Clinical medicine (London, England)
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Case Reports
Piriformis syndrome as the only initial manifestation of septic sacroiliac osteomyelitis.
Piriformis syndrome refers to sciatica symptoms that do not originate from spinal root compression, but involve the overlying piriformis muscle. Diagnosis is clinical since there are no definitive tests to confirm the diagnosis. Piriformis syndrome is often misinterpreted as sciatica or other pains. ⋯ Thus, prompt diagnosis is crucial to the prognosis. Here, we report a patient suffering from acute pelvic osteomyelitis with piriformis syndrome as the only initial manifestation without fever. This unusual manifestation rendered prompt and correct diagnosis difficult.
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Case Reports
Images of the month: Lower-back pain in a young man with HLA B27 - not always spondyloarthritis!
Presence of human leucocyte antigen (HLA) B27 in a patient with lower-back pain should not be considered synonymous with axial spondyloarthritis. Other causes of back pain should be ruled-out by careful evaluation. Lumbosacral transitional vertebra is a common congenital malformation of spine which frequently leads to mechanical back pain. ⋯ Etanercept was stopped and he was started on physiotherapy protocol for transitional vertebra, with which he improved remarkably. This case highlights the need for greater awareness among clinicians about lumbosacral transitional vertebra, a finding which is frequently missed. Presence of HLA B27 can be coincidental, as in our case.
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Transplantation is the preferred treatment option for end-stage renal disease as it offers superior results and patient reported outcomes in comparison to dialysis. Patients treated with a transplant live longer, healthier and more independent lives. Transplantation is also more cost-effective, reducing the overall burden of renal disease. ⋯ The procedure is more likely to be performed pre-dialysis and the elective nature allows for better perioperative planning. Awareness for living donation processes among healthcare professionals, patients and the public appears to be poor. Sharing information regarding the process will help educate colleagues, dispel myths and, crucially, allow patients the opportunity to talk about this treatment option with their hospital doctor.
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Phosphodiesterase inhibitors (such as sildenafil) and endothelin receptor antagonist, bosentan, are effective for digital ulcer disease in systemic sclerosis (SSc-DU) and are endorsed in international treatment recommendations. Commissioning of high-cost drugs, such as bosentan, however, differs across devolved nations of the UK. We report a multicentre service evaluation project to examine 'real world' management of SSc-DU before and following the 2015 UK Scleroderma Study Group (UKSSG) guidance, across south-west (SW) England and Wales. ⋯ Between 2015-2017, sildenafil use for SSc-DU increased in SW England while remaining stable in Wales. Bosentan use for SSc-DU after 2015 in SW England increased, while remaining stable and proportionately lower in Wales. These findings demonstrate that differing commissioning guidance across devolved nations of the UK seems to contribute to geographic variation in patient care.