Objective:To explore the health seeking behavior, utilization of health services and the economic burden of the elderly patients with diabetic foot ulcer ( DF) , with aim to provide policy evidence for improving their DF prevention and treatment outcomes. Methods: The purposive sampling method was applied to recruit 15 elderly DF patients treated in the 454 th Hospital of Chinese PLA from December 2013 to January 2014. After informed con-sent, they were in-depth interviewed. Results: The elderly with DF had a higher demand for the health services. They emphasized on treatment and neglected prevention. The utilization and efficiency of health services were affected by patients' economic level, medical insurance, capacity of community services, and so on. Conclusion:In order to improve the treatment outcome and quality of life for the elderly DF patients, it's necessary to strengthen patients' health education, to build a community-based and integrated health care system on DF prevention, treatment and management, and to develop the policies for reducing DF related economic burden.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the treatment for patients with major vascular injuries associated with traumatic orthopedic injuries.

METHODSA total of 196 patients, aged from 4-67 years with the mean age of 29.88 years, had major vascular injuries associated with traumatic orthopedic injuries and were treated in our hospital in a period of 44 years. The most common mechanism of trauma was blunt trauma (67.3%), open injuries accounted for 32.4% and 54.5% of the injuries were located in the lower extremities. The vascular injury frequently happened in the femoral artery (26.7%) and popliteal artery (20.3%). The treatment principle consisted of aggressive resuscitation, Doppler imaging and stable bone internal fixation with subsequent vascular repair and debridement. The vascular repair for injuries included end-to-end anastomosis (80 cases, 39.6%), interpositional vein graft (94, 46.5%), vascular decompression through fracture distraction (18, 8.9%), arterial ligation (6, 3.0%), vein patch (2, 1.0%), bypass graft (2, 1.0%), venous repair including autogenous vein graft (9, 24.3%) and ligation (28, 75.7%) and prophylactical fasciotomy (15, 7.4%). Postoperative amputation was performed in 16 cases (16.3%).

RESULTSNo intraoperative death was observed and all fractures united within 6 months. Limbs were salvaged in 180 patients (91.8%). Among these patients, early complications were found in 19 patients (9.7%) and late complications were observed in 8 patients (4.1%).

CONCLUSIONSA well-organized approach, based on a specific treatment principle, not only improves clinical outcome but also does good to excellent functional recovery for patients with severe orthopedic injuries and concomitant vascular lesion.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Blood Vessels ; injuries ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Fractures, Bone ; complications ; Fractures, Open ; complications ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies

Objective To explore the surgical feasibility and clinical efficacy of one-stage anterior-posterior approaches in treatment of severe fracture and dislocation of lower cervical spine in "beach chair position".Methods Sixteen male cases of severe fracture and dislocation of lower cervical spine and with a mean age of 49.8 years (range,36-78 years) treated surgically from May 2012 to May 2016 were analyzed retrospectively by using case series study.The segment of injury was C4-5 in 4 cases,C5-6 in 7 and C6-7 in 5.The degree of spinal cord injury according to the American Spine injury Association (ASIA) score was Grade A in 4 cases,Grade B in 7 and Grade C in 5.Sub-axial injury classification (SLIC) score was 8 points in 9 cases and 9 points in 7.After a general anesthesia,a ring with a hole was hanged on patient's head before the operation.Then,under the protection of hole traction,the upper of operating bed was swung up slowly,so that the patient was restricted in vertical "beach chair position" with traction on the halo in order to immobilize the head and partially reduce the kyphotic deformity.Routine cervical anterior-posterior approach was done with the exposure of damaged section of the front and rear structure.Pedicle screw system or lateral mass screw displacement was conducted.Anterior intervertebral discectomy or fracture vertebral was performed,using collaborative reset prying method before and after the road.In the front of intervertebral cage or titanium net support bone graft,rear pedicle screws or lateral mass screws fixation and bone graft fusion were implemented.The operation time and blood loss were recorded.The healing of the wound was observed.The recovery of neurological function was evaluated according to the ASIA grade.Postoperative review X-ray,CT and MRI were done to evaluate the reset and bone graft in position and fusion.Results All the surgeries were done well without aeroembolism and other related complications.The mean operative time was 153 minutes (range,150-180 minutes),and the mean amount of blood loss was 543 ml (range,400-800 ml).Sixteen cases were followed-up from 6 to 24 months (mean 13.7 months).All the incision were healed at Ⅰ stage.Spinal cord function did not aggravate.The ASIA grade was improved with an average of one to two Grades 6 months after surgery.Postoperative X-ray and CT confirmed that graft object position was favorable and cervical sequence was recovered well.The Cobb angle decreased from (23.6 ± 5.3) ° preoperatively to (4.0 ± 0.4)°postoperatively,and the translational displacement of vertebral body was restored into (2.7 ±0.4) mm (P ＜ 0.01) from (10.9 ± 1.6) mm before operation.The cervical spinal canal was not obstructed and the cervical spinal cord was relieved,showed by MRI.Conclusions One-stage anterior-posterior approaches for severe fracture and dislocation of lower cervical spine circumferential reconstruction in "beach chair position" is a beneficial and effective method,without the need of changing positions in a collaborative reduction and fixation.The method can reduce the interference of spinal cord,shorten the operation time and save anterior extra fixation.