No description available.

Computed tomography (CT) arthrography of the shoulder is an imaging modality of great diagnostic accuracy with regard to glenohumeral instability and in particular labral lesions. Interpretation of the scans is made difficult by the frequent occurrence of normal anatomic variants and the complexity of injuries to the bone and soft tissues. We selected a continuous sample of 50 CT arthrograms of the shoulder and they were reported by two consultant musculoskeletal radiologists. The results were collated and analysed for the level of agreement. Hill¿Sachs showed Kappa (K) statistic to be 0.37 (fair agreement), soft tissue Bankart 0.32 (fair agreement), bony Bankart 0.61 (substantial agreement), anterior capsular laxity 0.41 (moderate agreement) and glenohumeral osteoarthritis 0.20 (slight agreement). All the results were significant with a p value of <0.05. Nine (18%) of the 50 scans were in complete agreement. The results demonstrate that there can be considerable interobserver variation (IOV) in the reports of a CT arthrogram of a shoulder. They highlight the potential difficulties in reporting such images and suggests ways in which the report could be more focussed to provide a clinically reliable report and one which matches the surgical findings accurately.

Interobserver agreement (IOA) was calculated across three participant dyads for a generalized treatment integrity tool. No dyads achieved 80% agreement during baseline. Task clarification was piloted as an intervention for two of the three dyads. Form agreement produced stabilization in both dyads and improvement in one dyad. Time agreement did not improve but demonstrated marked trends in one dyad.

Objectives The Radiographic Union Score for Tibia (RUST) scoring system has been validated in multiple studies assessing the healing of tibial fractures. Our objective was to assess the inter and intraobserver reliability for the RUST in diaphyseal femoral fractures treated with intramedullary (IM) nailing. Patients and Methods A total of 60 sets of anteroposterior (AP) and lateral radiographs of diaphyseal femoral fractures treated by reamed IM nailing were randomly selected from a prospectively collected database. The 60 sets of radiographs were then scored by three reviewers using the RUST system. Interobserver reliability was measured at initial scoring. The 60 sets of radiographs were scored again by the three reviewers to calculate the intraobserver reliability. Results The RUST scores ranged from 4 to 12 with a mean score of 11.3 ± 1.3. The interobserver intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.87 (95% CI, 0.81-0.92) and the intraobserver ICC was 0.91 (95% CI, 0.88-0.94), which indicated excellent agreement. Conclusion This study demonstrated that the RUST system can be used reliably in the assessment of healing in diaphyseal femur fractures treated by reamed intramedullary nailing, with excellent interobserver and intraobserver reliability.

No description available.

Abstract Although in Finland the incidence of maternal and neonatal mortality in labor is very low, labor carries some risks. This study focused on two major complications in labor: fetal asphyxia and maternal hemorrhage. The roles of fetal electrocardiographic ST-analysis (STAN) and pelvic artery embolization in the prevention and management of these complications were investigated. Intrapartum fetal monitoring aims at a timely detection of fetal hypoxemia. When non-selected parturients were randomly assigned to be monitored during labor either by STAN or conventional cardiotocography, no differences between the groups were detected in terms of neonatal outcome and operative delivery rates. Only the incidence of fetal blood sampling was lower in the STAN group. In the interpretation of the STAN tracings according to the guideline matrix provided by the STAN manufacturer, the interobserver agreement was moderate; in terms of clinical decision -making as to whether to intervene in the labor, this agreement varied from moderate to good among STAN-trained obstetricians. The aim of prophylactic pelvic artery occlusion balloon catheterization, with or without embolization, is to reduce hemorrhage in elective cesarean operations in patients with placenta accreta. Furthermore, pelvic arterial embolization may be performed post partum if bleeding continues after cesarean hysterectomy, or may serve as an alternative to hysterectomy. In the present study, pelvic artery catheterization and embolization did not reduce blood loss during cesarean delivery, nor did it decrease the need to perform hysterectomy in patients with placenta accreta. In the management of massive postpartum hemorrhage, pelvic artery embolization was most successful in patients with uterine atony, with a success rate of 75% in achieving hemostasis. However, the angiographic method included risk of complications, the most hazardous being thromboembolic complications. To conclude, STAN does not provide improvement in intrapartum fetal monitoring when compared to cardiotocography, but the need for fetal blood sampling is reduced. This may relate to the fact that subjective interpretation of STAN data is moderate at best. Prophylactic catheterization and embolization of pelvic arteries does not improve the surgical outcome of patients with placenta accreta. In the management of postpartum hemorrhage, pelvic artery embolization should be considered, especially in cases with uterine atony.

