Browse Category

Medical Education

DxR – Ortho

本來以為隨便做做應該還ok, 沒想到我還是太嫩啦啦啦~~~ 結果, 零顆星… (奇怪, 我記得做完時有一顆星的啊! 不過沒差啦~ 幾顆不重要…) 以下是結果:

Diagnosis

Diagnosis:
The complete diagnosis for this patient includes vertebral compression fracture secondary to osteoporosis.

Your diagnosis:
lumbar compression fracture

did consider the correct diagnosis in your hypothesis list.

  1. osteoporosis
  2. pelvis fracture
  3. bone tumor in sacrum
  4. lumbar compression fracture

Osteoporosis is a condition in which the bone density is 2.5 standard deviations below the normal or average bone density of gender matched young adults. The term osteopenia refers to the less advanced stated of low bone mineral density and is a precursor to osteoporosis. The patient risk of fracture increases two to three times for every 10 percent drop in bone
density. Bone mass routinely declines after menopause and with increasing age making it a condition of elderly patients. The use of substances like tobacco, caffeine and steroids tend to decrease bone density as well.

Although both men and women show age-related decline in bone mineral density after age 40, most women have an accelerated phase of bone loss associated with the cessation of ovarian estrogen production in the 5 years after menopause. Men are protected against osteoporosis because they achieve higher peak bone mass and they do not have an abrupt fall in sex hormones.

Low bone density is the mechanism for most fractures and the lifetime risk for developing an osteoporotic fracture is approximately 50%. White women are at a higher risk followed by Asian women. Risk factors for the condition include white or Asian race, female sex, increased age, a mother or grandmother with a hip fracture, smoking, daily use of alcohol, poor
nutrition, small build, long term use of steroids, heparin, anticonvulsants and methotrexate, postmenopausal without the use of hormone replacement therapy and limited physical activity. The disease states of stroke, hyperthyroidism and Parkinson’s or diseases of memory impairment increase the risk as well.

Diagnosis is with the use of the dual electron x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Results are reported in terms of a T-score which compares the individual patient’s bone mineral density (BMD) with that of a young normal population and the z-scores which compare it with an age-matched control population. The World Health Organization defines osteoporosis as a T-score greater than 2.5 standard deviations below the young normal mean. Disadvantages to this technique are that bone density are not equivalent to bone strength and that adjacent calcium deposits may cause an artifactual increase in the reading.

Consider

★Present Illness|01 Why are you here today? What problems are you having?
 Medical History|05 Drugs, present medication, past medication, non-medical uses
 Medical History|08 Gynecologic history
★Medical History|06 Family medical history

The age and race of the patient, her postmenopausal status and lack of hormone replacement allow for the consideration of osteoporosis. Other risk factors for assessment in the patient history are smoking, caffeine and alcohol intake and a family history of osteoporosis in mother or grandmother. Lastly, the presentation of a fracture with a relative lack of serious trauma
would make you question the strength of the patient’s skeleton and the possibility of osteopenia. You might also question the possibility of domestic violence and search for other warning signs.

Justify

 Lifestyles|04 Diet
 Lifestyles|03 Caffeine
★Lifestyles|01 Alcohol
★Lifestyles|09 Tobacco
★Lifestyles|05 Exercise
★X-rays|26 Lumbar Spine (X-ray) (L spine, LS spine)
★X-rays|09 Bone Densitometry – Dexa-Scan Hip and Lumbar Spine

The bone density study is the gold standard for evaluation of osteopenia and osteoporosis, it is not required for diagnosis as both can be detected on radiograph. However, it is important in assessing the degree of loss and the effects of therapy. Remember if there are several fractures the telescoping effect of the fractures will cause the bone density to be greater than it
would ordinarily causing the device to over read the bone density. The presence of severe arthritis of the spine, or calcification of the ligaments or arteries around the spine will also artifactually raise the bone density. The bone density report gives densities from three sites: typically the spine, which is trabecular bone, hip which is mixed cortical and trabecular bone and the junction between the middle and distal one third or the radius, which is mostly cortical bone. In general, younger women who have post-menopausal osteoporosis lose more trabecular than cortical bone.

