Biomedical subjects

M Ekkernkamp

Publications and source records attributed to M Ekkernkamp.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

[The need for rehabilitation services: concept and data].

Whether rehabilitation services are initiated, applied for and (granted by German statutory pension funds) according to objectifyable need is uncertain as long as we lack a scientifically valid and operationally defined concept of "rehabilitation need". Traditionally three criteria are mentioned: neediness, ability, and prognosis. The text extends and specifies these criteria based on theoretical grounds, research evidence, and sociolegal considerations. It introduces a screening algorithm to objectify and assess individual rehabilitation needs focusing, as far as they are risk factors for participation restrictions, on a central disorder and its complications, risk and prognostic factors, comorbidities, motivational and other context factors. It proposes to relate more or less complex disturbances of functional health to more or less complex rehabilitation programmes and to indicate the typically complex ("holistic") in-patient rehabilitation only for equally complex health impairments and participation restrictions. Illustrative empirical data relate to three disorders, diabetes mellitus type 2, chronic disabling back pain, and chronic obstructive lung disease.

Algorithms↗

PubMed1997

[Acetabuloplasty].

Lateral acetabular osteotomy in comparison to three-dimensional osteotomies of the pelvis in hip dysplasia is a simple technical procedure. Contraindications are an age over 8 years and an irreducible femoral head. For a long time we have used xenogenic deproteinized bone wedges from animals. We now use autoclaved and deep-frozen wedges from allogenic femoral heads. The wedges are sterilized at 121 degrees C for 20 min and then kept deep-frozen in the bone bank. Our results in 109 patients show that this method is very successful; even extreme angles of acetabular index correction are possible with this technique. It is unfortunate that the lateral acetabuloplasty with autoclaved allogenic bone graft is not used frequently and we recommend that this method be installed at all paediatric orthopaedic hospitals.

Acetabulum↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Physical impairments and comorbidities in a sample of members of a pension fund of blue-collar workers suffering from severe low back pain].

AIM: Idiopathic (unspecific) low back pain is the most common rheumatological complaint. Results of international studies give evidence that in about 80 % of the cases a specific diagnosis is not possible, thus creating an unsatisfactory situation for the orthopaedist. We feel that it is necessary to keep the discussion on the rate of specific causes for low back pain open. METHODS: In the context of a research project on the need for rehabilitation, 335 subjects suffering from severe low back pain were subjected to a physical (orthopaedic-neurological) examination. Also, a questionnaire was distributed assessing psychological status, work situation, comorbid conditions, risk factors, and demography. RESULTS: In more than half of the subjects, clues for a specific cause for the back pain were found; in more than one third of the cases there were one or more neurological signs. CONCLUSION: The data presented demonstrate that specific causes for low back pain might be more common than generally assumed. This leads us to the conclusion that there is a need for more clinically-oriented, population-based (epidemiological) research on possible pathologic causes of low back pain and comorbid conditions.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Hip pain as only symptom of extensive phlebothrombosis].

We report a case of a 17 year old girl that had 10 years ago a Perthes disease involving her left hip, but complained now of pain and limitation of movement in her left hip. She was febrile and had a blood sedimentation rate of 102/138. Aspiration of her hip was negative. She was a non smoker and was not on oral contraceptive. The left hip showed a painful flexion contracture of 40 degrees. Phlebography revealed thrombosis of her left femoral vein, the common iliac veins and the inferior vena cava. Because of the serious life threatening nature of the condition we feel that it should enter into the differential diagnosis of all orthopaedic surgeons encountering cases with similar presentation in the future.

Adolescent↗