ART does not have a negative effect on shoulder function after ND. SAN is always functionally impaired even if we preserve it macroscopically during ND.

Preserving level 2b during selective neck dissection decreases trauma to the accessory nerve and improves functional results.

Osteoporosis has recently been recognized as a major public health problem by some governments and health care providers. Despite significant progress in knowledge about osteoporosis, public awareness is required for effective management if precautions are to be taken. The aim of this study was to evaluate the educational status of osteoporotic individuals, and their awareness about the disease and sources of information. We also aimed to compare the variables between the geographical regions of the country, since significant differences exist in socioeconomic status and lifestyle within the same cultural context. This multicenter study was carried out in eight cities located in six different geographical regions between September 2001 and January 2002. To our knowledge, this is the first multicenter study in Turkey evaluating the relationship between awareness of osteoporotic patients and other variables such as educational level and economic factors. Ten centers took part in this study and consecutive patients with either femoral or lumbar T-scores below -2.5 SD were enrolled into the study group. Bone mineral density was measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Patients were interviewed using a questionnaire on past medical history, education, awareness about their disease and risk factors for osteoporosis. A total of 540 women (93.8%) and 36 men (6.3%) were included in the study. Fifty-four percent of patients declared that they were aware of osteoporosis. With regard to sources of information, 56.8% of patients reported physicians as the main source of information. Awareness of the patients was negatively correlated with age (P=0.025, r=-0,94) but positively correlated with education (P=0.0001, r=0.327), level of physical activity (P=0.001, r=143), calcium intake (P=0.005, r=119) and modern clothing style (P=0.0001, r=309). Educational status of the patients was negatively correlated with BMI (P=0.0001, r=-283) and positively correlated with physical activity (P=0.0001, r=268), modern clothing style (P=0.0001, r=600) and smoking (P=0.0001, r=273). Regional comparison of female patients demonstrated that significant differences exist in terms of educational status, clothing style, smoking, level of physical activity, calcium intake, and knowledge about osteoporosis. As a result, education has profound effects on awareness about osteoporosis and many aspects of human behavior, such as calcium intake, physical activity, clothing style and smoking. Significant disparities may be observed between the geographical regions of the same country.

SummaryRehabilitation goals after traumatic brain injury are improving function, increasing the level of independence as high as possible, preventing complications and providing an acceptable environment to the patient. Several complications can be encountered during the rehabilitation period which lead to physical, cognitive and neurobehavioral impairments that cause major delay in functional improvement. This prospective study was designed in order to investigate the complications and their relations with functional recovery in patients that were included in the acute phase of a rehabilitation program.Thirty traumatic brain injured patients admitted to the Intensive Care Units of Uludag University School of Medicine were included in the study. Rehabilitation program consisted in appropriate positioning, range of motion exercises, postural drainage and respiratory exercises. Complications that were encountered during intensive care rehabilitation program were recorded. All patients were evaluated by Functional Independence Measure, Disability Rating Scale and Ranchos Los Amigos Levels of Cognitive Function Scale at admission and discharge.Improvement was observed in patients in terms of functional outcome and disability levels. Pneumonia, athelectasis, anemia and meningitis were the most frequent complications. Deterioration in functional outcome and disability levels was noted as the number of these complications increased.In conclusion, rehabilitation has an important role in the management of traumatic brain injured patients. Reduction of frequency of complications and improvement in functional outcome and disability levels can be achieved through rehabilitation programs. Long-term controlled studies with large number of patients are needed in order to obtain accurate data on factors associated with rehabilitation outcomes.KEY WORDS: Traumatic brain injury. Rehabilitation. Complication. Resultados de la rehabilitacion despues de sufrir un traumatismo craneoencefálico ResumenEntre los objetivos de la rehabilitación después de un traumatismo craneoencefálico está la mejoría de la función cerebral el aumento del grado de independencia la prevención de complicaciones y la obtención de un ambiente acceptable para el paciente. Durante el período de la rehabilitación pueden producirse varias complicaciones que conducen a discapacidades físicas, cognitivas y otras neurológicas que causan un importante retraso en la mejoría funcional. Este estudio ha sido diseñado para investigar las complicaciones observadas en los pacientes que se incluyeron en un programa de rehabilitación en fase aguda, sus relaciones con el estado funcional y los factores que tienen impacto en los resultados de la rehabilitación.Se incluyen en el estudio treinta pacientes con traumatismo craneoencefálico admitidos en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos de la Escuela de Medicina de la Universidad de Uludag. El programa de rehabilitación consistió en rehabilitación postural, una serie de ejercicios de movimiento, y ejercicios respiratorios. Se regist...

Osteoporosis is a systemic disease characterized by the increase of bone fragility and fracture risk. Postmenopausal female osteoporotic patients were randomized into three groups: balance and coordination, strengthening, and aerobic exercise. The exercise programs were performed for 12 weeks, 1 hr each day for 3 days of the week. Patients were followed-up for 12 weeks after the initial intervention. After the exercise program, patients continued their daily life activities and were called back to the clinic for additional testing after 12 weeks. Static and dynamic balance measurements and pain and life quality assessments were performed at enrollment, and at the 12th and 24th weeks. Significant improvements in both the Timed Up and Go test and Berg Balance Scale values at the 12th week were only observed in the balance-coordination group. There were statistically significant improvements in night and daytime pain visual analog scale scores at the 12th and 24th weeks in the strengthening exercise group. No patient experienced falling during the 24th week follow-up. The strengthening exercises were observed to be more effective in pain reduction, and balance and coordination exercises were found to be more effective in improvement of static and dynamic balance.