Valley Medical Center

We devised a new method for examining the structural changes that occur in trabecular bone in aging and in osteoporosis. With simultaneous measurement of total perimeter and bone area in thin sections, indirect indices of mean trabecular plate thickness (MTPT) and mean trabecular plate density (MTPD) can be derived, such that trabecular bone volume = MTPD X MTPT. MTPD is an index of the probability that a scanning or test line will intersect a structural element of bone, and is the reciprocal of the mean distance between the midpoints of structural elements, multiplied by pi/2. We applied this method to iliac bone samples from 78 normal subjects, 100 patients with vertebral fracture, and 50 patients with hip fracture. The reduction in trabecular bone volume observed in normal subjects with increasing age was mainly due to a reduction in plate density, with no significant decrease in plate thickness. The further reduction in trabecular bone volume observed in patients with osteoporotic vertebral fracture was mainly due to a further reduction in plate density. There was a relatively smaller reduction in plate thickness that was statistically significant in males but not in females. Only in patients with hip fracture did trabecular thinning contribute substantially to the additional loss of trabecular bone in osteoporosis relative to age. These data indicate that age-related bone loss occurs principally by a process that removes entire structural elements of bone; those that remain are more widely separated and some may undergo compensatory thickening, but most slowly become reduced in thickness. We propose that the process of removal is initiated by increased depth of osteoclastic resorption cavities which leads to focal perforation of trabecular plates; this is followed by progressive enlargement of the perforations with conversion of plates to rods. The resulting structural changes are more severe in osteoporotic patients than in normal subjects, but have been completed in most patients before they develop symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation is causally related to atherothrombosis. Treatment with canakinumab, a monoclonal antibody that inhibits inflammation by neutralizing interleukin-1β, resulted in a lower rate of cardiovascular events than placebo in a previous randomized trial. We sought to determine whether an alternative approach to inflammation inhibition with low-dose methotrexate might provide similar benefit. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind trial of low-dose methotrexate (at a target dose of 15 to 20 mg weekly) or matching placebo in 4786 patients with previous myocardial infarction or multivessel coronary disease who additionally had either type 2 diabetes or the metabolic syndrome. All participants received 1 mg of folate daily. The primary end point at the onset of the trial was a composite of nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or cardiovascular death. Near the conclusion of the trial, but before unblinding, hospitalization for unstable angina that led to urgent revascularization was added to the primary end point. RESULTS: The trial was stopped after a median follow-up of 2.3 years. Methotrexate did not result in lower interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, or C-reactive protein levels than placebo. The final primary end point occurred in 201 patients in the methotrexate group and in 207 in the placebo group (incidence rate, 4.13 vs. 4.31 per 100 person-years; hazard ratio, 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.79 to 1.16). The original primary end point occurred in 170 patients in the methotrexate group and in 167 in the placebo group (incidence rate, 3.46 vs. 3.43 per 100 person-years; hazard ratio, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.82 to 1.25). Methotrexate was associated with elevations in liver-enzyme levels, reductions in leukocyte counts and hematocrit levels, and a higher incidence of non-basal-cell skin cancers than placebo. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with stable atherosclerosis, low-dose methotrexate did not reduce levels of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, or C-reactive protein and did not result in fewer cardiovascular events than placebo. (Funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; CIRT ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01594333.).

The National Institute of Mental Health initiated the Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness (CATIE) program to evaluate the effectiveness of antipsychotic drugs in typical settings and populations so that the study results will be maximally useful in routine clinical situations. The CATIE schizophrenia trial blends features of efficacy studies and large, simple trials to create a pragmatic trial that will provide extensive information about antipsychotic drug effectiveness over at least 18 months. The protocol allows for subjects who receive a study drug that is not effective to receive subsequent treatments within the context of the study. Medication dosages are adjusted within a defined range according to clinical judgment. The primary outcome is all-cause treatment discontinuation because it represents an important clinical endpoint that reflects both clinician and patient judgments about efficacy and tolerability. Secondary outcomes include symptoms, side effects, neurocognitive functioning, and cost-effectiveness. Approximately 50 clinical sites across the United States are seeking to enroll a total of 1,500 persons with schizophrenia. Phase 1 is a double-blinded randomized clinical trial comparing treatment with the second generation antipsychotics olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone, and ziprasidone to perphenazine, a midpotency first generation antipsychotic. If the initially assigned medication is not effective, subjects may choose one of the following phase 2 trials: (1) randomization to open-label clozapine or a double-blinded second generation drug that was available but not assigned in phase 1; or (2) double-blinded randomization to ziprasidone or another second generation drug that was available but not assigned in phase 1. If the phase 2 study drug is discontinued, subjects may enter phase 3, in which clinicians help subjects select an open-label treatment based on individuals' experiences in phases 1 and 2.

