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Acquired dysphasia
Injury, 15, 7 l-72
Printed in Great Britain
71
Abstracts INJURIES
OF THE HEAD
AND
SPINE
volunteers compared. J. Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry
2, 957. Backache
This is a refreshingly down-to-earth article that is based on detailed analysis of a personal series of 900 patients and it emphasizes the relative rarity of serious conditions that will not get better with time, rest and reassurance. These rare conditions can be suspected by taking a good history and carrying out a thorough examination that aim at distinguishing disease of the spine, lesions of nerve roots and referred pain. The place of further investigations is clearly indicated for the small proportion that require more than simple radiography. Wade11 G. (1982) An approach to backache Br. J. Hosp. Med. 28, 187. Brain damage
by boxing
Eight amateur and six professional boxers who had been at least national champions were subjected to thorough examination. One (professional) had clinical evidence of cerebral damage; twelve were slower than normal to carry out psychological tests and two yielded definitely abnormal results. Of 13 electroencephalograms, six were abnormal and computerized tomography showed signs of atrophy in three of six professionals and one of eight amateur boxers. Kaste M., Kuurne T., Vilkki J., Katevuo K., Sainio K. and Meurala H. (1982) Is chronic brain damage in boxing a hazard of the past? Lancet 2, 1186. Rehabilitation
after acute brain damage
The group was set up by the Neurosciences Board of the Medical Research Council to study the victims of stroke as well as head injury. Although there is increasing awareness in the medical and associated professions of the need for research in rehabilitation. What little is going on depends more on the enthusiasm and organizing ability of a small number of specialists than upon any central direction or encouragement. Research aspects of rehabilitation after acute brain damage in adults (1982) Lancet 2, 1034. Acquired
dysphasia
Informed volunteers were as successful as trained therapists in helping the victims of stroke and cerebral injury to overcome impairment of speech, suggesting that patients and attention is what matters most. This is of obvious importance to families with a dyphasic member. David R., Enderby P. and Bainton D. (1982) Treatment of acquired dysphasia: speech therapists and
Maxillofacyial
injuries
A comprehensive review of the nature, diagnosis and treatment of these important and serious conditions. Langdon R. D. and Rapidis A. D. (1982) Maxillofacial injuries Br. J. Hosp. Med. 28, 589. Traumatic
intracranial
haematoma
Traditional practice in transferring patients to neurosurgeons leads to delay and avoidable mortality and morbidity. Following a greater readiness to admit patients, Glasgow Neurosurgical Unit found that the mortality fell from 38 per cent to 29 per cent. This was largely because of a reduction in the proportion of patients that talked after injury but who then became comatose before operation. This change was from 31 per cent to 16 per cent. The benefits of computerized tomography are clear but making them available as freely and widely as would be desirable poses as yet unsolved problems. Teasdale G., Galbraith S., Murray L., Ward P., Gentleman D. and McKean M. (1982) Management of traumatic intracranial haematoma. Br. Med. J. 285, 1695. Brain death
The pitfalls occur in diagnosis, in failure to meet the preliminary considerations and in eliciting and interpreting signs. The safeguard is not to make the diagnosis if there is any doubt in ones mind. C. Pallis (1982) A B C of Brain death, pitfalls and safeguards. Br. Med. J. 285, 720. Replantation
survival
In seven years, one unit reattached 63 severed parts to 49 persons; 30 had not been completely detached. Sixty per cent of the parts survived. Failures include cases in which reattachment was started but then abandoned. The implications of operations lasting up to 22 hours (eight hours on average) are discussed. Tanner T. S. B., McGrouther D. A. and Webster M. H. C. (1982) Survival after replantation Br. Med J. 285, 1481.
THORACIC Severe
AND ABDOMINAL
INJURIES
coughing
A 23-year-old man developed a severe cough, which resulted in extensive surgical emphysema and pneumoperitoneum.
Printed in Great Britain
71
Abstracts INJURIES
OF THE HEAD
AND
SPINE
volunteers compared. J. Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry
2, 957. Backache
This is a refreshingly down-to-earth article that is based on detailed analysis of a personal series of 900 patients and it emphasizes the relative rarity of serious conditions that will not get better with time, rest and reassurance. These rare conditions can be suspected by taking a good history and carrying out a thorough examination that aim at distinguishing disease of the spine, lesions of nerve roots and referred pain. The place of further investigations is clearly indicated for the small proportion that require more than simple radiography. Wade11 G. (1982) An approach to backache Br. J. Hosp. Med. 28, 187. Brain damage
by boxing
Eight amateur and six professional boxers who had been at least national champions were subjected to thorough examination. One (professional) had clinical evidence of cerebral damage; twelve were slower than normal to carry out psychological tests and two yielded definitely abnormal results. Of 13 electroencephalograms, six were abnormal and computerized tomography showed signs of atrophy in three of six professionals and one of eight amateur boxers. Kaste M., Kuurne T., Vilkki J., Katevuo K., Sainio K. and Meurala H. (1982) Is chronic brain damage in boxing a hazard of the past? Lancet 2, 1186. Rehabilitation
after acute brain damage
The group was set up by the Neurosciences Board of the Medical Research Council to study the victims of stroke as well as head injury. Although there is increasing awareness in the medical and associated professions of the need for research in rehabilitation. What little is going on depends more on the enthusiasm and organizing ability of a small number of specialists than upon any central direction or encouragement. Research aspects of rehabilitation after acute brain damage in adults (1982) Lancet 2, 1034. Acquired
dysphasia
Informed volunteers were as successful as trained therapists in helping the victims of stroke and cerebral injury to overcome impairment of speech, suggesting that patients and attention is what matters most. This is of obvious importance to families with a dyphasic member. David R., Enderby P. and Bainton D. (1982) Treatment of acquired dysphasia: speech therapists and
Maxillofacyial
injuries
A comprehensive review of the nature, diagnosis and treatment of these important and serious conditions. Langdon R. D. and Rapidis A. D. (1982) Maxillofacial injuries Br. J. Hosp. Med. 28, 589. Traumatic
intracranial
haematoma
Traditional practice in transferring patients to neurosurgeons leads to delay and avoidable mortality and morbidity. Following a greater readiness to admit patients, Glasgow Neurosurgical Unit found that the mortality fell from 38 per cent to 29 per cent. This was largely because of a reduction in the proportion of patients that talked after injury but who then became comatose before operation. This change was from 31 per cent to 16 per cent. The benefits of computerized tomography are clear but making them available as freely and widely as would be desirable poses as yet unsolved problems. Teasdale G., Galbraith S., Murray L., Ward P., Gentleman D. and McKean M. (1982) Management of traumatic intracranial haematoma. Br. Med. J. 285, 1695. Brain death
The pitfalls occur in diagnosis, in failure to meet the preliminary considerations and in eliciting and interpreting signs. The safeguard is not to make the diagnosis if there is any doubt in ones mind. C. Pallis (1982) A B C of Brain death, pitfalls and safeguards. Br. Med. J. 285, 720. Replantation
survival
In seven years, one unit reattached 63 severed parts to 49 persons; 30 had not been completely detached. Sixty per cent of the parts survived. Failures include cases in which reattachment was started but then abandoned. The implications of operations lasting up to 22 hours (eight hours on average) are discussed. Tanner T. S. B., McGrouther D. A. and Webster M. H. C. (1982) Survival after replantation Br. Med J. 285, 1481.
THORACIC Severe
AND ABDOMINAL
INJURIES
coughing
A 23-year-old man developed a severe cough, which resulted in extensive surgical emphysema and pneumoperitoneum.