Ashraff Memorial Hospital

Endoscopic treatment of common bile duct (CBD) stones involves the use of basket or balloon catheters; however, what is the appropriate device remains controversial. In this study we aimed to prospectively evaluate the usefulness of a novel 8-wire helical basket (8WB) catheter made of Nitinol for the removal of CBD stones ≤10 mm. We conducted a multicenter prospective trial. Patients with CBD stones ≤10 mm were enrolled. The primary endpoint was the rate of complete stone removal within 10 min using the 8WB. The number of cases was determined using a previous study of stone removal by a conventional basket catheter as a historical control. A total of 155 patients were enrolled and 139 were ultimately included in the analysis. Patients with a single stone were the most common (84 cases, 60.4%), with a median maximum stone diameter of 5 mm. The median stone removal time using the 8WB was 6 min. The complete stone removal rate was 95.0% (132/139). Adverse events were observed in 14 patients (10.1%). The novel 8WB catheter is useful in the treatment of CBD stones ≤10 mm, presenting a high complete stone removal rate in this study. jRCT1032200324.

Animal bites can cause severely contaminated open fractures, especially in the hand, wrist, and lower extremities, requiring expert orthopedic care. This case report emphasizes the unique issues posed by such injuries, particularly in low-income areas with limited access to comprehensive medical services. Pediatric examples, such as open tibiofibular fractures caused by animal encounters, highlight the significance of individualized treatment techniques.Crocodile bites, though infrequent, present an extreme peril and potential fatality. In Sri Lanka, where various crocodile species inhabit the waters, such incidents are rare but present. Long bone fractures caused by crocodile bites are significant and complicated injuries. The enormous force of a crocodile's jaw can cause substantial damage to bones, tendons, and surrounding tissues, often resulting in significant bone and soft tissue loss. Managing such injuries is extremely difficult, especially in low-resource settings. The use of a locking plate as an external fixator is a novel approach in the treatment of open fractures, nonunion, septic arthritis, and even as a distraction osteogenesis adjuvant. While it is not as common in typical fracture fixation textbooks, it is critical in specialized instances. This study describes a unique case of a 13-year-old boy with a Gustilo-Anderson Type IIIA crocodile bite who was treated in a low-income environment with a locking plate as an external fixator.

Introduction: Supracondylar fractures are common pediatric elbow injuries, with management in developing countries presenting challenges due to limited resources, inadequate facilities, and a lack of trained personnel.Method: This study aimed to describe the incidence, demographics, clinical presentation, treatment methods, and outcomes of supracondylar fractures treated at Ashraff Memorial Hospital (AMH)-Kalmunai, a base hospital in Sri Lanka. This is a retrospective descriptive study conducted between January 2019 and December 2020.Results: The study involved 79 children with supracondylar fractures. The majority of the children were male (70.9%) and their ages ranged from one to 15 years. The study identified falls as the most common presenting complaint (92.4%), followed by road traffic accidents (3.8%), native treatment (2.5%), and mismanagement (1.3%). The majority of fractures affected the right side (69.6%), while the remaining cases involved the left side (30.4%). Regarding the time duration from fracture to hospital presentation, a significant proportion of children sought medical attention on the same day (51.9%), followed by presentations within the first three days (38%), within a week (5.1%), or after a month (3.8%). Based on the Gartland classification, type I fractures accounted for 44.3% of cases, followed by type II fractures (29.1%) and type III fractures (26.6%). The most common treatment approach was closed reduction and percutaneous pinning (41.8%). Other treatment options included plaster of Paris (POP) cast without manipulation (36.7%), POP cast with manipulation (7.6%), analgesics alone (6.3%), and open reduction fixation (5.1%). Follow-up procedures varied, with routine cast removal (11.4%), routine cast and K-wire removal (45.6%), and re-do surgery with routine follow-up (1.3%). Among the type III fractures, two children presented with vascular compromise and anterior interosseous nerve (AIN) impairment, while another two children had AIN impairment only. Type I and type II fractures did not exhibit nerve involvement or vascular impairment. Only one out of the 79 children had an open fracture.Conclusion: Supracondylar fracture is the most common orthopedic fracture in children. The study sheds light on the challenges and opportunities associated with treating pediatric supracondylar fractures in a resource-constrained context. The findings can help produce guidelines for the management of supracondylar fractures in underdeveloped nations, as well as contribute to global efforts to enhance the management of pediatric fractures.

The AMJ is a peer-reviewed, triannual health journal published by Anuradhapura Clinical Society (ACS).The Journal strives to be a forum for all health professionals to publish original research and review articles in their area of expertise. The AMJ publishes articles in clinical medicine, public health and health promotion. Our priority is given to manuscripts on health related issues which affects the communities living in rural tropical communities. Established as a journal in 2006 as a publication parallel to ACS annual scientific sessions, the journal was relaunched as a proper journal in 2013. Anuradhapura Medical Journal is a member of COPE and is included on DOAJ.