1/5. The use of ultrasonic bone curettes in spinal surgery.OBJECT: The author describes a clinical applications, procedure, and efficacy of ultrasonic bone curette (UBC) (bone-removal bar) in spinal surgery. methods: From July 2003 to March 2005, we operated on 98 consecutive spinal disorders by using UBC, Sonopet UST-2001; Chiari type-1 malformation (6 cases), cervical disorders (64 cases), thoracic disorders (5 cases), and lumbar disorders (23 cases). The instrument was devoid of any spinning parts, and the risk of grabbing cotton pledgets and damaging normal tissue was thereby avoided. Support from assistants for irrigation and suction was not required. FINDINGS: In this series, there were no iatrogenically induced injuries for example, direct or heat damage to surrounding soft tissues, including nerves, vessels, spinal cord, and dura matter. Considering potential complications of mechanical injuries by ultrasonic technique, intermittent usage and cotton protection during use under an operating microscope are recommended. We found that the ultrasonic device is easy to handle; however, it is time consuming for removing a large amount of bone and ossified lesions. Therefore, we recommend the combined use of this method with standard drilling. CONCLUSIONS: This system appears to be versatile, safe, and efficient in spinal surgery and could be improved by the development of a better handpiece.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = cotton (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/5. "Cotton fever": a benign febrile syndrome in intravenous drug abusers.Cotton fever is a benign, self-limited syndrome that may mimic sepsis in intravenous drug addicts. We present an illustrative case and a review of the literature. Serious illness such as pneumonia and infectious endocarditis must always be considered in febrile addicts. However, trivial illness accounts for 16% to 26% of such fevers. Recent evidence suggests that emergency physicians are able to diagnose trivial illness with 93% specificity in febrile adult drug addicts. Short-term observation units may be an alternative to hospital admission for febrile drug users with a presumptive diagnosis of trivial illness and in those in whom the diagnosis of cotton fever is entertained.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = cotton (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/5. "Cotton fever" in narcotic addicts.Two patients presented to the emergency department with acute onset of fever and myalgia after injecting heroin reclaimed from previously used cotton filters. Their histories and clinical courses are illustrative of the symptom complex known to drug users as "cotton fever." Although the causative mechanisms are unknown, the syndrome does appear to have a benign, self-limiting course.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = cotton (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/5. Cotton fever and pregnancy. A confusing clinical problem.We discuss the case of a 24-year-old black woman at 33--34 weeks gestation, who after intravenous injection of Talwin presented with the following symptom complex: pyrexia, nausea, vomiting, shaking, chills, headache, myalgias, polyarthralgias, severe abdominal pain and "contractions." This symptomatology presents a complex diagnostic problem. Systematic laboratory evaluation eliminated more common etiologies, i.e., sub-acute bacterial endocarditis, HAA hepatitis, placental abruption, chorioamnionitis, and urinary tract infection. The Talwin had been filtered through cotton ball. history plus exclusion of other etiologies led to the diagnosis of "cotton fever." The available literature is reviewed, and the importance of recognizing this entity when servicing a pregnant population with a high rate of drug abuse is discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = cotton (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/5. Hyperthermia and dehydration-related deaths associated with intentional rapid weight loss in three collegiate wrestlers--north carolina, wisconsin, and michigan, November-December 1997.During November 7-December 9, 1997, three previously healthy collegiate wrestlers in different states died while each was engaged in a program of rapid weight loss to qualify for competition. In the hours preceding the official weigh-in, all three wrestlers engaged in a similar rapid weight-loss regimen that promoted dehydration through perspiration and resulted in hyperthermia. The wrestlers restricted food and fluid intake and attempted to maximize sweat losses by wearing vapor-impermeable suits under cotton warm-up suits and exercising vigorously in hot environments. This report summarizes the investigation of these three cases.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = cotton (Clic here for more details about this article) |