The role of ultrasonography in detection and localization of radiolucent foreign body in soft tissues of extremities

INTRODUCTION

Retained non-radiopaque foreign body inside soft tissue can be a cause of prolonged morbidity. Detection and localization is difficult task with conventional radiography. Ultrasonography, CT and MRI are other modes of evaluation but both of CT and MRI are expensive and not easily available.

METHODS

Twenty three patients were evaluated with ultrasonography (8 MHz linear probe) and X-ray for clinically suspicious non-radiopaque foreign body in soft tissue of extremities. Clinical presentation, duration of symptoms, anatomical location and foreign bodies retrieved after surgical explorations were recorded.

RESULTS

X-ray could not detect any foreign body in all 23 patients. Ultrasound findings were suggestive of foreign body in 19 patients (male: female=2:1, mean age 31.68+/-11.8 years, range 12 - 54 years) which was confirmed after surgical exploration except in one where only foreign body granuloma was found. 4 (21%) were not aware of prick injury. Fifteen patients had attempted removal of foreign body themselves or at medical shop or local health post. Interval between injury / symptoms appearance to hospital ranged from 4-56 days. Foot and ankle was involved in 10 (52.6%), calf in 3 (15%), dorsum of hand in 2 (10.5%), palm in 2 (10.5%), shoulder in 1 (5.2%) and knee in 1 (5.2%) case. Foreign bodies retrieved were wood in 12 (63%), thorn in 4 (21%) and bamboo twig in 2 (10.5%) patients.

CONCLUSION

Plain X-ray isn't sensitive for detection of non-radiopaque foreign body in soft tissue. Ultrasonography is sensitive and specific for detection and localization of foreign body which should be included in evaluation for clinically suspicious retained non-radiopaque foreign body in soft tissue of extremities.

How did formative research inform the development of a women's group intervention in rural Nepal?

Inability to reduce neonatal and maternal mortality in poor countries is sometimes blamed on a lack of contextual knowledge about care practices and care-seeking behavior. There is a lack of knowledge about how to translate formative research into effective interventions to improve maternal and newborn health. We describe the findings of formative research and how they were used to inform the development of such an intervention in rural Nepal. Formative research was carried out in four parts. Part 1 involved familiarization with the study area and literature review, and parts 2, 3 and 4 involved community mapping, audit of health services, and qualitative and quantitative studies of perinatal care behaviors. Participatory approaches have been successful at reducing neonatal mortality and may be suitable in our context. Community mapping and profiling helped to describe the community context, and we found that community-based organizations often sought to involve the Female Community Health Volunteer in community mobilization. She was not routinely conducting monthly meetings and found them difficult to sustain without support and supervision. In health facilities, most primary care staff were in post, but doctors and staff nurses were absent from referral centers. Mortality estimates reflected under-reporting of deaths and hygiene and infection control strategies had low coverage. The majority of women give birth at home with their mother-in-law, friends and neighbors. Care during perinatal illness was usually sought from traditional healers. Cultural issues of shyness, fear and normalcy restricted women's behavior during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period, and decisions about her health were usually made after communications with the family and community. The formative research indicated the type of intervention that could be successful. It should be community-based and should not be exclusively for pregnant women. It should address negotiations within families, and should tailor information to the needs of local groups and particular stakeholders such as mothers-in-law and traditional healers. The intervention should not only accept cultural constructs but also be a forum in which to discuss ideas of pollution, shame and seclusion. We used these guidelines to develop a participatory, community-based women's group intervention, facilitated through a community action cycle. The success of our intervention may be because of its acceptability at the community level and its sensitivity to the needs and beliefs of families and communities.

Learning, education and satisfaction after compulsory rotating internship in Kathmandu University Medical School: a qualitative study of interns' response

BACKGROUND

Internship is an integral part of MBBS training programme and mandatory to all students. Kathmandu University Medical School has adopted a programme of compulsory one year rotating internship including 6 weeks community exposure in out reach clinics for the first batch of students. The purpose of the study is to evaluate interns' feedback concerning learning, education and satisfaction.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A questionnaire with 47 items was administered to 30 interns who had finished one year rotating internship in Kathmandu University Medical School. Fourty-two responses were graded according in Likert scale and 5 open ended questions were analyzed for common themes.

RESULTS

The mean age of the interns was 24.77+/-0.67 yrs with female: male ratio of 1.5:1. Confidence level of communication of interns with faculties was lesser than with junior doctors and patients. Junior doctors and colleagues contributed more in interns' learning than faculties. Community exposure for 6 weeks was considered lengthy and lacking of clear objectives. However, 53.3% interns agreed that achievement of objectives of community posting was high or very high. Of the interns, 50% perceived certain degree of physical or mental or sexual harassment during internship. Interns raised the issue of not involving them as a part of team during clinical posting. Clinical competencies for most of the skills were high or very high.

CONCLUSION

Interns have learned clinical skills and patient care in one year internship programme but contribution of junior doctors and colleague are more than teachers. Clear objectives are needed before clinical and community postings. Process of providing regular feedback from interns and vice versa should be implemented to improve interns' learning, education and satisfaction.

