תוצאת חיפוש

Importance of Internal Fixation for Talar Neck Fractures

Daniel Levin, Chaim Zinman

Orthopedic Dept. B, Rambam Medical Center and Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa

Fracture of the talus, which articulates with 4 other bones in the ankle and foot, must be properly diagnosed, classified and treated to avoid the common complications of post-traumatic osteoarthritis and avascular necrosis. Knowledge of blood supply and anatomy is imperative, since the surgical approach must not damage the few vascular structures that remain intact after the trauma. We present 5 cases of fractures at the neck of the talus. All underwent internal fixation, 1 after closed reduction and 4 after open reduction. In all the results were satisfactory, although 1 patient developed avascular necrosis of the talar body.

Primary Care Physicians in Israel Compared with European Countries

P. Shvartzman, R. Gross, H. Tabenkin, D. Yuval, M. Grinshtein, B. Wienka

Dept. of Family Medicine, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheba;

Brookdale Institute, Jerusalem; and Nivel Institute, Maastricht, the Netherlands

This study compares Israeli primary care physicians with those of European countries. In Israel a larger proportion of those in primary care are women. The Israeli physicians see many patients a day, but almost never make home visits. They also report for work the fewest hours a day, but spend 21 hours a month in continuous medical education. (more than Europeans?) The Israeli primary care physician scores high in screening for breast cancer and blood cholesterol level, but very low in the fields of minor surgery and alcohol and smoking prevention, contraception, nutrition counseling and normal pregnancy follow-up. Residency training and education may be inadequate, and more emphasis has to be put on the health system and recognizing environmental influences.

Oncogenetic Counseling and Genetic Testing of Those at High Risk for Breast and Ovarian Cancer

Livia Theodor, Ronit Shiri-Sverdlov, Galit Hirsch Yechezkel, Revital Bruchim Bar-Sade, Eva Gak, Irit Friedman, Anna Kruglikova, Gilad Ben-Baruch, Shulamit Risel, Moshe Z. Papa, Boleslav Goldman, Eitan Friedman

Oncogenetics Unit, Dept. of Clinical Epidemiology, Institute of Genetics, and Gynecology, Oncology, and Surgical Depts., Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer

There is inherited predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer in 5-10% of all women with these diseases. Germline mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 presumably account for most of the genetically susceptible individuals. We summarize 2 years of experience in counseling and testing for inherited predisposition to these cancers.

597 women (from 320 families) have been evaluated since August 1995. 242 were evaluated for inherited predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer. One-third had clear-cut evidence of familial background. 74 families were of Ashkenazi origin; the age range of breast cancer was 30-35, of ovarian cancer 40-45. In 80% of families other cancers were also noted in first degree family members, including lung, colon, and prostate cancer and leukemia.

Genetic testing revealed that 45% of affected and 25% of unaffected women were carriers of a mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2: 67/90 185delAG (BRCA1), 12/90 6174delT (BRCA2), and 4/90 of 5382insC (BRCA1). In addition, a novel mutation in exon 11 of BRCA1 was detected, carried by 7/90 women. The experience gained in oncogenetic counseling and genetic testing for inherited cancer predisposition will eventually enable determining an optimal, rational therapeutic regimen in carriers of mutations.

Orthostatic Hypotension as a Manifestation of Malignant Lymphoproliferative Disease

H. Semo, A. Adunsky, E. Grossman

Depts. of Geriatric Medicine and of Medicine D, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer

An 85-year-old man was admitted with 6-month history of incapacitating orthostatic hypotension. Investigation led to the discovery of sympathetic dysautonomia, sensorimotneuropathy and malignant lymphoproliferative disease. Several attempts to treat the orhypotension or the neoplastic disease failed to improve his condition. Orthostatic hypotension precipitated by sympathetic dysautonomia may be an infrequent effect of early malignant lymphoproliferative disease.

Does Testicular Volume Reflect Spermatogenic Pattern in Azoospermia?

