METHOD: This was a retrospective study in which high-resolution computed tomography images of paediatric patients with severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss were reviewed. A cochlear nerve canal diameter of 1.5 mm or less in the axial plane was classified as stenotic. Semicircular canals and other bony labyrinth morphology and abnormality were evaluated.
RESULTS: Cochlear nerve canal stenosis was detected in 65 out of 265 ears (24 per cent). Of the 65 ears, 17 ears had abnormal semicircular canals (26 per cent). Significant correlation was demonstrated between cochlear nerve canal stenosis and semicircular canal abnormalities (p < 0.01). Incomplete partition type II was the most common accompanying abnormality of cochlear nerve canal stenosis (15 out of 65, 23 per cent).
CONCLUSION: Cochlear nerve canal stenosis is statistically associated with semicircular canal abnormalities. Whenever a cochlear nerve canal stenosis is present in a patient with sensorineural hearing loss, the semicircular canal should be scrutinised for presence of abnormalities.
METHODS: Medical records of all paediatric patients presenting with symptom of stridor from January 2010 to February 2015 were reviewed retrospectively. The patients' demographic data, clinical notes, laryngoscope findings, diagnosis and management were retrieved and analysed.
RESULTS: Out of the total 137 patients referred for noisy breathing, 121 patients had stridor and were included in this study. There were 73 males and 48 females-most were of Malay ethnicity (77.7%). The age of presentation ranged from newborn to 10 years, with a mean of 4.9 months. Eighteen patients (14.9%) had associated congenital pathologies. The majority were congenital causes (90.9%), in which laryngomalacia was the commonest (78.5%), followed by subglottic stenosis (5.0%), vallecular cyst (2.5%) and congenital vocal fold paralysis (2.5%). Twelve patients (9.9%) had synchronous airway lesion. The majority of the patients were managed conservatively. Thirty-one patients (25.6%) required surgical intervention, of which only one needed tracheostomy.
CONCLUSION: Laryngomalacia was the commonest cause of stridor among paediatric patients. A synchronous airway lesion should be considered if the child has persistent or severe symptoms. The majority of the patients were managed conservatively.
DESIGN: A meta-analysis was conducted to determine the potential impact of blood flow restriction on patients with knee injuries. PubMed, EBSCO, and Web of Science databases were searched for eligible studies from January 2000 until January 2020. The mean differences of the data were analyzed using Revman 5.3 software with a 95% confidence interval.
RESULTS: Nine studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. These studies involved 179 patients who received L-BFR, 96 patients who underwent high-load resistance training, and another 94 patients who underwent low-load resistance training. The analysis of pooled data showed that patients in both the L-BFR (standardized mean difference, 0.83 [0.53, 1.14], P < 0.01) and high-load resistance training (standardized mean difference, -0.09 [-0.43, 0.24], P = 0.58) groups experienced an increase in muscle strength after the training. In addition, pain score was significantly reduced in the L-BFR group compared with the other two groups (standardized mean difference, -0.61 [-1.19, -0.03], P = 0.04).
CONCLUSIONS: Muscle strength increased after L-BFR and high-load resistance training compared with low-load resistance training. Furthermore, pain score was significantly reduced after L-BFR. Hence, L-BFR is a potential intervention to be applied in rehabilitation of knee injuries.