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Biomedical subjects

Kenneth W Feldman

Publications and source records attributed to Kenneth W Feldman.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Hypocalciuric hypercalcemia presenting as neonatal rib fractures: a newly described mutation of the calcium-sensing receptor gene.

A 2-week-old infant presented with bilateral rib fractures, hypercalcemia, and subperiosteal bone erosions. Parathyroid hormone levels were elevated and urine calcium low. Her parent's laboratory test results were normal. Gene sequencing revealed a new mutation of the calcium-sensing receptor gene, causing severe neonatal hyperparathyroidism, a variant of hypocalciuric hypercalcemia. This is a rare cause of neonatal hyperparathyroidism and nonabusive fractures.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Motor vehicle crash brain injury in infants and toddlers: a suitable model for inflicted head injury?

OBJECTIVE: Children involved in motor vehicle crash (MVC) events might experience angular accelerations similar to those experienced by children with inflicted traumatic brain injury (iTBI). This is a pilot study to determine whether the progression of signs and symptoms and radiographic findings of MVC brain injury (mvcTBI) in children of the age at greatest risk of iTBI could be evaluated with retrospective data. The ultimate goal was to examine the association of subdural hematoma (SDH) with initial loss of consciousness (LOC) and outcome. METHODS: Retrospective review of records was conducted of 51 patients involved in a MVC, between birth and 36 months, admitted to Harborview Medical Center between January 1996 and December 2001. Radiographs were reviewed. Simple descriptive statistics and Fisher's exact test were used. RESULTS: Ambulance reports were available for 57% of the patients, while Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores (from any source) were only available for 76% of patients. Thirty-nine percent of patients sustained skull fractures, 8% long bone fractures, 20% thoracic injuries, and 8% intra-abdominal injuries. Twenty-four percent of the patients had SDHs; half of these experienced LOC. SDH patients without initial LOC had computed tomography findings and clinical courses indicative of focal impact injury, not angular acceleration. CONCLUSIONS: Initial LOC and subsequent evolution of GCS scores are inconsistently documented in retrospective records. Seven of the 12 patients with SDHs had simple contact injuries, while 5 exhibited diffuse brain injury. Initial LOC was associated with diffuse brain injury and poor outcome. Due to the high rate of simple contact injury, mvcTBI may be a difficult model for iTBI.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Variable presentations of rickets in children in the emergency department.

Vitamin D-deficient rickets is uncommon but becoming more prevalent in the pediatric population likely related to increases in breast-feeding. It should be considered in many clinical situations. We present 3 cases of rickets presenting acutely to the emergency department. Their presentations included a fracture concerning for child abuse, tetany, and hypocalcemic seizures. In all cases, laboratory and radiographic evaluations were consistent with the diagnosis of nutritional rickets and their symptoms were related to rickets resolved with appropriate treatment. Although uncommon, vitamin D-deficient rickets should be considered in children with the above presentations.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Child abuse in infants with proximal physeal injuries of the femur.

OBJECTIVE: Child abuse has been recognized to be a common cause of femur fractures in infants. Fractures of the proximal femoral physis in abused infants have been less emphasized. Our report seeks to highlight this infrequent but clinically important inflicted injury. METHODS: Report of 2 cases and a literature review of fractures of the proximal femoral physis in infants, including the role of abuse in this injury. CONCLUSION: Proximal femoral physeal injuries occur infrequently in infants but often result from abuse. Diagnosis may be difficult due to lack of femoral head ossification before 4 months of age and clinical findings suggesting developmental dysplasia of the hip. Current imaging modalities can differentiate physeal injuries from developmental dysplasia of the hip. Early recognition and treatment can minimize sequelae.

Age Factors↗

Into hot water head first: distribution of intentional and unintentional immersion burns.

