Hepatobiliary and pancreatic ascariasis

Hepatobiliary and pancreatic ascariasis(HPA) was described as a clinical entity from Kashmir,India in 1985. HPA is caused by invasion and migration of nematode,Ascaris lumbricoides,in to the biliary tract and pancreatic duct. Patients present with biliary colic,cholangitis,cholecystitis,hepatic abscesses and acute pancreatitis. Ascarides traverse the ducts repeatedly,get trapped and die,leading to formation of hepatolithiasis. HPA is ubiquitous in endemic regions and in Kashmir,one such region,HPA is the etiological factor for 36.7%,23%,14.5% and 12.5% of all biliary diseases,acute pancreatitis,liver abscesses and biliary lithiasis respectively. Ultrasonography is an excellent diagnostic tool in visualizing worms in gut lumen and ductal system. The rational treatment for HPA is to give appropriate treatment for clinical syndromes along with effective anthelmintic therapy. Endotherapy in HPA is indicated if patients continue to have symptoms on medical therapy or when worms do not move out of ductal lumen by 3 wk or die within the ducts. The worms can be removed from the ductal system in most of the patients and such patients get regression of symptoms of hepatobiliary and pancreatic disease.

Portal biliopathy

Portal biliopathy refers to cholangiographic abnormalities which occur in patients with portal cavernoma. These changes occur as a result of pressure on bile ducts from bridging tortuous paracholedochal, epicholedochal and cholecystic veins. Bile duct ischemia may occur due prolonged venous pressure effect or result from insufficient blood supply. In addition, encasement of ducts may occur due fibrotic cavernoma. Majority of patients are asymptomatic. Portal biliopathy is a progressive disease and patients who have long standing disease and more severe bile duct abnormalities present with recurrent episodes of biliary pain, cholangitis and cholestasis. Serum chemistry, ultrasound with color Doppler imaging, magnetic resonance imaging with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography and magnetic resonance portovenography are modalities of choice for evaluation of portal biliopathy. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography being an invasive procedure is indicated for endotherapy only. Management of portal biliopathy is done in a stepwise manner. First, endotherapy is done for dilation of biliary strictures, placement of biliary stents to facilitate drainage and removal of bile duct calculi. Next portal venous pressure is reduced by formation of surgical porto-systemic shunt or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt. This causes significant resolution of biliary changes. Patients who persist with biliary symptoms and bile duct changes may benefit from surgical biliary drainage procedures(hepaticojejunostomy or choledechoduodenostomy).

A Prospective Study on Clinical Profile of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) in Jammu for a Period of 1 Year

The Present Study was conducted in department of Medicine, Govt. Medical College, jammu, Where a total of 41 patients—29 males and 12 females—fulfilled the inclusion criteria of ADPKD, were gathered during the period of 1 year starting from Nov. 2011 to Oct. 2012. All the patients were subjected to a detailed history, clinical examination and laboratory investigations. X-ray chest (PA view), ECG and ultrasound of abdomen for kidneys, liver and spleen were done. Intravenous pyelogram and CT scan of abdomen was done when a definitive diagnosis of (ADPKD) could not be made on abdominal ultrasound. Echocardiography was done to evaluate cardiac murmurs and associated mitral valve prolapse, based on standard criteria. Male to female patients with ADPKD was 2.42:1. Maximum 17 (41.5%) patients of both gender were seen in 30 - 40 years age group, Family history of ADPKD was present in 18 (43.9%) patients;Hypertension, alone or in combination with renal failure, was present in 65.8% patients;Hypertension alone was present in 19 (46.3%) patients;8 (19.5%) patients with hypertension had renal failure;Low back pain was present in 24 (58.5%) and abdominal pain in 22 (53.7%) patients;15 (36.6%) patients presented with at least one episode of gross haematuria;Headache was experienced by 18 (43.9%) patients. On clinical examination, 24 (58.5%) were found to have palpable kidney and 10 (24.4%) had palpable liver. Spleen was palpable in 1 (2.4%) patient, Murmur of mitral valve prolapse was found in 2 (4.9%) Patients;3 (7.3%) patients having left ventricular hypertrophy;mean Hb was 11.2 g/dL. The liver cysts were found in 24.4% of the patients;Out of 10 (24.4%) patients with hepatic cyst involvement, 1 patient each was found to have evidence of portal hypertension and evidence of hepatic cyst infection. In the present study, hypertension was most common presentation of this disease. So, control of hypertension is very important to prevent progression of this disease. Patients who are detected to have ADPKD should be regularly followed-up to prevent further progression by timely intervention. Also, family members of patients should be screened for disease and initiate treatment as early as possible.

A Prospective Study of Nasal Septal Deformities in Kashmiri Population Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital

The aim of this study is to determine the percentage of septal deformities in symptomatic patients in Kashmiri population, identified at otolaryngology clinic of a referral & a teaching tertiary care hospital SKIMS Medical College, Bemina, Srinagar, where 429 patients with nasal septal deviation were identified. All of the patients underwent nasal examination by anterior rhinoscope and nasal endoscopy. Pathological septal deformities were identified & grouped into five types by using SL classification. The frequency of nasal septal deformation has been found to be 151 (35.19%) in males and 278 (64.80%) in females .The age incidence showed that most of the patients between second and fifth decades. The distribution of the five types of septal deformity was 19%, 3.5%, 10.48%, 6.75%, 0.93% & Combinations 60.10% (9.3%, 20.97%, 8.39% and 21.44%) respectively. The most common presentation in overall patients were nasal obstruction 80% and headache 50%. Nasal septal deviation was more prevalent in females. Nasal obstruction was the most common presenting complaint in all over types of nasal septal deviation. So, early diagnosis and intervention can avoid the related complications and thus help normal life and learning.