BACKGROUND: In patients with coronary artery disease who receive metallic drug-eluting coronary stents, adverse events such as late target-lesion failure may be related in part to the persistent presence of the metallic stent frame in the coronary-vessel wall. Bioresorbable vascular scaffolds have been developed to attempt to improve long-term outcomes. METHODS: In this large, multicenter, randomized trial, 2008 patients with stable or unstable angina were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive an everolimus-eluting bioresorbable vascular (Absorb) scaffold (1322 patients) or an everolimus-eluting cobalt-chromium (Xience) stent (686 patients). The primary end point, which was tested for both noninferiority (margin, 4.5 percentage points for the risk difference) and superiority, was target-lesion failure (cardiac death, target-vessel myocardial infarction, or ischemia-driven target-lesion revascularization) at 1 year. RESULTS: Target-lesion failure at 1 year occurred in 7.8% of patients in the Absorb group and in 6.1% of patients in the Xience group (difference, 1.7 percentage points; 95% confidence interval, -0.5 to 3.9; P=0.007 for noninferiority and P=0.16 for superiority). There was no significant difference between the Absorb group and the Xience group in rates of cardiac death (0.6% and 0.1%, respectively; P=0.29), target-vessel myocardial infarction (6.0% and 4.6%, respectively; P=0.18), or ischemia-driven target-lesion revascularization (3.0% and 2.5%, respectively; P=0.50). Device thrombosis within 1 year occurred in 1.5% of patients in the Absorb group and in 0.7% of patients in the Xience group (P=0.13). CONCLUSIONS: In this large-scale, randomized trial, treatment of noncomplex obstructive coronary artery disease with an everolimus-eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffold, as compared with an everolimus-eluting cobalt-chromium stent, was within the prespecified margin for noninferiority with respect to target-lesion failure at 1 year. (Funded by Abbott Vascular; ABSORB III ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01751906.).

BACKGROUND: Trauma center resource management could be facilitated by a readily available indicator of resource consumption. This marker should identify patients more likely to require transfusion and intensive care services and to develop complications. Base deficit (BD) has been shown to be a valuable indicator of shock, abdominal injury, fluid requirements, efficacy of resuscitation, and to be predictive of mortality after trauma. This study was performed to determine whether BD could be used to identify which patients were likely to require blood transfusion in the first 24 hours of hospitalization, and to develop shock-related complications and increased intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stays. METHODS: A retrospective review of 2,954 patients admitted to the Valley Medical Center Level I trauma service from July 1990 through August 1995 was done using the trauma registry and blood bank data bases. Medical record review was done to supplement missing data. RESULTS: Transfusion requirements increased as the BD category became more severe (p < 0.001). Transfusions were required within 24 hours of admission in 72% of patients with a BD < or = -6 versus 18% of patients with a BD > -6 (p < 0.001, chi 2). Both ICU and hospital length of stay increased with worsening BD (p < 0.015 and p < 0.05, respectively). The frequency of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (p < 0.01), renal failure (p = 0.015), coagulopathy (p < 0.001), and multiorgan system failure (MOF) (p = 0.002) all increased with increasingly severe BD. Discriminate analysis using Injury Severity Score (ISS) and BD category demonstrated predictive accuracy of 81%, 77%, and 77% for coagulopathy, ARDS, and MOF, respectively. Mortality also increased with worsening BD. When stratified by BD category, there was no difference between observed and predicted survival. CONCLUSIONS: Admission BD identifies patients likely to require early transfusion and increased ICU and hospital stays, and be at increased risk for shock-related complications. Patients with BD < or = -6 should undergo type and cross-match rather than type and screen. The use of ISS and BD category probability curves may identify candidates for early invasive monitoring.

