Association between Cervical Spine Degeneration and the Presence of Dens Fractures

2019 ◽  
Vol 158 (01) ◽  
pp. 46-50
Author(s):  
Marcel Betsch ◽  
Sabina Blizzard ◽  
Bala Krishnamoorthy ◽  
Jung Yoo
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Odontoid Process ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Facet Joints ◽  
Relative Risks ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Dens Fracture ◽  
Spine Degeneration ◽  
Dens Fractures

Abstract Purpose Results of a small case series indicate an increased risk of dens fractures in patients with osteoarthritis. The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to analyze the relative risks associated with degeneration of the cervical spine in the occurrence of dens fractures in older patients. Methods We performed a retrospective CT study of 1,794 patients > 55 years of age with and without dens fractures for signs of osteoarthritis (OA). Results OA of the atlanto-dens interval (AdI) was present in 75.9% of fracture patients, whereas 63.5% of non-fracture patients had OA of the AdI (p = 0.04). In cases of osteoarthritis of the facet joints, we did find a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the dens fracture risk in patients with OA. Conclusions This study indicates an association between OA of the cervical spine and the risk of sustaining a dens fracture. OA can lead to a reduction in the range of motion of the cervical spine. As a consequence, a relatively low-energy trauma can induce a forced sagittal motion, which will produce a torque at the base of the odontoid process resulting in a fracture.

Outcomes With Severe Blastomycosis and Respiratory Failure in the United States

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barret Rush ◽  
Sylvain Lother ◽  
Bojan Paunovic ◽  
Owen Mooney ◽  
Anand Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Cohort Analysis ◽  
Ventilatory Support ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Length Of Hospital Stay ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
The United States ◽  
Teaching Hospitals ◽  
Historical Case ◽  
Increased Risk

Abstract Background Outcomes of patients with severe pulmonary blastomycosis requiring mechanical ventilation (MV) are not well understood in the modern era. Limited historical case series reported 50–90% mortality in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by blastomycosis. The objective of this large retrospective cohort study was to describe the risk factors and outcomes of patients with severe pulmonary blastomycosis. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort analysis utilizing the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2006–2014. Patients aged &gt;18 years with a diagnosis of blastomycosis who received MV were included. Results There were 1848 patients with a diagnosis of blastomycosis included in the study. Of these, 219 (11.9%) underwent MV with a mortality rate of 39.7% compared with 2.5% in patients not requiring ventilatory support (P &lt; .01). The median (IQR) time to death for patients requiring MV was 12 (8–16) days. The median length of hospital stay for survivors of MV was 22 (14–37) days. The rate of MV was higher for patients treated in teaching hospitals (63.4% vs 57.2%, P = .05) and lower for those receiving care at a rural hospital (12.3% vs 17.2%, P = .04). In a multivariate model, female gender was associated with increased risk of mortality (OR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.06–3.20; P = .03) as was increasing patient age (10-year age increase OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.33–2.02; P &lt; .01). Conclusions In the largest published cohort of patients with blastomycosis, mortality for patients on MV is high at ~40%, 16-fold higher than those without MV.

Epilepsy as a Risk Factor for Submersion Injury in Children

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 91 (3) ◽  
pp. 612-616 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas S. Diekema ◽  
Linda Quan ◽  
Victoria L. Holt
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Relative Risk ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Population Based ◽  
King County ◽  
Relative Risks ◽  
Increased Risk

The purpose of this study was to determine the risk of submersion injury and drowning among children with epilepsy and to define further specific risk factors. In a population-based retrospective cohort study the authors identified and reviewed records of all 0- through 19-year-old residents of King County Washington, who suffered a submersion incident between 1974 and 1990. Children with epilepsy were compared with those without epilepsy with regard to age, sex, site of incident, supervision, outcome, and presence of preexisting handicap. Relative risks were determined using population-based estimates of epilepsy prevalence. Of 336 submersions, 21 (6%) occurred among children with epilepsy. Children with epilepsy were more likely to be greater than 5 years old (86% vs 47%) and more likely to submerge in a bathtub (38% vs 11%). The relative risk of submersion for children with epilepsy was 47 (95% confidence interval [CI] 22 to 100) in the bathtub and 18.7 (95% CI 9.8 to 35.6) in the pool. The relative risk of drowning for children with epilepsy was 96 (95% CI 33 to 275) in the bathtub and 23.4 (95% CI 7.1 to 77.1) in the pool. These data support an increased risk of submersion and drowning among children with epilepsy.

