Studies in health technology and informatics
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Stud Health Technol Inform · Jan 2008
Computer-assisted Cobb angle measurement on posteroanterior radiographs.
The Cobb angle method is the gold standard to assess severity of scoliosis. A computer-aided method was developed to provide a semi-automatic Cobb angle measurement during a scoliosis clinic. This study was to evaluate the reliability and accuracy of the developed method. ⋯ For each curve type, the inter-method, inter-observer, and intra-observer variability were analyzed by Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC[2,1]). The ICC values were higher than 0.90 in all these types. The developed method was reliable to measure the Cobb angle and was not dependent on the curve type.
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Stud Health Technol Inform · Jan 2008
Treatment of early adolescent idiopathic scoliosis using the SpineCor System.
The purpose of this prospective observational study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Dynamic SpineCor System for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in accordance with the standardized outcome criteria proposed by the Scoliosis Research Society Committee on Bracing and Nonoperative Management. The SpineCor System is the first and only truly dynamic brace, which provides a progressive correction of Idiopathic Scoliosis from 15 degrees Cobb angle and above. The new therapeutic approach is based on a new concept upon the etiology and pathogenesis of idiopathic scoliosis; a pathology of the neuro-musculoskeletal system in growth and maturation. ⋯ Eight mature patients out of 298 (2.7%) required surgery within 2 years of follow-up beyond skeletal maturity. The conclusion drawn from these findings is that the SpineCor brace is effective for the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Moreover, positive outcomes are maintained after 2 years because 151 (93.2%) of 162 patients stabilized or corrected their end of bracing Cobb angle up to 2 years after bracing.
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While telemedicine is now well established in many areas of medical practice, it is only beginning to create impact in some of the more complex medical applications such as critical care. New systems based on advanced technologies such as the Virtual Critical Care Unit and the eICU have recently successfully demonstrated the provision of critical care services from a distance in emergency and intensive care respectively. These specialties make particular demands on a telemedicine system, and studies in computer supported collaborative work as well as studies of work practices suggest that there is a minimum threshold of technology complexity for supporting such applications. ⋯ Other systems rely on complex physiological models. These approaches exemplify two trends in telemedicine systems of the future, with enhanced immersiveness creating a high sense of presence, and ready access to structured patient-specific data providing assistance to decision support. The future of telemedicine technology may see a convergence of these two trends.
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Stud Health Technol Inform · Jan 2008
Case ReportsOur experience with virtual craniomaxillofacial surgery: planning, transference and validation.
Clinical application of virtual craniomaxillofacial surgery (VCMS) planning is demonstrated with four typical cases. An integral component to success is transferring the surgical plan to the operating environment within a reasonable time frame through the design and fabrication of surgical guides and implants.
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Stud Health Technol Inform · Jan 2008
An automated personalised intervention algorithm for remote patient monitoring.
An automated personalised intervention algorithm was developed to determine when and if patients with chronic disease in a remote monitoring programme required intervention for management of their condition. The effectiveness of the algorithm has so far been evaluated on 29 patients. It was found to be particularly effective in monitoring newly diagnosed patients, patients requiring a change in medication as well as highlighting those that were not conforming to their medication. Our approach indicates that RPM used with the intervention algorithm and a clinical protocol can be effective in a primary care setting for targeting those patients that would most benefit from monitoring.