We discuss an experimental audio feedback system and method for positional guidance in real-time surgical instrument placement tasks. This system is intended for future usability testing in order to ascertain the efficacy of the use of the aural modality for assisting surgical placement tasks in the operating room. The method is based on translating spatial parameters of a surgical instrument o...

Recently, Iskandar et al described "Chiari Zero malformation" to characterize some kind of syringomyelia that exhibits classic Chiari-type symptoms with little to no herniation, but there is some dilemma about whether it is actually present. We presented a 38-year-old-man with a diagnosis of cervical syringomyelia. In his neurological examination, there was monoparesia at the left leg together ...

A method for securing closed suction drains in the neck is described where it serves to prevent leakage, slippage and accidental removal. This method involves passing a stay suture through the most proximal holes of the drain and suturing it to the skin and an overlying short length of the tube externally. Drains secured in this manner can be left in the wound for up to fourteen days with no as...

The progress in recombinant DNA technology has made possible the introduction of exogenous genetic material into cells. Gene therapy aims to correct a defective gene, introduce a therapeutic exogenous gene or a counteracting gene into somatic cells without modification of the germ-cell line. The most important technical interests in the field of gene therapy research have pertained to the devel...

OBJECTIVE To describe a technique for internal nasal valve collapse using radiofrequency-induced thermotherapy (RFITT). DESIGN Prospective study. SETTING Academic research center. PATIENTS A total of 28 patients with nasal obstruction due to inspiratory nasal valve collapse were included in this study. INTERVENTION Radiofrequency-induced thermotherapy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Visual ana...

BACKGROUND There is considerable recent interest in the monitoring of individual surgeon or hospital surgical outcomes. If one aggregates data over time and assesses performance with a funnel plot, then the detection of any process deterioration or improvement could be delayed. The variable life adjusted display (VLAD) is widely used for monitoring on a case-by-case basis, but we show that use ...

A staged method of surgical management for congenital talipes equinovarus is described. The hindfoot was corrected and rebalanced early in 125 feet, and in 66 feet a second-stage medial forefoot correction was performed in the second, third or fourth year. The hindfoot relapsed in 19% and the forefoot in 9%; these feet were treated by further soft-tissue surgery. No bony operation was necessary...

BACKGROUND Recognition of tissue planes during surgery appears to be a skill acquired with experience. We conducted a pilot study to test this hypothesis using a novel method for evaluating this skill in a simulated environment. METHODS Twelve surgeons of varying levels of experience were shown 16 captured images from a mesorectal excision. For each image, they were asked to draw the ideal di...

Background and Objectives: Operating rooms (ORs) are precious resources in hospitals, as they constitute more than 40% of the hospital revenues.As such, surgical cancellations are very costly to hospitals. Same-day surgery cancellations or no-shows were found to be the main contributing factor to underutilization of operating rooms (ORs) in a public-sector hospital despite the ...

conclusions the study indicated advantages of this modified bier's block compared to the traditional one including ability to perform surgery on upper limb bones and considerable pain relief at surgical and tourniquet sites during the operation until one hour thereafter. results this study showed the presence of analgesia at surgical and tourniquet sites during the operation in 96% of patients,...