Amputation Surgery

Amputation Surgery
     

• Davis KD, Kiss ZHT, Luo L, et al
  (Univ of Toronto)
  Phantom Sensations Generated by
  Thalamic Microstimulation.
  Nature 391: 386-387, 1998.
     
  Thalamic neuronal responses
  and stimulation induced sensations were analysed in
  patients with postamputation pain to gain better
  understanding of the thalamic mechanisms underlying
  phantom sensations.
     
  Thalamic mapping demonstrated an
  unusually large thalamic stump representation.
      
  More research is needed to
  further define the electrode activity in the thalamus
  and to assess potential pharmacologic or stereotactic
  interventions.
       
  

• Jabor O.B., Bosse MF, Hudson MC
  et al (Carolinas Med. Ctr., Charlotte NC, Univ of
  North Carolina at Charlotte)
  Does Bacteremia Occur During High
  Pressure Lavage of Contaminated Wounds.
  Clin Orthop 347: 117-121. 1998
   
  This study on 20 dogs
  investigates the risk of bacteremia secondary to high
  pressure lavage of contaminated wounds.
   
  The dogs were divided randomly
  into 4 groups. In groups A and B, the
  wound was contaminated with 1.4 
  x 10 ⁹ staphylococcus aureus and
  were followed 75 minutes later with high pressure
  lavage or bulb syringe irrigation.
  Groups C and D underwent the same treatment but
  without contamination.
   
  No
  detectable bacteremia occurred in the contaminated
  wounds. However bacteremia was
  detected in 18 of 20 control dogs.
  High pressure lavage reduced bacterial levels
  by 70% and bulb irrigation by 44%.
   
  It
  is concluded that high pressure lavage reduced wound
  bacteria more consistently than bulb irrigation
  did.