New Technique for Assessing Blood Flow to the Femoral Head
Author Information
Author(s): Madhuri Vrisha Dutt, Vivek Samuel Kunder, Gahukamble Abhay Deodas
Primary Institution: Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
Hypothesis
Can a simple and inexpensive technique be developed to assess intra-operative blood flow to the femoral head?
Conclusion
This new technique is a cheap and readily accessible alternative to existing methods for assessing blood flow to the femoral head.
Supporting Evidence
- The technique was validated by post-operative bone scans in patients with acute slipped capital femoral epiphysis.
- Five out of eight patients showed normal vascularity during the procedure.
- The technique is less expensive than laser Doppler flowmetry and ICP monitoring.
Takeaway
Doctors found a new way to check if the blood is flowing to a part of the hip during surgery, using simple tools that are easy to get.
Methodology
An epidural catheter was used to measure pressure in the femoral head as a surrogate for blood flow during surgery.
Limitations
The technique was only tested in a small group of eight patients.
Participant Demographics
Eight children aged 6 to 18 years, with various hip pathologies.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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