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What Is Bier Block?

January 1, 2012 By 1 Comment

Bier block is intravenous regional anesthesia which was originally introduced by  August K. G. Bier in 1908 and thus the name.

Bier bock  used in surgery of distal part of upper limb like wrist, hand and distal forearm. It is not useful in surgery around the elbow.

The main advantages of this technique are its simplicity and reliability.

Principle

With tourniquet tied intravenous anaesthetic agent like lignocaine is injected in previously exsanguinated limb. There is a  direct diffusion of the local anesthetic from the vessels into the nearby nerves as the drug is not distributed due to circulation blockage by tourniquet.

Peripheral nerve endings of the extremities are nourished by small blood vessels. Injection of a local anesthetic solution into a venous system results in diffusion of the local anesthetic into the nerve endings with the consequent development of anesthesia. The duration of the anesthesia and analgesia are limited by the duration tourniquet. [Read more...]

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C Reactive Protein

December 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein found in the blood which rises in level in response to inflammation.

CRP was first discovered as a substance in the serum of patients with acute inflammation that reacted with the C- (capsular) polysaccharide of pneumococcus and thus the name.

It was discovered by Tillett and Francis in 1930 and is synthesized in liver.

 

A rise in CRP occurs as acute phase response  in a wide range of conditions like infections, inflammatory diseases, malignancy and autoimmune disordres. The levels of CRP rapidly increase within 2 hours of acute insult, reaching a peak at 48 hours. [Read more...]

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Distal Radio Ulnar Joint

December 1, 2011 By 1 Comment

The distal radioulnar articulation or inferior radioulnar joint is a joint formed between the head of the ulna and the ulnar notch on the distal radius.

The articular surfaces are connected together by the following ligaments:

  • Volar radioulnar ligament
  • Dorsal radioulnar ligament
  •  Articular disk (Triangular fibrocartilage)

Triangular fibrocartilage complex is ulnar continuation of distal radius & presents concave surface for articulation with lunate and triquetrium. [Read more...]

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Acute Normovolemic Hemodilution

October 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Acute normovolemic hemodilution, also called s intraoperative hemodilution is a blood conservation process where blood of the patient is removed before or shortly after induction of anesthesia and volume is maintained using crystalloid and/or colloid replacement.

The amount of blood removed varies between one and three units (450 to 500 mL = 1 unit) usually.

The withdrawn blood is anticoagulated and maintained at room temperature, in the operating room, for up to eight hours. It is reinfused into the patient as needed during, or after, the surgical procedure.

Acute normovolemic hemodilution should be considered for patients with good initial hematocrits and who are expected to lose more than two units of blood. [Read more...]

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Atlantodens Interval

September 29, 2011 By 1 Comment

The atlantodens interval is defined as the distance between the anterior aspect of the dens and the posterior aspect of the anterior ring of the atlas. This distance should be 5 mm or less. In the adult population, the normal ADI is 3 mm.

An atlantodens interval that exceeds 5 mm in lateral flexion and 4 mm in lateral extension indicates instability and is suspicious for ligamentous disruption.

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Filed Under: A-D, Cervical Spine, Definitions Tagged With: , ,

Alkaptonuria

September 9, 2011 By 1 Comment

Alkaptonuria is a genetic disorder that results in a defect in the gene that makes the body unable to properly break down certain amino acids tyrosine and phenylalanine.

It is an autosomal recessive disease. It means both the parents should pass a copy of defective genes to the child if the child gets the disorder.

Due to this inefficient breakdown, a substance called homogentisic acid builds up in the skin and other body tissues.

The acid leaves the body through the urine. The urine turns brownish-black when it mixes with air.

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Constitututional Symptoms

August 27, 2011 By 1 Comment

Constitutional symptoms refers to a group of symptoms that affecting different systems of the body.

These include Weight loss, fevers, fatigue, and malaise,chills, night sweats, and decreased appetite etc

These symptoms are non specific and occur in vast number of diseases.

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Cuneiform Bones

July 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment

There are three cuneiform bones in the human foot, located between the navicular bone and the first, second and third metatarsal bones and are medial to the cuboid bone.

  • the medial cuneiform
  • the intermediate cuneiform also known as the middle cuneiform
  • the lateral cuneiform

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Cervical Thoracic Lumbar Sacral Orthosis

April 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Cervical Thoracic Lumbar Sacral Orthosis is a device that is used to stablize or support the spine from cervical to sacral area. The use can be in traumatic injuries of spine or to correct the curvature in scoliosis

An Example of Cervical Thoracic Lumbar Sacral Orthosis

The device is usually custom made after taking the measurements of the patient in whom it is to be applied.

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Atlanto Axial Joint

March 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Atlas or C1 is the first bone in the neck,  is simply a ring, with facets above and below to articulate with occiput above, and the Axis (C2) below.

The Axis (C2) too is quite unique. There is a pivot articulation between the odontoid process of the axis and the ring formed by the anterior arch and the transverse ligament of the atlas.

Atlas and Axis Vertebrae

Image Credit: http://www.chiropractic-help.com/Atlanto-axial-joint-anatomy.html

 

 

There are two atlanto-axial joints: median and lateral. [Read more...]

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