Biomedical subjects

S Stephensen

Publications and source records attributed to S Stephensen.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1998

Bone loss after hip fracture is correlated to the postoperative degree of mobilisation.

This study quantifies changes in bone mineral density (BMD) in the opposite hip and in both proximal tibiae and the correlation with the use of walking aids for patients with two types of hip fracture during the 1st year after surgery. In all, 26 women and 15 men aged 42-88 years (median 71 years) were included. Twenty-one patients had an intracapsular hip fracture (ICF) and 20 had an intertrochanteric fracture (ITF). All patients were treated with a dynamic hip screw. BMD was measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA; LUNAR, Wisconsin) within the 1st week after surgery and after 3, 6 and 12 months. Initial BMD of the non-fractured hip was significantly lower for both fracture groups compared with reference material. For both fracture types there was a significant decrease in BMD of the non-fractured hip and proximal tibia of the fractured leg during the first 3 months, which still persisted a year after surgery. Improved mobilisation between two examinations was positively correlated with changes in BMD of the proximal tibia of the fractured leg and the non-fractured hip.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

A prospective study of 39 patients with whiplash injury.

INTRODUCTION: The acute symptoms after whiplash traumas can be explained by the neck sprain, but the pathogenesis of the "late whiplash syndrome" and the reason why only some people have persistent symptoms more than 6 months is still unknown. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-four consecutive cases of whiplash injury were examined clinically three times; within 14 days, after 1 month and finally 7 months postinjury. In addition, MRI of the brain and the cervical spine, neuropsychological tests and motor evoked potentials (MEP) were done one month postinjury and repeated after 6 months, if abnormalities were found. RESULTS: The total recovery rate (asymptomatic patients) was 29% after 7 months. MRI was repeated in 6 patients. The correlation between MRI and the clinical findings was poor. Cognitive dysfunction as a symptom of brain injury was not found. Stress at the same time predicted more symptoms at follow-up. All MEP examinations were normal. CONCLUSION: In this study, long-lasting distress and poor outcome were more related to the occurrence of stressful life events than to clinical and paraclinical findings.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

MRI preferable to diagnostic arthroscopy in knee joint injuries. A double-blind comparison of 47 patients.

We compared the findings of low-field MRI of the knee with those of subsequent arthroscopy. In a double-blind set-up, 47 patients with knee joint injuries were enrolled. Two radiologists independently interpreted the MRI examinations and consensus was obtained in case of discrepancy. Arthroscopy was performed without knowledge of the MRI findings. The accuracy rates of MRI for evaluating the medial meniscus, lateral meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament were 77%, 91% and 96%, respectively, when arthroscopy was considered the "golden standard". When MRI was considered the standard, the figures for arthroscopy were 74%, 91% and 96%. MRI found the indication for treatment in 18 of 21 patients who were treated at the arthroscopy. In 17 patients, neither MRI nor arthroscopy detected any lesion. In the remaining 9 patients, MRI demonstrated a lesion, but no lesion was found at the subsequent arthroscopy. Our conclusion is that low-field MRI can be used as a first-line diagnostic examination in patients with suspected meniscus or cruciate ligament injuries and thus a substantial number of negative diagnostic arthroscopies can be avoided.

Adult↗

PubMed1985

Head injuries: a prospective, computerized study.

A prospective study of 3000 consecutive patients with head injury admitted to hospital showed a marked seasonal, daily and hourly variation and an overall male-to-female ratio of 2.19:1. The majority of patients were in the second, third and fourth decades of life with a peak in the early part of the second decade. The incidence was highest in unemployed and welfare recipients. Traffic accidents were the leading cause followed by fights and falls. Drug or alcohol use, or both, was evident in 45.6% of cases. The number of head injuries caused by intoxicated individuals is not known. Most patients had a concussion only. There was no evidence that the patients with concussion who returned to full activity immediately had any more adverse effects than those advised to "take it easy" for about 1 week.

Accidents, Traffic↗

PubMed1984

Leukocytosis and subarachnoid hemorrhage.

We present a study of the white blood cell count at time of admission in patients with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage. A nearly normal white blood cell count has little correlation with either the clinical grade at time of admission, or with the patient's ultimate outcome. A white blood cell count exceeding 20,000, however, is associated with poor clinical grade on admission and with a 50% mortality.

Humans↗