heparin-induced thrombocytopenia necrosis include: patient history and characteristics, clinical presentation, and diagnostic test results.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.080856444799331keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/10. asthma associated with worsening leg ulcer: a case of vasculitis in primary care.A 71-year-old black woman was admitted to the hospital with a 2-month history of a nonhealing leg ulcer. Her medical history included diabetes mellitus type 2, congestive heart failure, allergic rhinitis, and asthma. The patient's asthma was labile and steroid-dependent until 2 years before admission, at which time zafirlukast therapy was started. On further questioning, the patient revealed a 6-month history of malaise and a 40-lb weight loss. A physical examination showed a 2-cm Stage 3 ulcer on the medial aspect of the right ankle with diminished sensation in both feet and left footdrop. electromyography revealed mononeuritis multiplex. The patient's white blood cell count was 11,100/mm3 with 60% eosinophils. A sural nerve biopsy showed vasculitis consistent with churg-strauss syndrome. One week after prednisone therapy was initiated, the patient's foot strength was nearly normal and her eosinophilia had resolved. Although churg-strauss syndrome is a rare disorder, in the setting of asthma and multiple disparate signs and symptoms, the broad diagnostic category of serious vasculitic illness should be considered.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.83828711040134keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/10. Healing an intractable wound using bio-electrical stimulation therapy.Clinicians involved in the conservative care of chronic wounds have many treatment interventions from which to choose, including debridement/irrigation, dressings, and pressure-relieving devices, to name a few. All are physical treatments that create an ideal wound healing environment. Unfortunately, many wounds heal very slowly, do not heal, or worsen. This situation relates to the woman in this case study who had a non-healing leg ulcer for 12 months. One of the interventions commonly used to treat chronic wounds is bio-electrical stimulation therapy (BEST) and the rationale for use of this method is based on the fact that the human body has an endogenous bioelectric system that enhances healing of bone fractures and soft-tissue wounds. When the body's endogenous bioelectric system fails and cannot contribute to wound repair processes, therapeutic levels of electrical current may be delivered into the wound tissue from an external source.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.080856444799331keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/10. Idiopathic atrophie blanche.A 41-year-old woman presented with a 3-year history of purpuric lesions followed by superficial, painful ulcers and development of lesions on the lower legs and on the dorsa of the feet, particularly in the summer. The patient was asymptomatic during the winter months. On physical examination she had irregular, scleroatrophic, white-ivory, coalescent lesions on a livedoid basis, with purpuric and, in some lesions, pigmented borders with numerous telangiectatic capillaries. These lesions were localized on the medial sides of the lower legs and on the dorsa of the feet (Figure 1). Laboratory investigations were normal or negative, including complete blood cell count, platelets, coagulation indexes, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, serum immunoglobulins, antinuclear antibodies, anti-double-stranded dna, anticardiolipin, antiphospholipids, antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibodies, circulating immunocomplexes, complement fractions (C3, C4), cryoglobulins, rheumatoid factor, and Rose-Waaler reaction. The only laboratory abnormality was an elevated fibrinogen level (472 mg/dL). Doppler velocimetry excluded a chronic venous insufficiency. Thoracic x-ray and abdominal ultrasound were normal. A digital photoplethysmograph revealed functional Raynaud's phenomenon. A biopsy specimen taken from a purpuric lesion showed an atrophic epidermis with parakeratosis and focal spongiosis. An increased number of small-sized vessels were observed within a sclerotic dermis. Most of the vessels in the upper dermis were dilated and showed endothelial swelling; some were occluded due to amorphous hyaline microthrombi (Figure 2). There were fibrinoid deposits around the vessels with thickening of the vessel walls. Extravasated erythrocytes were found throughout the upper and mid-dermis. There was a sparse perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate but no vasculitis. Direct immunofluorescence showed a perivascular microgranular deposit of IgM ( ), C3 ( ), and fibrinogen/fibrin ( ). On the basis of clinical, serologic, histopathologic, and immunopathologic findings, a diagnosis of idiopathic atrophie blanche was made. The patient was treated with dapsone (50 mg p.o. q.d.) and pentoxifylline (400 mg p.o. t.i.d.) with pain relief and complete resolution of the ulcerations after 6 weeks of therapy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.83828711040134keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/10. Pericardial disease in rheumatoid arthritis.Six patients with rheumatoid constrictive pericarditis, five seen in a two and one half year period, are described. All patients were male, all had rheumatoid factor, and all had active arthritis. diagnosis was suspected from careful physical examination and confirmed in five patients by cardiac catheterization. pericardiectomy was successful in all five patients on whom it was performed. Rheumatoid constrictive pericarditis should be suspected in any patient with rheumatoid arthritis and unexplained signs of right heart failure.