Comparative study of plating versus conservative treatment in mid shaft fractures of clavicle

<p><strong>Background</strong>: Clavicle fractures represent up to 4% and 1% of all fractures, respectively. Historically, both fracture types have been treated conservatively with acceptable outcomes. The surgical correction of these fractures is currently being investigated as a viable alternative to conservative management.</p><p><strong>Methods</strong>: A systematic search of PubMed was performed to identify articles comparing open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with conservative treatment for clavicular fractures. Specific outcomes of interest were shoulder function, pain, strength, range of motion, and risk of non-union. </p><p><strong>Results</strong>: ORIF of midshaft clavicular fractures results in increased shoulder function within 6 weeks following treatment and a decreased risk of non-union. After 1 year, there was no longer a difference in shoulder function between groups. There was no difference in pain between treatment groups. Both ORIF and conservative treatment of extraarticular scapular fractures yield comparable results in shoulder function, range of motion, and strength following treatment.</p><p><strong>Conclusions</strong>: This study, early primary plate fixation of comminuted mid shaft clavicular fractures results in improved patient-oriented outcomes, improved surgeon-oriented outcomes, earlier return to function and decreased rates of non-union and malunion. </p>

The Role of Social Media in Earthquake Awareness and Earthquake Preparedness in Myanmar

Myanmar is an earthquake-prone country in SE Asia and all types of faulting such as strike-slip, normal, and reverse are occurring all over Myanmar territory. Apart from surface faults, the India oceanic plate is subducting obliquely beneath Burma continental plate along Sunda subduction zone. The interaction between the India plate, the Burma plate and Eurasia plate appears to be characterized by the initiation of major movements between plates switching from one to another within this tectonic region. The Sagaing Fault is a primary plate boundary between the Burma plate and Indochina plate along which most of the relative motion has occurred and will continue to occur for the geologic future. According to seismicity record in Myanmar, most of the earthquakes occurred either in the evening or at midnight or at dawn. So the people become scary because earthquake occurs without warnings. During such situation, people run immediately outside the building to the open space due to people’s survival instincts. People have anxiety which is a normal response to frightening situation. The social media interviews the earthquake researchers/ earthquake geologists why the earthquake occurs and how to protect them during earthquake. By disseminating the information on social networks, people become aware of the earthquake disaster and become focusing on effective preparedness.

Progressive Primary Plate-Like Osteoma Cutis of the Scalp

Osteoma cutis (OC) or cutaneous ossification refers to uncommon bone formation in the skin. Primary OC develops without any predisposing factor or pre-existing lesion, whereas secondary OC sets out as a dystrophic ossification following traumatic, cicatricial, and neoplastic factors or other cutaneous inflammations. Herein, we report a rare case of long-standing progressive primary OC of the scalp resected in 3 sessions with no recurrence after 1 year.

A case for historic joint rupture of the San Andreas and San Jacinto faults

The San Andreas fault is considered to be the primary plate boundary fault in southern California and the most likely fault to produce a major earthquake. I use dynamic rupture modeling to show that the San Jacinto fault is capable of rupturing along with the San Andreas in a single earthquake, and interpret these results along with existing paleoseismic data and historic damage reports to suggest that this has likely occurred in the historic past. In particular, I find that paleoseismic data and historic observations for the ~M7.5 earthquake of 8 December 1812 are best explained by a rupture that begins on the San Jacinto fault and propagates onto the San Andreas fault. This precedent carries the implications that similar joint ruptures are possible in the future and that the San Jacinto fault plays a more significant role in seismic hazard in southern California than previously considered. My work also shows how physics-based modeling can be used for interpreting paleoseismic data sets and understanding prehistoric fault behavior.

Testing for Group A Streptococci

Context.—Laboratory diagnosis of group A streptococcal pharyngitis in physician office and small-hospital laboratories. Objective.—To characterize laboratory practices for the diagnosis of group A streptococcal pharyngitis and to identify opportunities for improvement. Design.—Voluntary self-assessment questionnaire, used to assess the laboratory practices of 790 laboratories subscribing to the College of American Pathologists Excel Microbiology Proficiency Testing Program. Results.—We observed discrepancies between self-reported and recommended specimen collection and laboratory testing practices for some laboratories. The most notable discrepancies were failing to provide a written specimen-collection procedure (17.8%), sampling the tongue and oral mucosa (2%), failing to always perform back-up cultures when rapid antigen test results were negative (57.5%), and finalizing culture reports within 24 hours or less (34.0%). Additionally, among those respondents who used the bacitracin disk, 57.9% (277 respondents) applied the disk directly onto a primary plate. Conclusions.—Opportunities exist to improve testing practices for the diagnosis of group A streptococcal pharyngitis for some physician office and small-hospital laboratories.