Measurement of ankle brachial pressure index is an easy screening test to perform in patients presenting with an acute knee injury. According to Nicardi et al recognition of vascular injury is particularly challenging because vascular compromise may not be immediately associated with clinical signs of ischemia. The aim of the study is to correlate the values of ABPI measurements to CT angiograms and clinical outcome in high energy knee trauma. We reviewed the records of patients admitted to our unit following high energy knee trauma during the period Nov 2012 to Dec 2013. The orthopaedic injuries sustained were 11 knee dislocations, 5 supracondylar femur fractures, 3 high energy tibia plateau fractures (Schatzker 5 and 6) and 4 gunshot injuries. From the records we recorded the nature of the orthopaedic injury, the ABPI, the CT angiogram and the clinical outcome. We excluded all patients with insufficient records and previous vasculopathy. After these exclusions, 23 patients were enrolled for the study. Analysis of the data involved calculating of basic descriptive statistics, including proportional and descriptive measures. T-tests (one-sample and independent) and chi-square tests of independence were employed to investigate the relationship between ABPI and CT angiogram and clinical outcomes. Throughout the statistical analysis cognisance is taken of the relative small sample, and relevant test adjustments made.Introduction:
Materials and Methods:
Our retrospective study of 189 patients aimed to establish the efficacy of conservative treatment for rotator cuff impingement and also to assess the clinical presentation and the factors that influence the outcome. We noted patients’ response to physiotherapy and cortisone injections. We looked at the shape of the acromion and tried to correlate it with effectiveness of conservative treatment. All patients had either a positive Neer or Hawkins sign. In 123 patients internal rotation was markedly restricted. Subacromial cortisone injections were administered to 119 patients. The injection was repeated once in 52 patients and twice in 25. Surgery was necessary in 44 patients. In other words, conservative treatment was effective in 83%. Only 12 of the patients who underwent surgery had a Bigliani type-III acromion and only nine had a large spur. An appropriate exercise programme is critical if conservative treatment is to be effective. It should focus first on stretching the posterior capsule of the shoulder joint and increasing internal rotation, and subsequently on strengthening the subscapularis and infraspinatus muscles. We believe it is the imbalance of muscle power rather than the acromial spur that is the major cause of impingement.
