This finite element analysis is aimed at comparing relative stiffness of three different posterior instrumentation constructs: the Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Spinal Instrumentation System (HUKM-SIS), the Cotrell-Dubousset Instrumentation (CDI) and Harrington Instrumentation System (HIS), used in the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). The constructs were tested under various loads using MSC Patran 2001 r2a. Under increasing flexion loads, there was a linearly corresponding increase in deflection magnitudes for all constructs on the load-deflection curve. The CDI was the stiffest construct under axial, forward flexion and extension loads, followed by the HUKM-SIS and HIS. Under lateral bending loads, the HUKM-SIS construct was the stiffest followed by CDI and HIS. The HUKM-SIS construct was stiffer than HIS under torsional loads. We conclude that multiple pedicle screws increase the stiffness of posterior instrumentation constructs under all loads and inter-segmental spinous processes wiring increase the stiffness against lateral bending.
The incidence of spinal injuries in Malaysia is on the rise following similar trend of rapid development and increasing number of building constructions sites, and motor vehicles. This epidemiological study was aimed at compiling local data with a view to identifying target areas for preventive measures as well as improvement strategies in the management of these potentially devastating injuries. Seventy eight patients admitted with spine trauma in 1998 in a level-one trauma centre were retrospectively reviewed. All records were traced from the admission and discharge books of the orthopaedic wards, accident and emergency wards, operative registration book, spinal rehabilitation ward and orthopaedic registration data of the Department of Orthopaedics, Hospital Kuala Lumpur. Details on pre-treatment neurological and radiological level of injury and post-treatment outcomes were recorded according to the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale. Most patients (61.5%) were in the productive ages of less than 34 years with a 4:1 male to female ratio. Majority were due to motor vehicle accidents (57.7%) and fall from a height (28.3%). The thoraco-lumbar junction was the most common site of injury followed by the lower cervical region with 62.5% of which associated with neurological deficit. Neurological deficits: 11 ASIA-A, 1 ASIA-B, 6 ASIA-C, and 3 ASIA-D were detected in 21 (27%) patients with fall from height (50%) particularly landing on the feet (50%) and recreational sports (100%) were the risk factors. Less than 10% of patients were treated surgically and this explains an average 39.4 days of hospitalization (5 times longer in patients treated non-operatively). On discharge, four patients with incomplete neurology recovered to ASIA-E status and the remaining improved to ASIA-C and -D in one and five patients respectively. Only one patient with complete neurology improved to ASIA-B status following surgical treatment. The demographic profiles of our patients were comparable to other series in the literature but still inadequate to provide enough epidemiological data. A multicenter study to provide a larger pool of patients is needed.
INTRODUCTION: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common bacterial infection affecting children and therefore, prompt recognition and accurate antimicrobial management are vital to prevent kidney damage. This study aims to determine the bacterial pathogens and their patterns of antimicrobial resistance in children presenting with UTI.
METHODS: A retrospective study of 721 cases, involving children between the ages of 1-day old to 13 years old with culture-proven UTI in Selayang Hospital, Malaysia between January 2007 and December 2011. The bacterial pathogens and antibiotic resistance patterns in the total population, prophylaxis and no prophylaxis groups were studied.
RESULTS: The 3 most common organisms isolated in the total population were E.Coli (41.6%), Klebsiella spp. (21.2%) and Enterococcus spp. (11.0%). With regards to the antibiotic resistance, E.Coli resistance rates to ampicillin, cefuroxime and gentamicin were 67.7%, 15.3% and 7.3% respectively. Ampicillin-resistance was also highest in Klebsiella spp. (84.3%), Enterococcus spp. (15.5%) and Proteus spp. (55.5%).
CONCLUSION: E.coli remains to be the leading bacterial pathogen causing UTI in children, with ampicillin-resistance occurring in more than half of these cases. Therefore, accurate choice of antibiotics is important to ensure optimal outcome. In our study, cefuroxime and gentamicin have lower antibiotic resistance rates and can be used in the treatment of UTI in children.