Biomedical subjects

R G Marx

Publications and source records attributed to R G Marx.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1998

The reliability of physical examination for carpal tunnel syndrome.

The goal of this study was to determine the interobserver and intraobserver reliability of static and moving two-point discrimination, Semmes-Weinstein monofilament testing, Tinel's test, manual motor testing of abductor pollicis brevis, vibration and Phalen's test in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. Twelve patients with suspected carpal tunnel syndrome were examined in an outpatient setting. The interobserver reliability was satisfactory for all tests except for Semmes-Weinstein monofilament testing. Intraobserver reliability was also satisfactory for all tests. Static two point discrimination had higher reliability than moving two-point discrimination. Seven tests for the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome were reliable in the hands of skilled health care professionals. Hand surgeons and hand therapists examined patients more reliably than occupational health workers.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Intraarticular osteotomy of distal radial malunions.

Failure to reduce intraarticular fractures of the distal radius to less than 2 mm of residual articular incongruity often will lead to posttraumatic arthrosis. Intraarticular osteotomy of the distal radius was performed for intraarticular malunions with a step greater than 2 mm in the distal radial articular surface, in the absence of arthrosis. The technique involves careful recreation of the fracture into the joint and rigid internal fixation of the osteotomy site. Four patients were followed up at an average of 23 months postoperatively (range, 12-43 months). All patients treated with this operation were satisfied with their results and their wrists were functioning well at the time of review. All had good or excellent Gartland and Werley functional wrist scores. Further followup is required to document the long term outcome of these patients.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Measuring disability of the upper extremity: a rationale supporting the use of a regional outcome measure.

OBJECTIVE: Many existing upper extremity outcome measures have been designed for a specific anatomic site (e.g., shoulder) or a specific disease entity (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome). The purpose of this paper is to examine whether questionnaire items taken from very specific measures are considered relevant only to that specific region or are applicable to the whole extremity. METHODS: Fifteen practicing clinicians categorized a sample of 132 items from existing questionnaires according to whether the items reflected disability specific to an anatomic site or were relevant to the whole extremity. RESULTS: Seventy-two percent of the items were categorized as relevant to the extremity as a whole, while only 21% of the items were categorized as specific to an anatomic site. CONCLUSION: Items in existing specific upper extremity questionnaires are also relevant to other regions and conditions. This finding is in agreement with kinesiologic and biomechanical theories that the upper extremity acts as a single functional unit. Questionnaires designed for the whole extremity could provide a more practical and still valid measure of upper extremity disability.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Fractures about the orbit in professional American football players.

A retrospective review was performed of records for players who suffered fractures about the orbit during participation in officially sponsored activities of the National Football League from 1980 to 1997. Clinical information was obtained on 19 of 29 players who sustained orbital fractures. The most common signs and symptoms included decreased visual acuity (74%, 14), decreased eye movement (42%, 8), hyphema (37%, 7), and infraorbital numbness (21%, 4). The mechanisms of injury were a digital poke (74%, 14) and blunt facial trauma (26%, 5). There were significantly more orbital fractures than zygomatic fractures suffered by offensive linemen as compared with all other positions. Fifteen of 19 players were managed with surgical reconstruction; 4 players were treated nonoperatively. The mean time from injury to surgical procedure was 7.7 days (range, 0 to 42). The mean interval to follow-up was 45.6 months (range, 3 to 146). At follow-up examination, eight (53%) of the patients treated surgically still reported diplopia with upper field gaze. Three of the four patients treated nonoperatively were asymptomatic. The mean time lost from games or practice was 25 days (range, 5 to 56). Ultimately, 17 (89%) players with orbital fractures were able to return to full football activities. Two patients were unable to resume their careers because of residual visual impairment.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Development and evaluation of an activity rating scale for disorders of the knee.

Reports of clinical studies of patients with knee disorders should routinely include their activity levels to enable comparison of treatment groups and to allow generalizability. The goal of this study was to develop and evaluate a new rating scale to measure activity levels of patients. We assessed reliability by administering the scale to 40 subjects on 2 separate occasions, 1 week apart. Validity was evaluated by comparing the activity rating on the new scale with that from other instruments that use activity level scales (concurrent construct validity) and also by correlating the score on the new scale with age (divergent validity). Patients easily understood the scale and were able to complete it in 1 minute. The reliability was high (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.97). The scale also correlated well with existing activity rating scales: Spearman correlation coefficient for Cincinnati score, 0.67; for Tegner scale, 0.66; for Daniel scale, 0.52. The activity score was significantly inversely correlated with age (P = 0.002), indicating divergent validity. This instrument will facilitate generalizability of results and allow more accurate comparisons among patient groups in outcomes research in sports medicine.

Adolescent↗