Competing

 Feel|Leg-Left Feel|Leg-Left
 Feel|Spine Feel|Spine
 Hammer|Ankle-Left Hammer|Ankle-Left
 Hammer|Knee-Left Hammer|Knee-Left
 Motion|Leg-Left Motion|Leg-Left
 Motion|Spine Motion|Spine
 Questions|Gait & Station Questions|Gait & Station
 View|Leg-Left View|Leg-Left
 View|Spine View|Spine
 Blood A-G|10 Alkaline Phosphatase
★Blood A-G|31 Calcium, Ca (Blood)
★X-rays|26 Lumbar Spine (X-ray) (L spine, LS spine)

On physical exam, neurologic abnormalities such as loss of sensation, muscle weakness, reflex asymmetry and a positive straight leg raising test are important to note for their value in diagnosing a radiculopathy. This would be unlikely in an osteoporotic vertebral fracture, although these signs may be observed when there is complete vertebral destruction and
encroachment of the spinal nerves. These signs may be seen in severe degenerative arthritis, spinal stenosis, or metastasis. Gait and station are important to observe but would not give convincing data to a definitive diagnosis. Similarly, the degree of spinal immobility does not make a diagnosis, but does indicate the level of impairment suffered by the patient.
The general appearance of the spine should be noted as upper and lower body segments are generally equal. It is helpful to use a tape measure to calculate the exact distance from the top of the patient1s head to the symphysis pubis of the pelvis. That distance should be equal to the area between the symphysis pubis and the bottom of the feet. A difference of more
than 2 inches suggests a shortening or deformity of the spine due to vertebral fracture, scoliosis or kyphosis.

Percussion of the spine with a vertebral fracture will result in very localized tenderness over the area of fracture. Another way to elicit this is to have the patient stand on toes and rock back smartly on the heels. This will quite often elicit pain and allow the patient to point to the exact vertebra involved.

Thorough

 Blood A-G|10 Alkaline Phosphatase
★Blood A-G|31 Calcium, Ca (Blood)
★Blood H-Z|29 Phosphorus, P (Blood)
 Blood H-Z|52 Thyroid-Stimulating-Hormone (TSH)
 Blood H-Z|25 Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) Intact
 Incomplete Diagnosis

Once osteopenia and vertebral fracture are noted on the lumbar spine film some additional studies are needed. These include serum calcium and phosphorus levels, which can be abnormal in hyperparathyroidism, osteomalacia and cancer. It might be helpful to monitor the alkaline phosphatase as it is released by osteoblasts or the cells, which form bone. An elevated alkaline phosphatase is suggestive of underlying intense bone remodeling or bone turnover. This can be
found in a vertebral fracture or in a fracture anywhere throughout the body where there is active reabsorption and repair.

Management

Required:
 MiscellaneousR06 Vitamins/minerals
 DietR17 Increase/High
 EducationR01 Diet
 EducationR02 Exercise

Recommended:
 EndocrineR02 Hormones
 NeuromuscularR03 Analgesics, narcotic

Related H&P:
★Medical History|01 Allergies [Medical History]
 Medical History|08 Gynecologic history

Related Lab:
★X-rays|09 Bone Densitometry – Dexa-Scan Hip and Lumbar Spine

Treatment is multifaceted and includes lifestyle modifications eliminating tobacco and caffeine use and decreasing or eliminating alcohol use. Increasing the use of weight bearing exercises has been of great benefit as well. Eliminating the risk of falls through proper fitting glasses and minimal use of long acting sedatives is helpful.

Pharmacological management of low bone density is proven to reduce the fracture risk in both men and women. Calcium and vitamin D are integral to bone density and maintenance. The use of Alendronate at 10g daily or Raloxifene 60mg daily has demonstrated an increase in bone mineral density and should be used in woman intolerant of estrogen or with a history of
breast cancer. Estrogen appears to reduce vertebral fractures though it’s impact on nonspinal fractures has not yet been demonstrated. Overall estrogen has demonstrated clear benefit in improvement of bone mass and fracture risk reduction, but it’s effects on the endometrium, breast and cardiovascular system should be weighed on an individual basis. Once treatment has begun progress is monitored with serial bone density studies every two-three years.

Cost / Efficiency

Complete Blood Count (CBC) 14.00
Chest (X-ray) (CXR) 90.00
Triglycerides 23.00
Cholesterol, lipids 23.00
Calcium, Ca (Blood) 22.00
Phosphorus 18.00
Hip (X-ray) 88.00
Sacral Spine (x-ray) 100.00
Lumbar Spine (X-ray) (L spine, LS spine) 100.00
Vertebrae – Lumbar (CT scan) 727.50
Vertebrae – Lumbar (MRI) 1459.00
Estradiol Serum 101.00
Bone Densitometry – Dexa-Scan Hip and Lumbar Spine 100.00
Total: $2865.50
Available You Selected Essential You Selected
Questions 241 34 9 6
Exams 452 27 8 0
Labs 674 13 7 4

共筆, 審稿, 考古題

有位不具名的人士已經幫我們那本審好的共筆拿回來了, 大感謝, 不過他也提到一點, 就是在我們共筆的內文中, 曾經出現有”考古題”三個字, 所以老師特別的追問了我們是不是有以前的考古題, 看來這似乎不是個好消息.