Atlantoaxial Instability in Down Syndrome: Subject Review

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 151-154
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Down Syndrome ◽  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Sports Medicine ◽  
Cervical Vertebrae ◽  
Odontoid Process ◽  
Disabled Persons ◽  
Atlantoaxial Instability ◽  
Atlantoaxial Joint ◽  
Special Olympics ◽  
Increased Risk

DEFINITION OF THE PROBLEM In 1984, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published a position statement on screening for atlantoaxial instability (AAI) in youth with Down syndrome.1 In that statement, the AAP supported the requirement introduced by the Special Olympics in 1983 that lateral neck radiographs be obtained for individuals with Down syndrome before they participate in the Special Olympics' nationwide competitive program for developmentally disabled persons. Those participants with radiologic evidence of instability are banned from certain activities that may be associated with increased risk of injury to the cervical spine. This policy seemed to be prudent in light of the information available at that time. However, the AAP Committee on Sports Medicine and Fitness recently has reviewed the data on which this recommendation was based and has decided that uncertainty exists concerning the value of cervical spine radiographs in screening for possible catastrophic neck injury in athletes with Down syndrome. The 1984 statement therefore has been retired. This review discusses the available research data on this subject. BACKGROUND AAI, also called atlantoaxial subluxation, denotes increased mobility at the articulation of the first and second cervical vertebrae (atlantoaxial joint). This condition is found not only in patients who have Down syndrome but also in some patients who have rheumatoid arthritis, abnormalities of the odontoid process of the axis, and various forms of dwarfism.1 The causes of AAI are not well understood but may include abnormalities of the ligaments that maintain the integrity of the C-1 and C-2 articulation, bony abnormalities of C-1 or C-2, or both.1-11

scholarly journals Deep Brain Electrode Externalization and Risk of Infection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alon Kashanian ◽  
Pratik Rohatgi ◽  
Srinivas Chivukula ◽  
Sameer A Sheth ◽  
Nader Pouratian
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Infectious Complications ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Risk Of Infection ◽  
Relative Risks ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
High Level ◽  
Deep Brain

Abstract BACKGROUND When evaluating deep brain stimulation (DBS) for newer indications, patients may benefit from trial stimulation prior to permanent implantation or for investigatory purposes. Although several case series have evaluated infectious complications among DBS patients who underwent trials with external hardware, outcomes have been inconsistent. OBJECTIVE To determine whether a period of lead externalization is associated with an increased risk of infection. METHODS We conducted a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses compliant systematic review of all studies that included rates of infection for patients who were externalized prior to DBS implantation. A meta-analysis of proportions was performed to estimate the pooled proportion of infection across studies, and a meta-analysis of relative risks was conducted on those studies that included a control group of nonexternalized patients. Heterogeneity across studies was assessed via I2 index. RESULTS Our search retrieved 23 articles, comprising 1354 patients who underwent lead externalization. The pooled proportion of infection was 6.9% (95% CI: 4.7%-9.5%), with a moderate to high level of heterogeneity between studies (I2 = 62.2%; 95% CI: 40.7-75.9; P &lt; .0001). A total of 3 studies, comprising 212 externalized patients, included a control group. Rate of infection in externalized patients was 5.2% as compared to 6.0% in nonexternalized patients. However, meta-analysis was inadequately powered to determine whether there was indeed no difference in infection rate between the groups. CONCLUSION The rate of infection in patients with electrode externalization is comparable to that reported in the literature for DBS implantation without a trial period. Future studies are needed before this information can be confidently used in the clinical setting.

scholarly journals Atlantoaxial subluxation in the pediatric patient: Case series and literature review

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 069-074
Author(s):  
Mazzola Catherine A ◽  
Christie Catherine ◽  
Snee Isabel A ◽  
Iqbal Hamail
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Imaging Techniques ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Atlantoaxial Subluxation ◽  
Upper Cervical Spine ◽  
Atlantoaxial Joint ◽  
Retrospective Case ◽  
Ligamentous Laxity ◽  
Halo Traction ◽  
Increased Risk

