Reliability and validity of the Brachial Plexus Outcome Measure in children with obstetric brachial plexus palsy

Study Design: Clinical measurement and cross-sectional study

Evaluation of the patients with acute intoxication

Objective: We evaluated the patients who were hospitalized for acute intoxications. We report the etiologies of intoxications, mortality rate, and the outcomes of treatment modalities. Materials and Methods: Data is given of patients who were hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit of Erciyes University Medical Faculty from January 1, 1993 to December 31, 1999. The total number of patients followed in the Medical Intensive Care Unit during this period were 3500 and 272 (7.8%) of them were acute intoxications. One hundred and six patients were male (mean age: 31±18 years) and 166 were female (mean age: 24±15 years). Results: Insecticides were the most common causes of intoxications with 95 patients. Other common causes were sedative-antidepressants (57 cases), mushrooms (26 cases) and carbon monoxide (24 cases). The biggest parts of the insecticides were organophosphates with 59 patients. Suicidal attempt was present in 197 patients. All alcohol intoxications were with consumption of ethyl alcohol. The rest of the patients (69 cases) were accidental exposures. The causes of deaths were insecticides in 13 patients, alcohol in 3 patients, carbon monoxide in 2 patients, mushrooms in 2 patients, and naphthalene in a patient. Specific antidote has been used for 73 patients. 11 (15%) of the patients, who died, received specific antidote treatment. Conclusion: Intoxications are one of the most common causes for admissions to the Intensive Care Units. The causes of intoxications change with the characteristics of region, hospital and departments. Appropriate supportive care alone may save the lives of patients. However, if there is a specific antidote, it must be given

The Relationship between Range of Motion and Function of Upper Extremity in Obstetric Brachial Plexus Palsy Patients Treated with Tendon Transfer

Obstetric brachial plexus palsy (OBPP) refers to upper limb paralysis secondary to a sustained traction or compression injury to the brachial plexus during birth. The reported incidence in developed countries is 2 per 1000 live births. The assessment and planning of appropriate treatment is important in the early stages of OBPP. The aim of our study was to examine the relationship between the range of motion and upper extremity function of the shoulder in patients with OBPP who were treated by tendon transfer. This study included 48 patients who had shoulder tendon transfer at least 6 months ago in Istanbul Medical Faculty, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery of the Hand. Range of motion measurements were performed using a universal goniometer and the modified mallet classification was used to categorize global shoulder function. Pediatric evaluation of disability inventory (PEDI) and Canadian occupational performance measure (COPM) were used to evaluate functional ability, activity and participation. When examining relationships between range of motion and functional scores, there was a statistically significant relationship between COPMP score and external rotation, and no relationship was found between other motion functional scores. The study demonstrated that, the use of the pattern of development and motivation of patients to participate is also important among range of motion and muscle strength for upper extremity function