Background

Musculoskeletal manifestations of diabetes in the upper limb are well recognized. No data has been available in this regard from Pakistan. Our aim was to find out the frequency of upper limb musculoskeletal abnormalities in diabetic patients.

Methods

This was an observational study in which type 2 diabetes patients attending our diabetic clinic were enrolled along with age and gender matched controls. Data was analyzed on SPSS 16.

Results

In total, 210 Type 2 diabetics (male 34.3%, female 65.7%) and 203 controls (male 35%, female 65%) were recruited. The mean age was 50.7± 10.2 years in diabetic group as compared to 49.5±10.6 years in the control group. The frequencies of hand region abnormalities were significantly higher in the diabetic subjects as compared to the controls (20.4%, p-value <0.001). Limited joint mobility (9.5% vs 2.5%), carpal tunnel syndrome (9% vs 2%), trigger finger (3.8% vs 0.5%), and dupuytren’s contracture (1% vs 0%) were found more frequent as compared to controls (all p-values <0.05). In the shoulder region of diabetic subjects, adhesive capsulitis and tendonitis was found in 10.9% and 9.5% respectively as compared to 2.5% and 2% in control group [p- value <0.001]. A weak but positive relationship was observed between age and duration of diabetes with these upper limb abnormalities. However, no correlation was found between the frequencies of these abnormalities with control of diabetes.

Conclusion

A higher frequency of upper limb musculoskeletal abnormalities was observed in Type 2 diabetic patients as compared to control group.

Trauma has assumed epidemic proportion. 10% of global road accident deaths occur in India. Hypoxia and airway mismanagement are known to contribute up to 34% of pre-hospital deaths in these patients. A high degree of suspicion for actual or impending airway obstruction should be assumed in all trauma patients. Objective signs of airway compromise include agitation, obtundation, cyanosis, abnormal breath sound and deviated trachea. If time permits, one should carry out a brief airway assessment prior to undertaking definitive airway management in these patients. Simple techniques for establishing and maintaining airway patency include jaw thrust maneuver and/or use of oro- and nas-opharyngeal airways. All attempts must be made to perform definitive airway management whenever airway is compromised that is not amenable to simple strategies. The selection of airway device and route- oral or -nasal, for tracheal intubation should be based on nature of patient injury, experience and skill level.

We report a 44 year-old, American Society of Anesthesiologist Class I (ASA I), female patient scheduled for elective excision of a small lipoma of the left thigh. She went into a 90 minute apnea and complete muscle paralysis as evidenced by the absence of all stimulatory responses by a peripheral nerve stimulator after receiving midazolam (1.0 mg) and fentanyl (100 μg) intravenously for sedation and analgaesia. The patient made an uneventful recovery after 90 minutes. No cause and effect relationship could be established between the administered drugs and this unusual response.

We report a 58-years old patient, who underwent surgery for a fracture to the neck of the femur. Tracheal intubation was performed with the aid of a stylet; however, 15 minutes later, it was brought to the notice of the attending anesthesiologist that a broken piece of stylet had been left inside the lumen of the endotracheal tube. Prior to this, there was no evidence of a foreign body in the endotracheal tube or tracheobronchial tree. The broken piece of stylet was successfully retrieved with the help of a Kocher’s forceps.