BACKGROUND: Studies of alleged victims of child sexual abuse vary greatly in the reported frequency of physical findings based on differences in definition of abuse and of "findings." This study was designed to determine the frequency of abnormal findings in a population of children with legal confirmation of sexual abuse, using a standardized classification system for colposcopic photographic findings. METHODS: Case files and colposcopic photographs of 236 children with perpetrator conviction for sexual abuse, were reviewed. The photos were reviewed blindly by a team member other than the examiner, and specific anatomical findings were noted and classified as normal to abnormal on a scale of 1 to 5. Historical and behavioral information, as well as legal outcome was recorded, and all data entered into a dBase III program. Correlations were sought between abnormal findings and other variables. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 9.0 years (range 8 months to 17 years, 11 months), with 63% reporting penile-genital contact. Genital examination findings in girls were normal in 28%, nonspecific in 49%, suspicious in 9%, and abnormal in 14% of cases. Abnormal anal findings were found in only 1% of patients. Using discriminant analysis, the two factors which significantly correlated with the presence of abnormal genital findings in girls were the time since the last incident, and a history of blood being reported at the time of the molest. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal genital findings are not common in sexually abused girls, based on a standardized classification system. More emphasis should be placed on documenting the child's description of the molestation, and educating prosecutors that, for children alleging abuse: "It's normal to be normal."

The purpose of this study was to identify subjective complaints and objective findings in patients treated for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). Three hundred and one arthroscopic hip surgeries were performed to treat FAI. The most frequent presenting complaint was pain, with 85% of patients reporting moderate or marked pain. The most common location of pain was the groin (81%). The average modified Harris Hip score was 58.5 (range 14-100). The average sports hip outcome score was 44.0 (range 0-100). The anterior impingement test was positive in 99% of the patients. Range of motion was reduced in the injured hip. Patients who had degenerative changes in the hip had a greater reduction in range of motion. The most common symptom reported in patients with FAI was groin pain. Patient showed decreased ability to perform activities of daily living and sports. Significant decreases in hip motion were observed in operative hips compared to non-operative hips.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the seizure-reduction response and safety of mesial temporal lobe (MTL) brain-responsive stimulation in adults with medically intractable partial-onset seizures of mesial temporal lobe origin. METHODS: Subjects with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) were identified from prospective clinical trials of a brain-responsive neurostimulator (RNS System, NeuroPace). The seizure reduction over years 2-6 postimplantation was calculated by assessing the seizure frequency compared to a preimplantation baseline. Safety was assessed based on reported adverse events. RESULTS: There were 111 subjects with MTLE; 72% of subjects had bilateral MTL onsets and 28% had unilateral onsets. Subjects had one to four leads placed; only two leads could be connected to the device. Seventy-six subjects had depth leads only, 29 had both depth and strip leads, and 6 had only strip leads. The mean follow-up was 6.1 ± (standard deviation) 2.2 years. The median percent seizure reduction was 70% (last observation carried forward). Twenty-nine percent of subjects experienced at least one seizure-free period of 6 months or longer, and 15% experienced at least one seizure-free period of 1 year or longer. There was no difference in seizure reduction in subjects with and without mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS), bilateral MTL onsets, prior resection, prior intracranial monitoring, and prior vagus nerve stimulation. In addition, seizure reduction was not dependent on the location of depth leads relative to the hippocampus. The most frequent serious device-related adverse event was soft tissue implant-site infection (overall rate, including events categorized as device-related, uncertain, or not device-related: 0.03 per implant year, which is not greater than with other neurostimulation devices). SIGNIFICANCE: Brain-responsive stimulation represents a safe and effective treatment option for patients with medically intractable epilepsy, including patients with unilateral or bilateral MTLE who are not candidates for temporal lobectomy or who have failed a prior MTL resection.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the size of cam lesions and the presence of cartilage damage, labral damage, or changes in range of motion in the hips with signs and symptoms of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). METHODS: Cross-table lateral radiographs were available for 102 consecutive patients presenting with signs and symptoms of FAI. Radiographs with excessive external rotation, dysplasia, severe arthritis, avascular necrosis, or Legg-Calvé-Perthes syndrome were excluded, leaving 82 patients available for analysis (47 men, 35 women; average age, 25 yr [range, 12 to 55 yr]). Offset angle alpha was measured from the films with a digital goniometer. Patients subsequently underwent hip arthroscopy and the surgical findings and hip range of motion were prospectively recorded. RESULTS: Higher offset angle alpha was associated with the presence of acetabular rim chondral defects (P = .044) and full-thickness delamination of the acetabular cartilage (P = .034). Patients with detachment of the base of the labrum had a higher offset angle alpha (P = .016). Higher offset angle alpha was related to male sex (P = .001) and decreased range of motion (P < .05), but not to age. CONCLUSIONS: Cam-type FAI, as measured by an increased offset angle alpha, was correlated with increased chondral damage, labral injury, and decreased range of motion.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to evaluate our experience with the laparoscopic gastric bypass. The technique, weight loss data, and complications are described. METHODS: 1,500 consecutive patients were evaluated prospectively. All patients met NIH criteria for bariatric surgery. Although there have been modifications with respect to staplers, suture material, and dissection techniques, the basic anatomical construct has remained the same, including performing a completely hand-sewn gastrojejunostomy. RESULTS: There were no anastomotic leaks from the hand-sewn gastrojejunostomy. Operative times now are consistently 60 minutes or less, although the learning curve is quite long. Average hospital stay was 1.5 days. Average excessive weight loss was 69% at one and two years and 62% at three years. Overall complication rate was 14.8%. Perioperative death rate was 0.2%. CONCLUSIONS: The laparoscopic gastric bypass is a viable alternative to traditional open techniques. It is as safe and effective and can be performed with equal or greater efficiency. Adoption of hand-suturing techniques helps to improve the surgeon's skill and ability to cope with the occasional stapler misfire or complication.