David B. Weiss, Elchanan Bar-On, Shoshana Gottschalk-Sabag, Zvi Zukerman

Kupat Holim Mehuhedet and Male Infertility and Cytology Units, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem; and Andrology Unit, Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson Campus) Petah Tikva

The aim of this study was to determine whether testicular volume can serve to predict patterns of spermatogenesis in azoospermia. In 27 tests of azoospermic infertile men, cytological specimens from several sites from each testis were obtained by fine needle aspiration. Testes were classified according to the most mature spermatogenic cell type. Classifications were testes with spermatozoa, with arrested spermatogenic development, and with only Sertoli cells. Prior to fine needle aspiration the 3 dimensions of each testis were determined ultrasonically and its volume calculated. Mean testicular volume (±‏SD) was 7.71 (±5.95) ml for testes with spermatozoa and 7.55 (±2.35) and 7.31 (±4.42) ml for testes with spermatogenic maturation arrest and with only Sertoli cells, respectively (differences not significant). It is concluded that testicular volume can not be used as a predictive parameter, neither for the presence of spermatozoa nor for the cytological pattern of the testes of azoospermic infertile men.

Progression of Diabetic Retinopathy after Cataract Extraction

Y. Raniel, Y. Teichner, Z. Friedman

Annette and Aron Rozin Dept. of Ophthalmology, Bnai-Zion Medical Center and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, The Technion, Haifa

A prospective study of the effect of cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation on the course of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in 44 patients (59 eyes) was carried out. It showed that in the 1-3 years following surgery, there was progression of DR (including development of newly formed retinopathy) in 35% of the patients (28.8% of eyes). Progression was more marked in patients with pre-operative bilateral DR compared to those without bilateral DR (77% and 16% respectively). Insulin dependence did not play a role in progression. Final visual acuity was better in patients without pre-operative DR, as well as in eyes without progressive retinopathy.

Incidence, Antimicrobial Resistance and Mortality in Bloodstream Infections in the Critically Ill

Lavi Oud, Shelly Krimerman, Isaac Srugo

General Intensive Care Unit and Clinical Microbiology Dept., Bnai-Zion Medical Center, Haifa

Bloodstream infections (BSI) are 7-fold more common in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) rather than to other hospital wards. The epidemiology of BSI in critically ill patients in Israel has not been systematically addressed. We examined the annual trends in BSI in patients in a general ICU of evolving patterns of antimicrobial resistance and associated mortality rates for the years 1994-1996. The presence of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) when the first positive blood cultures are taken was a prerequisite for its definition as clinically significant. The unit site, staff, practice guidelines, and type of patient were unchanged during the study period. Blood cultures were positive in 220.7-332.0 patients per 1000 ICU admissions, 18-22-fold more common than in regular ward patients. SIRS was a universal finding in these ICU patients. There was multi-drug resistance for the majority of species cultured, reaching 100% in some cases. Crude hospital mortality of ICU patients, with and without positive blood cultures, was 31-54% and 5-14%, respectively. The introduction of a new blood culture system (Bactec 9240) in 1996 was associated with a 61% increase in the rate of patients with positive blood cultures, accounted for mostly by increased isolation of coagulase-negative staphylococci. However the mortality rate for the latter decreased by 59%, suggesting the possibility of a selective increase in detection of contaminated cultures. Although highly prevalent in the study population and generally defining a patient group with high mortality risk, the specificity of SIRS-associated positive blood cultures may be species and culture-system dependent. These findings re-emphasize the need for both improved control measures for the epidemic proportions of BSI and multi-drug antimicresistance, as well as more specific indicators of the clinicaof positive blood cultures in critically ill patients.

Conservative Approach in Children with Central Line Infection 

Zvi Steiner, Yafim Kandelis, George Mogilner, Dina Atias, Isaac Srugo

Dept. of Pediatric Surgery, and Hematology and Clinical Microbiology Units, Bnei-Zion Medical Center, and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, The Technion, Haifa

In 1994-1995, central venous lines were placed in 47 children. All except 1 were of the Broviac type, with subcutaneous tunneling via the internal or external jugular vein. Ages were between 7 days and 16 years. Indications for central venous cannulation were chemotherapy (35 cases), TPN (5), prolonged parenteral antibiotics (4), and repeated blood transfusions (3). The catheter was the source of infection in 13 children (28%), 11 of whom were immunocompromised. The commonly identified bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus (4 cases), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4), coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (2), and various gram-negative rods (3). All cases were treated with antibiotics through the catheter. The most commonly used were oxacillin (4), ceftazidime (4), and amikacin (4). In 10, treatment succeeded without having to remove the line. In 2 others, tunnel infection developed and the catheter had to be removed. 1 child forcefully removed his catheter before treatment could be started. There were no further complications in the group treated conservatively, except for a case of superior vena cava thrombosis in a girl with recurrent infection of the tunnel. In 7 out of 13 treatment was continued and completed at home. This saved 65 days of hospitalization out of 210. We conclude that the conservative approach to treatment is feasible in most cases of infection when the source is the central venous catheter itself. However, when the tunnel is infected, conservative treatment may be ineffective. Treatment can be carried out in the home, with economy in cost and in use of hospital beds, and is preferred by patients and their parents.