說到這倒是有兩種不同的角度, 第一個是組長 (我… T_T) 在審稿的版本裡怎麼沒有把這些敏感字眼去掉. 不過翻開今年的”共筆製作注意事項”, 裡面只提到:

共筆組自己送審,送審本不可出現考古題。

我的解讀是不可以把附在每一本共筆後頭的考古題也一起拿去審, 不過今天的狀況似乎是, 有人在他負責的部份裡, 用自己的話”強調了一遍考古題會考”, 到底算不算在這個條款內呢? 好吧! 組長辦事不力就是了.

另一點, 為什麼大家要在共筆的內文裡”註明”考古題會考呢? 莫非是要引起大家的注意, 這個動機當然是善良的, 不過有沒有其他的方式可以”註明”? 我自己採用的方法是把考古出現過的部分用”粗體字”. 我覺得再共筆的內容裡加一些自己的話並沒有辦法幫助閱讀, 而且佔版面, 不過可能有些人會覺得寫一些看起來比較輕鬆愉快的話可以讓共筆讀起來壓力沒那麼大吧! 見仁見智.

總之, 綜合所有的意見, 以後老師一下課就得先問好 E-mail, 然後用電子檔審就好, 另外, 記得要 s/考古(題)?//g …

賺錢?救人? 讀醫學系是為什麼?

其實不是要寫什麼心得感想或是偉大的抱負啦~ 這篇是學妹(?)陸媛媛寫在udn校園博覽會的文章: 賺錢?救人? 讀醫學系是為什麼?

這裡有很多其他的文章, 那篇最近被轉來轉去的阿土伯, 也是她寫的.不過我覺得好奇的是, udn 什麼時候開辦了這種校園記者的東西, 還蠻神奇的.

不過不寫一下自己的感想好像也蠻可惜的, 其實自己會來唸陽明也是蠻機緣的啦! 本來對生物醫學方面也還算有興趣, 剛好也有這樣的機會可以參加推甄, 當初的想法是如果推甄上了, 表示老天有意思讓我走醫學這條路吧! 如果沒上的話, 聯考當然就去填電機或資工之類的科系吧! 差不多就是這樣…

其實我覺得自己沒有什麼偉大的抱負, 有點想藉著醫生這個行業讓我有個穩定的生活, 而自己有興趣的電腦或音樂, 就讓他們當成自己一輩子的興趣吧! 還是當興趣的好, 如果要當成職業的東西, 通常就變得不有趣了.

差點都忘了原先寫這篇的用意了, 其實是看到網頁上照片的提供人是”李芳瑜”所以才想寫給大家知道的… ^^a 話說, 我們好像也快要去開豬囉… @_@

骨科教科書

今天跟昀毅一起去吃晚餐, 剛好兩個人都想看看有沒有好的骨科教科書可以買, 所以就一起到合計去逛逛. 老師有推薦了四本書單, 不過我抄下來後竟然忘記帶去合計了, 只好靠記憶在滿櫃的書裡搜尋. 一開始看到了這本:

Campbell’s Operative Orthopaedics, 9/e

心想, 嗯, 有印象, 而且書也包得漂漂亮亮的, 還蠻有 Harrison 的感覺, 結果拿下來一看後面的標價: $13,000 我打死都不相信, 叫昀毅也來看, 沒想到我的眼睛沒花, 不過還是覺得很神奇, 跑去問老闆娘是不是打錯標價, 結果老闆娘說沒錯, 那是四冊裝的… 喔喔喔… 第一次看到這麼神奇的書, 居然有 Harrison 的兩倍厚.

剛剛順便到 Amazon 查了一下, 原來已經有第十版了, 不過價錢當然更… @_@ $499 … 美金… 合計大概是賣不出去, 所以沒有進新版的吧… XD

PBL網站與BBS

昨天是開學第一天, 王丹丹 (PBL網站的Admin) 提到要如何多增加老師與學生的互動, 最後的結論是在 PBL 網站裡每個組開一個討論區. 剛剛去試用了一下, 還是以前那個介面, 感覺不是很習慣, 況且我本來就不習慣用 forum 的方式討論事情. 看來以後除非強迫使用 (ex. 所有人都不用BBS來聯絡事情了), 不然我也不太會上去.

其實應該會有個更折衷一點的辦法: 我的想法是用 usenet 的方式讓 BBS 跟 forum 互通, 這樣一來 BBS 的部分只要很簡單的設定一下 innbbsd, 已經習慣用 BBS 討論的人也不用強制改變, 不過這麼做最大的問題是 PBL 網站必須要改寫部分的程式. 其實改寫應該是不會太困難的感覺, 假設 ASP 有提供 NNTP 的模組, (理論上應該要有才對的, php 的是包在 IMAP 裡) 然後把 header 的部份處理一下, 把作者跟主題還有內文抓出來就可以了. 不過重點大概是王丹丹願不願這麼做吧~ (如果王丹丹願意把 Repos 權限開給我, 說不定我可以幫忙改 ASP … XD) 不過我倒是覺得這是個不錯的方法就是了.