A prospective study of dynamic treatment of fracture phalanx and metacarpals of the hand with Kirschner-wire fixation/external fixator and finger splint: Daycare management (30 cases)

Introduction: Fractures of the phalanx and metacarpals are some of the most frequently encountered orthopedics injuries and constitute between 14-28% of all visits to emergency department which comprises 46% of the hand fracture and out of that mostly involved are the proximal phalanx and metacarpal neck fracture are most common and then the middle and distal phalanx and the base of metacarpal. The commonest complication with surgical treatment were stiff painful joints due to prolonged immobilization at fracture sites. This prospective study was undertaken to evaluate the functional outcome after surgical stabilization of metacarpal and phalanx fracture on day care basis. Materials And Methods: In our study we treated 30 patients who came to our hospital by fixation either with K wire or external fixation or hybrid fixation under local anaesthesia depending on the type of fracture between 2013 to 2014 with the average age 28 years with the youngest being 18 years and the oldest being 41 years with transverse, spiral, oblique closed fracture, grade 1 compound fracture, intraarticular, extraarticular, comminuted and non comminuted fracture of phalanx and metacarpals.These were day care treatment. Patient was allowed to begin his daily routine work from post operative day l. During this course the operated site was protected with splinting. Results: Clinical Outcomes were assessed as Excellent, Good, Satisfactory and Poor. Radiological assessment was done by taking x-ray to check radiological union.There were 24 cases had excellent outcome, 5 cases had good outcome and only 1 case had satisfactory outcome which occurred due to mal-union. There were 3 cases of pin-tract infection which subsided with oral antibiotics, and 3 cases of malunion. Conclusion: This was a day care procedure, patient were admitted, treated and discharged on the same day & encouraged to begin mobilization of the joints of hands from day 1

Study of nerve root block procedure as a diagnostic and therapeutic aid in lumbosacral radiculopathy

Introduction: Backache and sciatic pain are routinely seen in day-to-day practice. In all urban settings with changed lifestyle, lack of exercise, bad posture, excessive use of vehicles, and disturbed nutrition; problem of discogenic backache and sciatica is on the rise. The treatment modalities vary from conservative to surgical methods, but they predominantly provide relief to leg pain and not back pain. Nerve root block acts at these inflammatory processes, by the action of the steroid and thus decreasing the chemical irritation to the nerve roots. Furthermore, there is a decrease in sensitization of dorsal horn neurons by bupivacaine. Aims and Objectives: To evaluate diagnostic and therapeutic efficacy of root block procedure. To study relief in terms of pain alleviation, activities of daily living, and straight leg raising (SLR) restriction. Materials and Methods: Retrospective study of fifty patients of sciatic radiculopathy between the ages of 20 and 60 years were evaluated under this study at Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College and Research Centre, Pune. All the patients of different age and sex had radicular pain with or without back pain, restricted spinal mobility, positive active and passive SLR test, and other nerve tension signs. Results: Out of fifty patients selected after thorough clinical and radiological examination, 45 (90%) had enjoyed complete pain relief and 31 (62%) of which were completely symptom-free at the end of 1 year. Conclusion: Spinal nerve root block may provide lasting therapeutic benefit, allowing the patient to participate in physical therapy and early  return to routine activities saving working manpower hours