Objective: Atlantoaxial subluxation (AAS) occurs when there is misalignment of the atlantoaxial joint. Several etiologies confer increased risk of AAS in children, including neck trauma, inflammation, infection, or inherent ligamentous laxity of the cervical spine. Methods: A single-center, retrospective case review was performed. Thirty-four patients with an ICD-10 diagnosis of S13.1 were identified. Demographics and clinical data were reviewed for etiology, imaging techniques, treatment, and clinical outcome. Results: Out of thirty-four patients, twenty-two suffered cervical spine trauma, seven presented with Grisel’s Syndrome, four presented with ligamentous laxity, and one had an unrecognizable etiology. Most diagnoses of cervical spine subluxation and/or instability were detected on computerized tomography (CT), while radiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were largely performed for follow-up monitoring. Six patients underwent cervical spine fusion, five had halo traction, twelve wore a hard and/or soft collar without having surgery or halo traction, and eight were referred to physical therapy without other interventions. Conclusion: Pediatric patients with atlantoaxial subluxation may benefit from limited 3D CT scans of the upper cervical spine for accurate diagnosis. Conservative treatment with hard cervical collar and immobilization after reduction may be attempted, but halo traction and halo vest immobilization may be necessary. If non-operative treatment fails, cervical spine internal reduction and fixation may be necessary to maintain normal C1-C2 alignment.

Dental Implant Placement in Patients with a History of Medications Related to Osteonecrosis of the Jaws: A Systematic Review

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judd Sher ◽  
Kate Kirkham-Ali ◽  
Denny Luo ◽  
Catherine Miller ◽  
Dileep Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Drug Therapy ◽  
Dental Implant ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Cochrane Central Register ◽  
Bisphosphonate Treatment ◽  
Implant Placement ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
History Of

The present systematic review evaluates the safety of placing dental implants in patients with a history of antiresorptive or antiangiogenic drug therapy. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Scopus, Web of Science, and OpenGrey databases were used to search for clinical studies (English only) to July 16, 2019. Study quality was assessed regarding randomization, allocation sequence concealment, blinding, incomplete outcome data, selective outcome reporting, and other biases using a modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale and the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist for case series. A broad search strategy resulted in the identification of 7542 studies. There were 28 studies reporting on bisphosphonates (5 cohort, 6 case control, and 17 case series) and one study reporting on denosumab (case series) that met the inclusion criteria and were included in the qualitative synthesis. The quality assessment revealed an overall moderate quality of evidence among the studies. Results demonstrated that patients with a history of bisphosphonate treatment for osteoporosis are not at increased risk of implant failure in terms of osseointegration. However, all patients with a history of bisphosphonate treatment, whether taken orally for osteoporosis or intravenously for malignancy, appear to be at risk of ‘implant surgery-triggered’ MRONJ. In contrast, the risk of MRONJ in patients treated with denosumab for osteoporosis was found to be negligible. In conclusion, general and specialist dentists should exercise caution when planning dental implant therapy in patients with a history of bisphosphonate and denosumab drug therapy. Importantly, all patients with a history of bisphosphonates are at risk of MRONJ, necessitating this to be included in the informed consent obtained prior to implant placement. The James Cook University College of Medicine and Dentistry Honours program and the Australian Dental Research Foundation Colin Cormie Grant were the primary sources of funding for this systematic review.

scholarly journals Tandem Disc Herniation of the Lumbar and Cervical Spine: Case Series and Review of the Epidemiological, Pathophysiological and Genetic Literature

Cureus ◽  
2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Siccoli ◽  
Victor E Staartjes ◽  
Marlies P De Wispelaere ◽  
Pieter-Paul A Vergroesen ◽  
Marc L Schröder
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Disc Herniation ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Spine Case

scholarly journals Death Rate Due to COVID-19 in Alzheimer’s Disease and Frontotemporal Dementia

2020 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 537-541
Author(s):  
Jordi A. Matias-Guiu ◽  
Vanesa Pytel ◽  
Jorge Matías-Guiu
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Frontotemporal Dementia ◽  
Death Rate ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Care Homes ◽  
Relevant Factor ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Probability Of Death

We aimed to evaluate the frequency and mortality of COVID-19 in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). We conducted an observational case series. We enrolled 204 patients, 15.2% of whom were diagnosed with COVID-19, and 41.9% of patients with the infection died. Patients with AD were older than patients with FTD (80.36±8.77 versus 72.00±8.35 years old) and had a higher prevalence of arterial hypertension (55.8% versus 26.3%). COVID-19 occurred in 7.3% of patients living at home, but 72.0% of those living at care homes. Living in care facilities and diagnosis of AD were independently associated with a higher probability of death. We found that living in care homes is the most relevant factor for an increased risk of COVID-19 infection and death, with AD patients exhibiting a higher risk than those with FTD.

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