This study aimed to identify the foot sensory status of Malay women with type 2 diabetes mellitus and to determine its relation with: demographic factors, glycated haemoglobin level in plasma, and body mass index. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 71 Malay women with type 2 diabetes mellitus who attend three health clinics in Hulu Langat District, Selangor. Foot sensation was assessed using the Semmes-Weinstein Monofilament 5.07 in nine locations on the plantar and dorsal of the feet. Loss of protective sensation was defined as inability to sense the monofilament in one or more sites of either foot. This study found that 56.3% of women had loss of protective sensation, with common sites being the heel, fifth metatarsal head, lateral mid-foot and little toe. Duration of diabetes mellitus were significantly related to foot sensation. The age, HbA1C level and body mass index did not show any significant correlation. Loss of protective sensation may lead to serious foot complication and therefore early screening involving multidisciplinary team is essential for prevention

Spontaneous aortic thrombosis is exceedingly rare, and optimal treatment remains uncertain. We present an unusual case of a spontaneous aortic thrombus at the renal artery level in a patient undergoing active cisplatin treatment for urothelial carcinoma. Management included catheter-directed thrombolysis followed by thrombectomy. An open cutdown was performed on the left common femoral artery (CFA), with right groin access via a 6-Fr sheath. Clamping of the left superficial and deep femoral arteries, along with balloon occlusion of the right common iliac artery, prevented distal embolization. A Coda balloon introduced via direct left CFA puncture with a 20-Fr sheath was positioned above the aortic thrombus. After inflation, clots were trawled to the sheath, “sandwiching” the clots before removal of the balloon and sheath via the left groin. Post-operatively, the patient recovered well and received continued therapeutic anticoagulation.

INTRODUCTIONThe purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of elderly hip fracture patients who received surgical treatment with those who received non-surgical treatment.

METHODSThis retrospective study involved 2,756 elderly patients with hip fractures who were admitted over a six-year period. The patients' biodata, complications, ambulatory status at discharge and length of hospital stay were obtained from the institution's hip fracture registry.

RESULTSAmong the 2,756 hip fracture patients, 2,029 (73.6%) underwent surgical intervention, while 727 (26.4%) opted for non-surgical intervention. The complication rate among the patients who underwent surgical intervention was 6.6%, while that among the patients who underwent non-surgical intervention was 12.5% (p < 0.01). The mean length of hospital stay for the surgical and non-surgical hip fracture patients was 15.7 days and 22.4 days, respectively (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSurgical management of hip fractures among the elderly is associated with a lower complication rate, as well as a reduced length of hospital stay.