No description available.

Introdução- A dor pélvica crônica é patologia debilitante em mulheres em idade reprodutiva, considerada problema de saúde pública, responsável por gasto anual nos EUA acima de 5 bilhões de dólares com diagnóstico desconhecido em cerca de 60% dos casos e se associa a dispareunia em 50% dos casos. E fundamental a obtenção de métodos diagnósticos dessa patologia. A ultrassonografia tridimensional vem se mostrando método de confiabilidade para avaliação do assoalho pélvico. ObjetivoAvaliar as lesões do músculo levantador do ânus (MLA) e a confiabilidade inter e intraobservador da biometria do assoalho pélvico pela ultrassonografia 3D em mulheres com dor pélvica crônica e dispareunia. Métodos- O estudo incluiu 49 pacientes com dor pélvica crônica e dispareunia no HCFMRP-USP. A aquisição dos blocos de ultrassonografia 3D foi realizada por dois examinadores de forma independente e \"cegados\", via transperineal utilizando a sonda RIC5-9D. Foram coletados três blocos por paciente (total 147) que foram analisados pelo examinador A (estudo intraobservador) e pelos examinadores A e B (estudo interobservador). A análise das medidas intraobservador foi realizada em dois tempos com intervalo de 90 dias. Os seguintes parâmetros foram avaliados: diâmetro transverso do hiato, diâmetro ânteroposterior do hiato, área hiatal, espessura do MLA às 3 e 9 h, as distâncias entre o músculo levantador do ânus e a uretra (DMLU) direita (D) e esquerda (E) e calculados os coeficientes de correlação intraclasse (CCI) e o coeficiente de correlação de concordância (CCC). Os gráficos correlação e de Bland e Altmann com seus limites de concordância (LC) foram elaborados. Adicionalmente os examinadores avaliaram as lesões do MLA através de sistema de score. Resultados - Na análise intraobservador os melhores parâmetros foram o diâmetro ântero-posterior (CCC 0,98; CCI 0,99 e LC 4,5%), a área hiatal Omni-VCI (CCC 0,99; CCI 0,98 e LC 3,8%) e área hiatal render (CCC 0,99; CCI 0,99 e LC 5,4%). Os parâmetros menos reprodutíveis foram a espessura do MLA às 3 h (CCC 0,58, CCI 0,90 e LC 28,2%) e 9 h (CCC 0,53, CCI 0,93 e LC 29,7%). Na análise interobservador os melhores parâmetros foram o diâmetro ântero-posterior (CCC 0,96; CCI 0,97 e LC 5,4) e a área hiatal Omni-VCI (CCC 0,97; CCI 0,97 e LC 8,9%). Os piores parâmetros foram espessura do MLA às 3 h (CCC 0,30; CCI 0,34 e LC de 38,2%) e às 9 h (CCC 0,32; CCI 0,32 e LC 35,1%). Tais achados foram reforçados pelos gráficos de Bland and Altman e de correlação. As lesões do levantador do ânus foram observadas em 10,2% (5/49) com excelente concordância. Conclusão - A avaliação do assoalho pélvico pela ultrassonografia transperineal em pacientes com dor pélvica crônica e dispareunia foi reproduzível através das análises morfológicas das lesões, do estudo biométrico intra ou interobservador para o diâmetro ântero-posterior, área hiatal render e Omni-VCI. Entretanto as medidas do diâmetro transverso do hiato, a espessura do MLA, o DMLU e a distância uretra ânus não são recomendadas