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.83828711040134keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/10. calciphylaxis presenting with calf pain and plaques in four continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients and in one predialysis patient.calciphylaxis is a rare disease associated with hemodialysis or transplantation, high parathyroid hormone values, and increased serum calcium x phosphate (Ca x P) product. Only four patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis have been reported with this condition. We report five cases presenting within a 2-year period with severe calf pain and tenderness with extensive nonulcerating large, hard, and tender subcutaneous plaques in the calves. calcium deposition was confirmed radiologically and by bone scanning. Four patients were on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, and the other was not yet on dialysis. High serum Ca x P product was found in three of these patients at onset of the condition. Two patients had normal parathyroid hormone levels at onset. calcium salts and/or calcitriol had been taken prior to onset in three patients. When presenting in this fashion, the diagnosis can be easily made by the uniqueness of the physical findings in the legs. Our observation suggests that the condition should no longer be considered rare and is not confined to hemodialysis patients. Furthermore, it can occur in predialysis patients.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.080856444799331keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/10. vacuum-compression therapy for the treatment of an ischemic ulcer.This case report describes the use of a new medical device that utilizes vacuum-compression therapy (VCT) in the management of a 30-year-old female patient with severe arteriosclerosis and an associated nonhealing fasciotomy wound. Attempts were made to treat the patient with local care consisting of debridement and saline-moistened gauze dressings. Following a poor response to nonsurgical management, a skin graft was performed in an attempt to encourage more rapid healing. infection and poor healing followed the graph, and only 40% of the graft remained viable after 12 days. Outpatient physical therapy management consisted of hydrotherapy and hydrocolloid dressings. This treatment resulted in minimal success until combined with VCT. The patient received hydrotherapy, VCT, and hydrocolloid dressings three times per week for 11 weeks. wound healing occurred at an average rate of 0.64 cm2 per day, and the wound completely reepithelialized by the end of the eighth week of VCT therapy. Increased capillary filling is proposed as a primary factor in the improved healing.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.080856444799331keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/10. Severe, chronic anorexia and extensive leg ulcerations as presenting signs of primary sjogren's syndrome.We report the case of a 75-year-old woman with a 15-year history of inappetance resulting in weight loss of approximately 40 kg. On physical examination, the skin of the lower extremities was markedly hyperpigmented with a brown-greyish hue. In addition, the skin of the legs was infiltrated, erythematous, riddled with erosions and necrotic ulcers. Clinical and laboratory evaluation revealed sicca syndrome, a pronounced polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia (60 g/l), high levels of antinuclear, anti-SSA and anti-SSB antibodies. Histological examination of involved skin demonstrated a leukocytoclastic vasculitis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.83828711040134keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/10. Treatment of leg edema and wounds in a patient with severe musculoskeletal injuries.This case report describes the application of a technique for the treatment of leg edema and wounds resulting from a severe distal tibiofibular fracture. Following injury and numerous fracture- and wound-related surgeries in the first year postinjury, this patient developed leg edema, required daily treatment of 2 leg wounds, and was unable to wear a shoe due to foot swelling. He was referred to the physical therapy clinic 1 year postinjury for ankle rehabilitation and to diminish the leg edema. Therapy consisting of manual lymph drainage, compressive bandaging, exercise, and skin care was provided for 7 weeks. A compression stocking was issued near the end of treatment, which the patient continued to wear daily thereafter. At the time of discharge from therapy, the leg edema had decreased 74% and the wound area of both wounds had decreased 89%. Improvements continued following discharge. By 10 weeks after the start of treatment, edema had decreased 80.9%, one wound had healed, and the second wound was 93% improved. The patient was able to wear a shoe and resume recreational activities. This case report provides insight into a treatment that may shorten rehabilitation and control the cost of caring for injuries complicated by prolonged edema.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.080856444799331keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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