A review of water and sanitation provision in refugee camps in association with selected health and nutrition indicators--the need for integrated service provision

The first global overview of basic water and sanitation indicators in refugee camps is presented (using data from 2003-2006) and compared with selected health and nutrition indicators. This demonstrates that average levels of water and sanitation provision are acceptable at camp level but many refugee operations are suffering from gaps that cross-cut these sectors; e.g. typically poor sanitation provision is corresponding with low per capita availability of water. These findings were confirmed at household level with two household surveys undertaken in African refugee camps; households reporting a case of diarrhoea within the previous 24 hours collect on average 26% less water than those not reporting any cases. In addition, typically higher levels of morbidity of one infectious agent are also reflected across other infectious agents; this is reinforced by comparing the relationship between morbidity and nutrition status from selected camps. The importance that hygiene, environmental conditions and local settings have on health (both of refugees and also local communities) is underlined. Interventions to improve indicators across the water, sanitation, health and nutrition sectors rely not only on increased and sustained resources but must entail an integrated approach to simultaneously tackle short-comings across all these vital sectors.

Antenatal detection of conjoined twin

Conjoined twin is a sporadic event with prevalence of 1 in 50000 to 1000000 birth. Incomplete division of embryonic disc results in conjoined twin. Ultrasound plays a major role for early detection and proper obstetric management. A case of cephalothoracopagus conjoined twin was detected at 20 weeks pregnancy in a primigravida woman by antenatal ultrasound. The pregnancy was terminated after proper counseling, despite the need to save the baby, as multidisciplinary team to separate the twins was not available.

Cervical spine injuries in a teaching hospital of eastern region of Nepal: a clinico-epidemiological study

Cervical spine injuries with neural deficits carry significant impact economically, socially and psychologically to the individual and to the society. Risk factors involved, mode of injuries, constraints of management and rehabilitation are different in developing countries. Total 149 patients of cervical spine injuries presented in B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal were evaluated prospectively for three years. Demographic details, etiology of injury, method and time taken for transportation and treatment method and progression of recovery were recorded. Most commonly involved age group was 30-49 years (44%) with male to female ratio of 4:1. Fall related injury especially from trees was the commonest mode of injury (60%). Patients were transported to hospital without neck immobilization (81%) in a vehicle unsuitable for spinal injuries patient with average delay of two days of injury. 79% had neural deficits among which 42% are with quadriparesis, 31% are with quadriplegia. Associated extra spinal injuries were found in 9% patients. Average hospital stay was 31 days. C5 vertebra was the most commonly injured vertebra. Cervical spine injuries, which has major impact over patient and society is still not adequately addressed by medical and public health system of developing countries like Nepal. Incidence of spinal injuries and its devastating consequences can be reduced by appropriate preventive measures and management along with rehabilitation.

Antenatal Detection of Conjoined Twin

abstract

DESIGN OF A SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM FOR PREGNANCY AND ITS OUTCOMES IN RURAL NEPAL

IntroductionCommunity trials in low-income countries require monitoring and evaluation systems.The requirements of a community surveillance system include coherent design, training,field supervision and reporting, as well as the need for a robust and flexible database.Materials and methodsThis paper describes a surveillance system for identification of pregnancy and itsoutcomes in a rural area of Nepal. Mother Infant Research Activities (MIRA), incollaboration with the Institute of Child Health, London, are presently conducting astudy on the impact of a community-based participatory intervention to improveessential newborn care (ENC) in rural Nepal. The study is a cluster randomisedcontrolled trial involving 12 pairs of Village Development Committees (VDCs) inMakwanpur District. The surveillance system covers approximately 28 000 householdsand 28 000 married women of reproductive age. It was designed to identify pregnancy,its outcome for mother and infant, and activities such as antenatal care and problem-related health care seeking behaviour.DiscussionThe paper describes the processes of mapping and enumeration, pregnancyidentification, conduct of interviews, quality control and data management.Key Words: data quality, database, rural Nepal.

Treatment of supracondylar fracture of the humerus (type IIB and III) in children: A prospective randomized controlled trial comparing two methods

Background: Consensus on method of treatment of displaced supracondylar fracture of the humerus in children is still lacking. Purpose of this prospective randomized controlled study is to compare closed reduction and long arm slab application with closed reduction and percutaneous crossed Kirschner wires fixation. Materials and methods: Children of age less than 12 years presented in B.P. Koirala institute of health sciences, Dharan in one year were randomly allocated to group A and group B consisting 30 patients in each group. Closed reduction and long arm posterior slab was applied in group A and in group B, closed reduction was followed by crossed Kirschner wires fixation. Clinical and radiological evaluation of reduction was performed immediately after procedure and at the end of first week, third week, third month and sixth month. Results: The groups were matched for pre fracture characteristics and post reduction evaluation. The mean follow up period in group A was 6.9 months and in group B was 7.1 months. Closed reduction failed in two patients at the first attempt and one patient failed to retain reduction at first week in group A. 11 patients (5 in group A and 6 in group B) were lost to follow up. Range of movement, valgus, varus and carrying angle of elbow in two groups were not significantly different. The mean difference of carrying angle of affected elbow as compare to normal elbow was significant in group A (p ? 0.05). Flynn's overall rating showed 32% excellent, 36% good, 18% fair and14 % poor result in patents treated with long arm slab as compared to 58% excellent, 29% good, 13 % fair and no poor results in patients with crossed Kirschner wires fixation. Conclusion: The outcome of displaced extension type supracondylar fracture of the humerus in children, managed with closed reduction and slab application are comparable with closed reduction and crossed Kirschner wire fixation in terms of range of motion but is inferior in restoration of carrying angle. Good to excellent cosmetic and functional results are higher with crossed percutaneous Kirschner wires fixation than with slab immobilization. Key words: closed reduction; percutaneous fixation; supracondylar fracture doi: 10.3126/kumj.v6i3.1705 Kathmandu University Medical Journal (2008), Vol. 6, No. 3, Issue 23, 310-318