Onchocerca in Israel

A. Pressman, Y. Kandelis, Y. Bachar, G. Mogilner

Depts. of Pediatric Surgery and Pathology, Bnei-Zion Medical Center and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, The Technion, Haifa

The parasite Onchocerca volvulus is well-known in its endemic areas in South and Central America and West Africa. It is transmitted to man by simulium flies and causes systemic infection with skin, lymphatic and ophthalmic manifestations and can cause blindness (river blindness). Treatment with Ivermectin is effective but sometimes there is need for surgical intervention to prevent or treat complications. We describe an 11-year-old girl, a new immigrant from Ethiopia, who had a firm mass in her left thigh, caused by Onchocerca volvulus. It was completely excised. This is a very rare condition in Israel, which must be considered in patients coming from endemic areas.

Local Treatment of Purulent Chronic Otitis Media with Ciprofloxacin

Ludwig Podoshin, Alexander Brodzki, Milo Fradis, Jacob Ben-David, Josef Larboni, Isaac Srugo

Dept. of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Microbiology Unit and Dept. of Pharmacology, Bnai-Zion Medical Center, and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, The Technion, Haifa

We evaluated the efficacy of ciprofloxacin eardrops compared to tobramycin and to a placebo in the treatment of chronic suppurative otitis media. 60 ears were randomly assigned to treatment for 3 weeks with ciprofloxacin, tobramycin or placebo eardrops. The organism most commonly isolated from the ear discharge was Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The clinical responses were 78.9% and 72.2%, respectively, in the ciprofloxacin and tobramycin groups, while it was only 41.2% in the placebo group. Treatment with ciprofloxacin eardrops seemed to be at least as efficient as treatment with tobramycin. Considering the lack of ototoxicity of ciprofloxacin, this treatment may be best for chronic otitis media.

Patients' Opinions of the Role of Primary Care Physicians and the Organization of Health Care Services

Revital Gross, Hava Tabenkin, Shuli Bramli, Pesach Schvartzman

JDC-Brookdale Institute, Jerusalem; Dept. of Family Medicine, HaEmek Hospital, Afula; Kupat Holim Clalit, Northern District; Institute for Specialization, Ben-Gurion University, Northern Branch; and Dept. of Family Medicine, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Kupat Holim Clalit, Beer Sheba

Patients' opinions of the role of the primary care physician were studied. The study population consisted of Hebrew-speaking members of the Clalit Sick Fund, aged 18+, who visited primary care and specialty clinics. Interviews took place during January-March 1995 in the Emek and Jerusalem, and during August-October 1995 in Beer Sheba. A total of 2,734 interviews were conducted, and the response rate was 88%. 64% of the respondents preferred the primary care physician as the first address for most problems occurring during the day. Multivariate analysis revealed that the variables predicting this preference were: being over age 45, having completed less than 12 years of schooling, being satisfied with the physician, and when a child's illness was involved. Whether the physician was a specialist had only a marginal effect. The findings also show that among those who did go directly to a specialist for the current visit, 49% would still prefer the primary care physician to be the first address for most problems. However, half of the respondents initiated the current visit to the specialty clinic themselves. The findings also showed that a preference for the primary care physician to be the first address had an independent and statistically significant effect on the following aspects of service consumption: taking the initiative to go to a specialist, the intention to return to the primary care physician or to the specialist for continuing care, and the patient's belief that referral to a specialist was needed. The findings of the study may be of assistance to policy-makers on the national level and to sick funds in planning the role of the primary care physician, so that it corresponds, on the one hand, to the needs of the sick funds and the economic constraints in the health system, and on the other, to the preferences of the patient.

Six Cases of Acute Rheumatic Fever in One Year

George Habib, Ramiz Abu-Ahmad

Rheumatology Clinic and Dept. of Medicine, Nazareth Hospital; and Medical Dept. B, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa

During 1995, 6 cases of acute rheumatic fever were diagnosed here. Taking into account differences in total admissions, this appears to represent an increase over 1994. Most of the cases were males, with average age at diagnosis 19.5 years. All were of low socioeconomic status. 50% had cardiac involvement, and 1 needed treatment with corticosteroids. Most had pharyngeal symptoms prior to the acute attack, and 1 patient had 2 prior episodes of rheumatic fever. A thorough epidemiological study should be done in the Nazareth area to assess the real incidence of acute rheumatic fever, and to determine whether there is a true increase in incidence.