Open reduction and internal fixation for displaced supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children with crossed K-wires via lateral approach

Objective： To assess the therapeutic results of open reduction and internal fixation with crossed K-wires via lateral approach for displaced supracondvlar fractures of the humerus in children. Methods： We prospectively followed 52 children who presented with Gartland type 3 displaced supraeondylar fractures of the humerus and were managed by open reduction and internal fixation with crossed K-wires via lateral approach.There were 37 male and 15 female patients; average age was 7.39 years. The most common mechanism of trauma was fall while playing （n=23）, followed by fall from height （n=20）, road traffic accidents （n-5） and fall from standing height （n=2）. In 2 cases, mode of injury was not available. The mean follow-up was 12 months and patients were assessed according to Flynn＇s criteria. Results： Lateral approach provided an excellent view of the lateral column between two nervous planes and enabled an anatomical reduction in all cases. Immobilizing the elbow at 90 degrees or more of flexion was not needed after cross K-wire fixation. Majority of patients regained full range of motion within 6 weeks of pin removal. Two patients had postoperative ulnar nerve injuries that resolved after pin removal. The common late complication of cubitus varus was not seen in any patient. Delayed presentation to the emergency department, repeated manipulations by bone setters and massage with edible oil were responsible for stiffness in 5 patients. Superficial pin tract infection was noted in 5 patients that resolved with dressings and antibiotics. No deep infection occurred. A detailed clinical examination and radiographic analysis was done at final follow-up. They included measurement of carrying angle and range of movements of both operated and normal sides, and radiographs of both upper limbs for comparison. According to Flynn＇s criteria, 90.4% patients showed satisfactory results. Conclusion： Lateral approach for open reduction and internal fixation of the widely-displaced supracondylar fracture of the humerus is safe and straightforward, ensuring anatomical reduction and excellent function. The approach is easy and familiar to most orthopedic surgeons in our setup.

Asymptomatic Paget＇s disease of bone presenting with complete atrioventricular block

Paget＇s disease of bone is a deforming bone disease （osteitis deformans） characterized by increased bone remodeling, bone hypertrophy, and abnormal bone structure, leading to bone expansion, deformities, easy fractures, and occasionally, neoplastic transformation. It is the second most common bone disorder after osteoporosis. The disease is relatively rare in Asia but is common in Europe and North America, affecting approximately 2% of the population over 50 years,

Pattern of rubber bullet injuries in the lower limbs： A report from Kashmir

Purpose： Rubber bullets are considered a non-lethal method of crowd control and are being used over the world. However the literature regarding the pattern and management of these injuries is scarce for the forensic pathologist as well as for the traumatologist. The objective of this report was to add our experience to the existing literature. Methods： From June 2008 to August 2010 the Government Hospital for Bone and Joint Surgery Barzulla and the Department of Orthopaedics, SKIMS Medical College/Hospital Bemina Srinagar received 28 patients for management of their orthopaedic injuries caused by rubber bullets. We documented all injuries and also recorded the management issues and complications that we encountered. Results： All patients were males with an age range of 11-32 years and were civilians who had been hit by rubber bullets fired by the police and the paramilitary forces. Among them, 19 patients had injuries of the lower limbs and 9 patients had injuries of the upper limbs. All patients were received within 6 h of being shot. Conclusion： Our findings suggest that these weapons are capable of causing significant injuries including fractures and it is important for the surgeon to be well versed with the management of such injuries especially in areas of unrest, The report is also supportive of the opinion that these weapons are lethal and should hence be reclassified_

A review of upper limb injuries in bear maul victims： Consistent pattern and inverse relation in severity with facial and scalp injuries

Purpose： Bear maul injuries are the most common wild animal inflicted injuries in India. More than 300 bear maul injuries report to our hospital per year. Methods： Twenty-one consecutive patients over a period of 1 year reported to our department for orthopaedic management of bear maul injuries. All the patients were referred either from peripheral hospitals or from other surgical departments of our hospital. Results： All the patients had facial[scalp injuries of variable severity. In all the patients the severity of limb and facial trauma was inversely proportional to each other. Pattern of upper limb trauma in most of the patients was similar. Fifteen patients had either fractures of distal humerus or mid shaft/proximal forearm bone fracture. Two had distal forearm bone fracture, 2 had carpal/metacarpal fractures and I had clavicle fracture. Only I had lower limb fracture. Thirteen out of 21 patients had associated neurovascular injury of the involved limb. The characteristic feature was extensive soft tissue involvement of the affected limb. Conclusion： Upper limb injuries in bear maul patients usually have similar pattern. The severity of upper limb and facial/scalp trauma is inversely proportional to each other. Multistage orthopaedic surgeries are needed for such comolex limb injuries.

Fracture of the humerus caused by a slingshot projectile

Unconventional and ＇non-lethal＇ weapons are being used in crowd control regularly nowadays. The use of these arms is not risk-free. The paramilitary forces in 2010 used the old fashioned slingshots for crowd control in Kashmir. A young male suffered from a fracture of the distal humerus due to a marble from a slingshot. He was managed by debridement and plaster splintage. Use of apparently innocuous weapons for crowd control is not without risk, as the projectiles fired from them can achieve high velocities and cause significant damage.