scholarly journals The long term effects of firearm injuries on special senses

Author(s):  
Chavan Shrinivas

Introduction: Special senses are group of sensory organs that help us to connect with external environment by various modes of elements like sound, sight, touch and smell. Any damage to these organs though may not be physically handicapping but can affect the quality of life of any individual. Bullet injuries to the head and neck region are life-threatening and demand a detailed clinical examination and meticulous operative management due to the complexity of craniofacial anatomy. Head and neck region also house sense organs, but most of the time their functions are not properly assessed during the primary care provided in firearm injuries. The main aim of this study was – To study the long term effects of firearm injuries on special senses. To study the impact of these injuries on facial visage causing impairment on quality of life. To set a standard protocol that can be applied in such injuries for a bedside evaluation of sense organs of victims. Materials and Methods: The following study was conducted by the Department of Otorhinolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Forensic Medicine and Department of Community Medicine, at Grant Government Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals. A retrospective study of 532 patients who were victims of various firearm injuries in isolated civil incidents and terrorist attacks in Mumbai between January 1990 to July 2018. Institutional ethical clearance was obtained prior to initiating the study. Data regarding the patients were obtained from hospital records. Results: The age group which was most affected was between 20- 40 years i.e.; the working population of the country. Most of the patients were of the male gender, nearly 70.3%. The sense organ to be affected the most in these incidents was ear(55.2%) ,followed by eyes(39.3%) . Facial scar caused a significant social impact on the quality of life among females. Conclusion: This study aims to set a standard protocol in the post-critical phase in firearm injuries; giving priority to functions of sense organs and facial visage to ensure a good quality of life in the post-trauma period.

2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-103
Author(s):  
Peng Li ◽  
Sun Liyan ◽  
Xu Zhang ◽  
Rui-Hua Luo ◽  
Jin-Xing Qi ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Juliana Alves Sousa Caixeta ◽  
Jessica Caixeta Silva Sampaio ◽  
Vanessa Vaz Costa ◽  
Isadora Milhomem Bruno da Silveira ◽  
Carolina Ribeiro Fernandes de Oliveira ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Adenotonsillectomy is the first-line treatment for obstructive sleep apnea secondary to adenotonsillar hypertrophy in children. The physical benefits of this surgery are well known as well as its impact on the quality of life (QoL), mainly according to short-term evaluations. However, the long-term effects of this surgery are still unclear. Objective To evaluate the long-term impact of adenotonsillectomy on the QoL of children with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). Method This was a prospective non-controlled study. Children between 3 and 13 years of age with symptoms of SDB for whom adenotonsillectomy had been indicated were included. Children with comorbities were excluded. Quality of life was evaluated using the obstructive sleep apnea questionnaire (OSA-18), which was completed prior to, 10 days, 6 months, 12 months and, at least, 18 months after the procedure. For statistical analysis, p-values lower than 0.05 were defined as statistically significant. Results A total of 31 patients were enrolled in the study. The average age was 5.2 years, and 16 patients were male. The OSA-18 scores improved after the procedure in all domains, and this result was maintained until the last evaluation, done 22 ± 3 months after the procedure. Improvement in each domain was not superior to achieved in other domains. No correlation was found between tonsil or adenoid size and OSA-18 scores. Conclusion This is the largest prospective study that evaluated the long-term effects of the surgery on the QoL of children with SDB using the OSA-18. Our results show adenotonsillectomy has a positive impact in children's QoL.


Author(s):  
Teresa Zetzl ◽  
Andre Pittig ◽  
Agnes Renner ◽  
Birgitt van Oorschot ◽  
Elisabeth Jentschke

Abstract Objective To examine the efficacy of reminder e-mails to continue yoga therapy on practice frequency and fatigue in cancer patients and long-term effects of yoga on fatigue, depression, and quality of life. Methodology One hundred two cancer patients who completed an 8-week yoga therapy were randomly allocated to two groups: reminder (N = 51) vs. no-reminder group (N = 51). After completing yoga therapy, the reminder group received weekly e-mails for 24 weeks, which reminded them of practicing yoga, whereas the no-reminder group did not. Primary outcomes were fatigue and practice frequency, and long-term outcomes were fatigue, depression, and quality of life. Data were assessed using questionnaires after yoga therapy (T1) and 6 months after completing yoga therapy (T2). Result A significantly stronger reduction of general (p = 0.038, d = 0.42) and emotional fatigue (p = 0.004, d = 0.59) and a higher increase of practice frequency (p = 0.015, d = 0.52) between T1 and T2 were found for the reminder group compared to the no-reminder group. In the mediation model, practice frequency as a mediator partially explained the changes in emotional fatigue (indirect effect B =  − 0.10). Long-term effects of yoga therapy regarding fatigue, depression, and quality of life were found (F > 7.46, p < 0.001, d > 0.54). Conclusion Weekly reminder e-mails after yoga therapy can positively affect general and emotional fatigue and help cancer patients with fatigue establish a regular yoga practice at home. However, higher practice frequency did not lead to higher physical or cognitive fatigue improvement, suggesting other factors that mediate efficacy on physical or cognitive fatigue, such as mindfulness or side effects of therapy.


2013 ◽  
Vol 190 (1) ◽  
pp. 187-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chyng-Wen Fwu ◽  
Paul W. Eggers ◽  
Steven A. Kaplan ◽  
Ziya Kirkali ◽  
Jeannette Y. Lee ◽  
...  

2006 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 746-753 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Siderowf ◽  
Jurg L. Jaggi ◽  
Sharon X. Xie ◽  
Catherine Loveland-Jones ◽  
Lewis Leng ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loretta G. Platts ◽  
Gopalakrishnan Netuveli ◽  
Elizabeth Webb ◽  
Marie Zins ◽  
Marcel Goldberg ◽  
...  

Objective: To investigate variations in quality of life at older ages, we take a life course perspective to analyse long-term effects of physical working conditions upon quality of life after retirement. In doing so, we study to what extent these associations are explained by individuals’ health at older ages. Method: We use administrative data and self-administered questionnaire responses from the French GAZEL cohort. Quality of life was assessed with CASP-19 in 2009 and related to three types of physical working conditions during previous working life: (1) ergonomic strain, (2) physical danger and (3) exposures to chemicals. Health was assessed in 2007 with the SF-36 Health Survey. Multiple regressions were calculated in retired men only, controlling for important confounders including social position. Results: In contrast to men, few women were exposed to strenuous and dangerous working conditions in this cohort and were not included in subsequent analyses. Negative effects on retired men's quality of life were found for the physical occupational exposures of ergonomic strain and physical danger, but not for chemical exposures. Effects were attenuated after the introduction of physical and mental health to the models, indicating an indirect effect of physical working conditions upon quality of life via health. Conclusion: Adverse physical working conditions have long-term consequences for health and quality of life at older ages. Improvements to physical working conditions may improve individuals’ quality of life over the long term.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document