Radiotherapy of Localized Prostatic Carcinoma

Eliahu Gez, Yael Netzer-Horowitz, Einat Waiman, Raphael Rubinov, Yoram Cohen, Abraham Kuten

Northern Israel Oncology Center and Oncology Dept., Rambam Medical Center and Lin Medical Center, Haifa; and Soroka Medical Center, Beer Sheba

112 patients with localized prostate cancer, clinical stage A2-C, were treated by definitive radiotherapy between 1982-1988. Radiation volume encompassed the prostate, seminal vesicles and pelvic lymph nodes. The 10-year actuarial survival figures were: overall 51%; stage A2 87%; stage B 50%; stage C 36%; well differential tumors 67%; moderately differentiated 50%; poorly differentiated 32%; patients with local tumor control 55%; and patients with minimal local control 36%. It is concluded that external beam irradiation is effective in localized prostatic cancer. Stage and grade are prognosticators of survival.

Acquired Torticollis in Hospitalized Children

Alexander Blankstein, Felix Pavlotsky, Hector Roizin, Abraham Ganel, Aharon Chechick

Depts. of Orthopedics, Dermatology, Pediatrics and Pediatric Orthopedics, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

Torticollis results from various pathological mechanisms, and its elucidation depends on identifying diseases of musculoskeletal, neural and ocular tissues. This study characterized the underlying diseases of children hospitalized with torticollis, excluding congenital torticollis. Records of 36 children with torticollis seen during 4 years were reviewed and categorized according to presumed etiology. Most could be classified into 2 categories: in 39% it was due to trauma and in 36% to upper respiratory tract infection. Most girls were in the first group and most boys in the second group. There were 3 cases of ocular torticollis due to superior-oblique muscle palsy, 1 with a post-burn eschar, 2 with neurological disorders (intramedullary cervical astrocytoma and leukodystrophy with macrencephaly), and in 3 no associated cause was found. There was a clear seasonal trend with 58% of cases presenting from November through February, 33% from April through July, and the rest, of neurological or ocular origin, during the rest of the year. In cases of post-traumatic torticol21% had neurological symptoms such as weakness of the limbs, headaches or incontinence. Only a few had prior upper respiratory tract infection. All children whose torticollis was assigned to infection had had fever. Only 8% had had neurological complaints or vomiting, half of whom presented with fever exceeding 37.5oC. 46% had restriction of movement and 38% had tenderness. In over 60% of those in this group there were signs of an upper respiratory tract infection, such as lymphadenopathy or a white blood cell count exceeding 15,000/microliter. 3 patients with recurrent torticollis were diagnosed as having severe neurological diseases. Mean hospitalization time was 4 days (range 1-28). Hospitalization periods were similar for all kinds of patients and treatment by traction or fixation did not affect this period.

Traumatic Hyphema*

Tamar Talmon, Itzchak Beiran, Benjamin Miller

Dept. of Ophthalmology, Rambam Medical Center and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa

Traumatic hyphema usually occurs in young men at the rate of 17-20/1000,000. Major complications include secondary hemorrhage, glaucoma, corneal staining and disturbances in visual acuity. Final visual acuity is predominantly the outcome of all the ocular injuries occurring during the trauma, mainly to the posterior segment of the eye. We describe all cases of traumatic hyphema treated in our department over a period of 3.5 years. Antifibrinolytic treatment is recommended in the literature in traumatic hyphema to prevent secondary hemorrhage. Our findings differ from those in the literature in that they show a lower prevalence of more severe hemorrhages and of secondary hemorrhage. In light of these differences, and with regard to possible side effects of such treatment, we suggest that antifibrinolytic treatment not be used in our population. We recommend that treatment for traumatic hyphema should include restricted activity, local corticosteroidal preparations, frequent follow-up visits and vigorous diagnostic work-up in order to find any additional eye damage. We strongly recommend the use of preventive measures (eye-shields) in high risk activities such as sports, house-hold work and military training.

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* Based on work submitted to the Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, by Tamar Talmon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the MD degree.