para uso clínico devendo estar restritos à pesquisa / Introduction: Chronic pelvic pain is a debilitating condition in women of childbearing age, considered a public health problem, responsible for annual US spending of over US $ 5 billion, with an unknown diagnosis in about 60% of the cases and is associated with dyspareunia in 50% of cases. It is fundamental to obtain diagnostic methods for this pathology. Three-dimensional ultrasonography has shown to be a reliable method for evaluation of the pelvic floor. Objective: to assess levator ani muscle (LAM) injury and intra/interobserver reliability of pelvic floor biometry by 3D ultrasound in women with chronic pelvic pain and dyspareunia. Methods: The study included 49 women with pelvic pain and dyspareunia of the HCFMRP-USP. Two examiners performed the acquisition of 3D ultrasound via transperineal using the probe RIC5-9D independently and blindly. There were collected three blocks per patient (total 147) that were analyzed by the observer A (intraobserver study) and A and B (interobserver study). The analysis of the intraobserver measurements was performed in two times with 90 days apart. The following parameters were evaluated: the hiatal transverse diameter, hiatal anteroposterior diameter, hiatal area, thickness of the LAM at the 3 h and 9 h positions and right and left levator-urethra gap (LUG) measurements and calculated the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and concordance correlation coefficient (CCC). Plots of correlation and Bland and Altmann with the limits of agreement (LoA) were constructed. Additionally, the observers evaluated the LAM injury using a score system. Results: In the intraobserver analisys the best parameters were the anteroposterior diameter (CCC 0.98; ICC 0.99 and LoA 4.5%), the hiatal area Omni-VCI (CCC 0.99; ICC 0.98 and LoA 3,8%) and hiatal area render (CCC 0.99; ICC 0.99 and LC 5.4%). The least reproducible parameters were the LAM thickness at 3 h (CCC 0.58, ICC 0.90 and LC 28.2%) and 9 h (CCC 0.53, ICC 0.93 and LC 29.7%). In relation to the interobserver analysis the best parameters were the anteroposterior diameter (CCC 0.96; ICC 0.97 and LoA 5.4) and the hiatal area Omni-VCI (CCC 0.97; ICC 0.97 and LC 8.9%). The worst results were LAM thickness at 3 h (CCC 0.30; ICC 0.34 and LC de 38.2%) and at 9 h (CCC 0.32; ICC 0.32 and LC 35.1%). Such findings were enforced by Bland and Altman and correlation plots. The LAM injuries were observed in 10.2% (5/49) with excellent concordance. Conclusions: The assessment of pelvic floor by transperineal ultrasound in patients with chronic pelvic pain and dyspareunia was reproducible either by morphology of LAM injuries or by biometric study, using intra or interobserver analysis for the anteroposterior diameter, hiatal area render and Omni-VCI. However, the measurements for the hiatal transverse diameter, levator ani thickness, right and left LUG and urethra-anus distance are not recommended for clinical use and it should be restricted for research purpose

