Technology and health care : official journal of the European Society for Engineering and Medicine
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Technol Health Care · Jan 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialEvaluation of a ubiquitous and interoperable computerised system for remote monitoring of ambulatory post-operative pain: a randomised controlled trial.
For economic reasons, i.e., to reduce costs of in-hospital patient accommodations, constant pressure has been applied in recent years to increase the percentage of ambulatory surgeries. Effective control of post-operative pain after ambulatory surgery is challenging to all health professionals. Computerised systems are being implemented more frequently for remote patient monitoring, including during the at-home post-operative period. ⋯ The findings demonstrated the feasibility and suitability of the proposed system for pain management. Its handling was user-friendly, without requiring advanced skill or prior experience. In addition, the results showed that the guidance of health care professionals is essential to patients' satisfaction and positive experience with the system. There were no significant group differences with respect to improvements in the quality of pain treatment; however, this can be explained by the low pain scores registered in both groups, related to the type of surgical interventions recruited and the degrees of pain that are easily treated. To evaluate the benefits from a patient-centred perspective, studies of major ambulatory surgeries or of patients in chronic pain, including oncologic and non-oncologic pain resistant to treatment, are necessary.
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Technol Health Care · Jan 2014
Clinical TrialThe effect of 12 weeks Prop Pilates Exercise Program (PPEP) on body stability and pain for fruit farmers with MSDs.
The purpose of this study was to determine possible effects of 12-week Prop Pilates Exercise Program (PPEP) for the fruit farmers (grape, tomato, apple) with musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) on body stability and pain. 131 fruit farmers with MSD were selected and asked to join a 12-week Prop Pilates Exercise Program (PPEP) from 2009 to 2012. The subjects (female=74, male=57) aged 50 to 65 years old voluntarily participated. As a result, it was found that lateral-medial and anterior-posterior of body stability significantly improved in male and female fruit farmers. It was found that pain index (VAS) after 12-week Prop Pilates Exercise Program (PPEP) showed a significant decrease.
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Technol Health Care · Jan 2014
Effects of thromboembolism prophylaxis with dabigatran on perioperative blood loss and wound secretion in primary hip arthroplasty.
Low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWH), e.g. enoxaparin, represent the standard thromboprophylactic agents in Europe after total hip replacement. The oral direct thrombin inhibitor dabigatran etexilate provides comparable effectiveness and safety. The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of dabigatran etexilate on perioperative blood loss and wound secretion in total hip arthroplasty compared to enoxaparin. ⋯ Dabigatran etexilate can safely be used for thromboembolism prophylaxis after primary total hip replacement without an increased risk for perioperative blood loss and prolonged wound secretion.
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Technol Health Care · Jan 2014
Navigated reconstruction of tibial head depression fractures by inflation osteoplasty.
Articular fracture reduction control remains a challenge even with the development of computer-assisted surgery. The Kyphoplasty procedure has shown advantages in treating vertebral fractures. One case report showed successful reduction of acetabular fractures using Kyphoplasty. ⋯ The Kyphon balloon was accurately placed with the aid of navigation. The depth was the decisive factor in the reduction of the fracture and not the diameter. In cadavers, depression fractures greater than 5~mm depth could not be reduced with our setup.
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Technol Health Care · Jan 2014
The effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on postural sway on fatigued dorsi-plantar flexor.
The application of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) enhances muscle weakness and static balance by muscle fatigue. It was said that TENS affects decrease of the postural sway. On the other hand, the applications of TENS to separate dorsi-plantar flexor and the comparison with and without visual input have not been studied. ⋯ The visual input was not statistically difference between the groups. However, when compared of dorsi-plantar flexor after applied to TENS without visual input, the postural sway of plantar flexor was lower than the dorsi flexor (p< 0.05). As the result, the application of TENS in GCM clinically decreases the postural sway with visual input it helps to stable posture control and prevent to falling down.