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Biomedical subjects

W M Harper

Publications and source records attributed to W M Harper.

48 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Do elderly patients with hip pain following trauma require hospital admission?

A series of 123 elderly patients (mean age 77.8 years) were identified who presented to the accident and emergency department following trauma, who complained of hip pain but had a 'normal' hip radiograph. These patients were followed up by a scrutiny of hospital admissions, 'phone contact with their general practitioner or nursing home or postal questionnaire. At the time of review, which ranged from 3 to 12 months, 13 patients had died. Of the remaining patients, five had sustained a fracture but only three had sustained a hip fracture. Of patients reviewed, 20 per cent had been admitted to hospital with other problems. Hip pain following trauma may be a better predictor of morbidity and mortality than of an occult hip fracture.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed1992

Scintigraphic abnormalities in patients with painful hip replacements treated conservatively.

A retrospective review of the scintigraphic appearances of 98 painful hip replacements was made. 16 patients (16%) underwent revision surgery whereas in the remaining 82 hips (84%), symptoms settled with conservative management. 73 of these (89%) had at least one area of increased activity on delayed diphosphonate scintigraphy with 27% having increased activity in three or more areas around the femoral component. Hips with increased activity at the lesser trochanter and tip were less likely to undergo spontaneous resolution of symptoms. Uncemented prostheses were more likely to have multiple areas of increased activity. Abnormalities in dynamic bone scintigraphy and gallium studies were also seen in patients whose symptoms resolved without surgery. Whereas a normal bone scintigram indicates that loosening or infection is most unlikely, the presence of increased activity does not necessarily indicate a need for revision surgery, even when multiple areas are present. A period of conservative management should be considered before operative intervention is undertaken.

Diphosphonates↗
PubMed1992

Compartment pressures after closed tibial shaft fracture. Their relation to functional outcome.

We measured pressures in the anterior and deep posterior compartments continuously for up to 72 hours in 20 patients with closed fractures of the tibial shaft treated primarily in plaster casts. All were examined independently after periods of three to 14 months. Pressures above 40 mmHg occurred in seven (35%) and above 30 mmHg in 14 (70%). No patient had the symptoms of compartment syndrome during monitoring. Abnormalities at review did not correlate with the maximum consecutive time periods during which the compartment pressures were raised. Thus, in the absence of symptoms the monitored pressures did not relate to outcome. Routine monitoring in this type of patient is therefore of doubtful benefit.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Plasma viscosity and C-reactive protein after total hip and knee arthroplasty.

We studied the changes in plasma viscosity and C-reactive protein to establish normal values after total hip or knee arthroplasty. Viscosity decreased from 1.68 (+/- 0.017) to 1.57 (+/- 0.014) on the first postoperative day and thereafter rose to 1.60 (+/- 0.019), 1.75 (+/- 0.015), and 1.74 (+/- 0.011) on the third, seventh and fourteenth days respectively. Six to eight weeks after operation it had returned to pre-operative levels. A viscosity above the upper limit of the laboratory range, obtained more than two months after operation, may be considered as abnormal. The C-reactive protein level increased significantly on the first postoperative day and then decreased from a peak on the second day, attaining nearly normal levels at six to eight weeks after operation. It may be a more sensitive indicator of deep postoperative infection than plasma viscosity.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Femoral head blood flow in femoral neck fractures. An analysis using intra-osseous pressure measurement.

We studied 50 patients with fractures of the femoral neck, 33 intracapsular and 17 extracapsular. Intraosseous pressure was measured by a transducer within the bone to quantify blood flow, and intracapsular pressure by a needle introduced into the joint space. The mean intracapsular pressure was lower in the extracapsular fractures. In these, the mean intraosseous pressure in the femoral head was unchanged by aspiration of the joint. However in the intracapsular fractures aspiration produced a significant decrease in intra-osseous pressure and an increase in pulse pressure within the femoral head. The results suggest that aspiration of intracapsular haematoma produced an increase in femoral head blood flow by relieving tamponade.

Femoral Neck Fractures↗
PubMed1990

Non-union of Colles' fracture: report of two cases.

There are few reports in the literature concerning non-union of Colles' fractures or its treatment. We describe two cases in which the fractures had been treated in the standard manner by reduction and plaster immobilisation for six weeks. The wrists of both patients were mobilised free of external support for several months before the complication of non-union was diagnosed. A simple radiographic technique for the diagnosis of non-union is described, using flexion and extension views of the wrist, and a method of treatment is outlined.

Aged↗
PubMed1982

The surgical management of acute bacterial epididymitis with emphasis on epididymotomy.

During the course of acute bacterial epididymitis of nonvenereal origin, severe epididymal inflammation and edema can produce compression of adjacent branches of the spermatic vessels, which can compromise the testicular vascular system. Scrotal fixation over the involved testicle heralds this event and indicates actual or impending epididymal suppuration. At this crucial moment either surgical decompression of the epididymis or epididymectomy is indicated to prevent ischemia of the testis and subsequent development of gangrenous epididymo-orchitis with testicular slough. Between 1956 and 1980, 14 epididymotomies were done, which resulted in salvage of 12 testicles (86 per cent). During the same period 10 patients with acute epididymitis had progression of the disease to gangrenous epididymo-orchitis, which necessitated orchiectomy. Epididymotomy can prevent progression of acute epididymitis to gangrenous epididymo-orchitis in many instances and is believed to have a role in the management of this troublesome affliction.

Acute Disease↗