INTRODUCTION: Experience with several, previously unreported, intentional face-first immersion burns led us to evaluate the distribution of inflicted and unintentional immersion scald burns in a hospital series. SETTING: (1) Authors' clinical and legal practices; (2) Burn center at regional Level 1 trauma hospital. SUBJECTS: : (1) Case series of face-first, inflicted immersion burn victims; (2) Consecutive hospitalized scald burn victims younger than 5 years old, 1/3/1996 to 3/25/2000. METHODS: (1) Individual case reports; (2) Retrospective records review. Simple descriptive statistics, Fisher Exact test and t test. RESULTS: (1) Six cases of inflicted head and neck immersion injury are described. Four were tap water and 2 food/drink scalds. (2) 22/195 hospitalized victims had sustained immersion burns, 13 from tap water and 9 from other fluids. Six (46%) tap water immersions and no (0%) other immersions had inflicted injuries (P = 0.05). Two of the tap water immersions and one other source immersion included burning of the head and neck. Of these, one tap water immersion, but no other immersion, was inflicted. In no patients were head and neck injuries the sole or predominant site of scalding. In all, 9 children sustained inflicted scalds. Bilateral lower extremity tap water immersion scalds occurred in 100% (6/6) of abusive and 29% (2/7) of unintentional injuries (P = 0.02). Buttock and perineal injuries occurred in 67% (4/6) inflicted versus 29% (2/7) unintentional tap water immersion scalds (P = 0.28). Other fluids caused bilateral lower extremity immersion burns in 3/9 (33 %) unintentionally injured patients, but no abused children (NS). CONCLUSIONS: Craniofacial immersion injury, although seen by the authors in legal cases, is infrequent. It was present incidentally in one inflicted tap water burn in the consecutive hospital series. This series affirms the predominance of bilateral lower extremity burns in inflicted tap water immersions. Buttock/perineal immersions were more common with abuse than with unintentional injury.

Accidents, Home↗

Does soccer ball heading cause retinal bleeding?

OBJECTIVES: To define forces of youth soccer ball heading (headers) and determine whether heading causes retinal hemorrhage. SETTING: Regional Children's Hospital, youth soccer camp. PATIENTS: Male and female soccer players, 13 to 16 years old, who regularly head soccer balls. MEASUREMENTS: Dilated retinal examination, after 2-week header diary, and accelerometer measurement of heading a lofted soccer ball. RESULTS: Twenty-one youth soccer players, averaging 79 headers in the prior 2 weeks, and 3 players who did not submit header diaries lacked retinal hemorrhage. Thirty control subjects also lacked retinal hemorrhage. Seven subjects heading the ball experienced linear cranial accelerations of 3.7 +/- 1.3g. Rotational accelerations were negligible. CONCLUSIONS: Headers, not associated with globe impact, are unlikely to cause retinal hemorrhage. Correctly executed headers did not cause significant rotational acceleration of the head, but incorrectly executed headers might.

Acceleration↗

Asthma, allergy, and sinopulmonary disease in pediatric condition falsification.

Reports of pediatric condition falsification (PCF) have noted, but not emphasized, exaggerated complaints of real and common illnesses. Among the most frequent chronic childhood illnesses are asthma, allergy, drug sensitivity, and ear and sinopulmonary infections. The most common pediatric surgery is the insertion of myringotomy tubes. A computer database of 104 PCF victims from 68 families spanning from 1974 to 1998 was searched for the frequency of these conditions. Outright falsification or extreme exaggeration of severity of asthma or allergies was noted in 52 children (50%), sinopulmonary infections in 50 (48%), and drug reactions or sensitivities in 30 (29%). Forty-five children (43%) had otolaryngologic surgery, including ear tubes. In all, 71 children (68%) had at least one of these conditions. Associated victim and perpetrator characteristics are described. Children with PCF are not only subjected to induced illnesses and excessive medical diagnostic and therapeutic efforts but also victimized b) the consequences of false and exaggerated complaints of common pediatric diseases.

Asthma↗