Three operative techniques for epiphysiodesis to correct lower limb length discrepancy (LLD) are compared: the Phemister technique, the percutaneous drilling-curettage technique and percutaneous epiphysiodesis using a transphyseal screw. Between 1987 and 2008, 92 patients with LLD were treated by surgical epiphysiodesis. Eighty patients were available for this retrospective study. No statistica...

Similar in body size, locomotor behaviour and morphology to the last common ancestor of Primates, living small quadrupedal primates provide a convenient model for investigating the evolution of primate locomotion. In this study, the hind limb kinematics of quadrupedal walking in mouse lemurs, brown lemurs, cotton-top tamarins and squirrel monkeys are analysed using cineradiography. The scaling ...

Embolectomy has long been the gold standard for treating limbs acutely threatened by arterial occlusion. Delayed embolectomy has not been investigated adequately due to the belief that accompanying mortality and morbidity render the case futile. Following our previous experience with late arterial repair for leg or knee salvage I we applied the same principle to limbs threatened with prolo...

background: h-reflex is a valuable electrophysiological technique for assessing nerve conduction through entire length of afferent and efferent pathways, especially nerve roots and proximal segments of peripheral nerves. the aim of this study was to investigate the relation between normal values of flexor carpi radialis (fcr) h-reflex latency, upper limb length and age in normal subjects, and t...

BACKGROUND Children with lower-limb-length discrepancy require repeated radiographic assessment for monitoring and as a guide for management. The need for accurate assessment of length and alignment is balanced by the need to minimize radiation exposure. We compared the accuracy, reliability, and radiation dose of EOS, a novel low-dose upright biplanar radiographic imaging system, at two differ...

BACKGROUND Rice farming activities involve prolonged manual work and human-machine interaction. Prolonged farming risk-exposure may result in lower limb malalignment. This malalignment may increase the risk of lower extremity injury and physical disabilities. However, the prevalence and factors associated with lower extremity malalignment have not yet been reported. This study aimed to investig...

A total of 1710 primary amputees have been studied over a 25 year period and their survival time has been calculated. These were all consecutive primary lower limb amputees admitted to the Dundee Limb Fitting Centre during the period 1965-1989. Overall, the median survival was 4 yr 9 mth for the below-knee amputee (1019 patients) and 4 yr 3 mth for the above-knee amputee (586 patients). The vas...

The decision to amputate is a difficult one, but in some cases, amputation can greatly improve the patient's quality of life. Jo Gibson discusses the nursing care of patients undergoing amputation, with a view to helping them adjust to their changed circumstances.