Bakgrund Bukaortaaneurysm är en potentiell farlig sjukdom med en dödlighet på 80-90% vid bristning. I Sverige screenas således alla 65-åriga män med ultraljud för att upptäcka aneurysmen i tid innan den brister och erbjuda männen behandling.  Syfte Syftet med examensarbetet var att utvärdera den interindividuella mätosäkerheten hos legitimerade och erfarna biomedicinska analytiker vid screening av bukaorta med ultraljud på 65-åriga män.  Material och metod Den interindividuella mätosäkerheten har utvärderats hos två par erfarna biomedicinska analytiker (BMA). BMA-paren screenade och registrerade bukaortandiametern på 65-åriga män vid två olika fysiologiska kliniker med metoden leading edge to leading edge (LELE) i anteroposteiror riktning. Analysen av data har genomförts med programmet IBM SPSS Statistics.  Resultat Analysen av data visade ingen signifikant skillnad i mätosäkerhet mellan BMA eller mellan klinikerna. Skillnaden i medelvärde mellan BMA låg på -0,06 mm respektive -0,07 mm. Medianen för skillnaderna av mätresultaten för respektive BMA-par var 0,0 mm (-0,5 til 0,4 mm, 95% CI) och -0,3 mm (-0,6 till 0,5 mm, 95% CI). Mätosäkerheten påverkades inte av BMI.  Slutsatser Utbildade och erfarna BMA som följer samma undersökningsprotokoll uppnår en hög nivå av interindividuell mätsäkerhet vid screening av bukaortaaneurysm med ultraljud.  Nyckelord: Bukarotaaneurysm, biomedicinska analytiker, interindividuell variation, LELE

Högerkammare (RV) har en komplex anatomi, spelar en viktig roll för blodsyresättning och kan påverkas av fler patofysiologiska tillstånd. Utvärdering av RV:s funktion är viktig för överlevnad och har prognostiskt värde vid hjärt-och lungsjukdomar. Transthorakal ekokardiografi (TTE) används för RV:s storlek- och funktionsbedömning. Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) och annulus tricuspid peak systolic velocity (RVs´) är två vanliga metoder för bedömning av RV:s funktion. Båda metoderna har bra reproducerbarhet och är enkla att utföra.  Syftet med detta arbete är att utreda interobservatörvariation, sambandet och överensstämmelse mellan TAPSE och RVs´. Studien är en tvärsnittsstudie av 53 friska testpersoner 18-60 åringar. Mätningen baserades på en blind dubbelbestämning av två biomedicinska analytiker studenter. Analysen genomfördes med programmet IBM SPSS Statistics.  Interobservatörvariationsanalys visade ingen signifikant skillnad i mätosäkerheten mellan studenterna, (PTAPSE=0,568 och PRVs´=0,548). Enligt regressionsanalysen hade RVs´ något mindre mätosäkerhet än TAPSE. Ett svagt positivt samband hittades mellan RVs´ och TAPSE och 100% överenstämmelse avseende utfall påvisades, Kappavärdet blev 1. Båda metoderna har bra interobservatörvariation hos oerfarna undersökare. Hos hjärt- och lungfriska ser sambandet svagt positivt ut mellan TAPSE och RVs´. Dock kunde tidigare studier identifiera starkare positivt samband. Skillnaden i resultatet kan bero på erfarenhetsbrist hos studenterna och lågt antal deltagare. / The Right ventricle (RV) has a complex anatomy, plays an important role in blood oxygenation and can be affected by several pathophysiological conditions. Evaluation of RV function has prognostic value in heart and lung diseases. Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and annulus tricuspid peak systolic velocity (RVs´) are two common methods for assessing RV function in Transthoracic echocardiography.  The study aimed to investigate interobserver variation, the correlation and agreement between TAPSE and RVs´. The study is a cross-sectional study of 53 healthy participants aged 18-60. The measurement was based on a blind double determination by two biomedical analyst students. The analysis was implemented with the program IBM SPSS Statistics. Interobserver variation analysis showed no significant difference between the two students, (PTAPSE =0,568 and PRVs´=0,548). Regression analysis showed RVs´ had slightly less measurement uncertainty than TAPSE. A weak positive correlation was found between RVs´ and TAPSE and 100% agreement regarding outcome was demonstrated, Kappa value was 1. Both methods have good interobserver variation in inexperienced examiners. In people with healthy heart and lungs, the relationship between TAPSE and RVs looks weakly positive. Previous studies identified stronger positive association. Differences in the results may be due to a lack of experience on the part of the students and a low number of participants.