From the Department of Medicine, ULCA Center for the Health Sciences, Los Angeles, and the Valley Medical Center of Fresno, Fresno, California

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the seizure-reduction response and safety of brain-responsive stimulation in adults with medically intractable partial-onset seizures of neocortical origin. METHODS: Patients with partial seizures of neocortical origin were identified from prospective clinical trials of a brain-responsive neurostimulator (RNS System, NeuroPace). The seizure reduction over years 2-6 postimplantation was calculated by assessing the seizure frequency compared to a preimplantation baseline. Safety was assessed based on reported adverse events. Additional analyses considered safety and seizure reduction according to lobe and functional area (e.g., eloquent cortex) of seizure onset. RESULTS: There were 126 patients with seizures of neocortical onset. The average follow-up was 6.1 implant years. The median percent seizure reduction was 70% in patients with frontal and parietal seizure onsets, 58% in those with temporal neocortical onsets, and 51% in those with multilobar onsets (last observation carried forward [LOCF] analysis). Twenty-six percent of patients experienced at least one seizure-free period of 6 months or longer and 14% experienced at least one seizure-free period of 1 year or longer. Patients with lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; 77% reduction, LOCF) and those with normal MRI findings (45% reduction, LOCF) benefitted, although the treatment response was more robust in patients with an MRI lesion (p = 0.02, generalized estimating equation [GEE]). There were no differences in the seizure reduction in patients with and without prior epilepsy surgery or vagus nerve stimulation. Stimulation parameters used for treatment did not cause acute or chronic neurologic deficits, even in eloquent cortical areas. The rates of infection (0.017 per patient implant year) and perioperative hemorrhage (0.8%) were not greater than with other neurostimulation devices. SIGNIFICANCE: Brain-responsive stimulation represents a safe and effective treatment option for patients with medically intractable epilepsy, including adults with seizures of neocortical onset, and those with onsets from eloquent cortex.

Sixteen patients with fractures or fracture-dislocations of the tarsometatarsal (Lisfranc) joint who failed initial treatment were salvaged by arthrodesis using a technique of rigid internal fixation. Preoperative symptoms included local pain in all patients, progressive flatfoot deformity with forefoot abduction in 12 patients, and ankle or lateral impingement pain in five. The technique involved exposing the joint, denuding it of cartilage and scar, and reduction and fixation with lag screws. A total of 49 joints were fused. When significant deformity was present, reduction was performed before arthrodesis. Clinically symptomatic and radiographically proven nonunion occurred in four sites in three patients. One healed after revision. Good to excellent results were obtained in 11 patients (69%). Five patients had a fair or poor results. All but one of the patients were subjectively improved. Four patients were symptom free and returned to their preinjury lifestyles. Accurate reduction and early treatment had a significant positive relationship with outcome. Injuries that occurred in the workplace and those that incurred a long delay until treatment showed a significant negative correlation to outcome. Neither the age of the patient nor the number of joints fused had a significant impact on result.

Surgical smoke is a part of the environment during operative and invasive procedures. As lasers and electrosurgery have become commonplace, perioperative practitioners are at increased risk for health concerns associated with exposure to surgical smoke. Since the mid 1970s, the body of evidence documenting the hazardous components of surgical smoke has continued to grow. Despite the evidence and recommendations of a variety of organizations, there are no uniform requirements mandating surgical smoke evacuation. This article reviews current research to identify the potential health hazards as well as the current recommendations related to the filtration and evacuation of surgical smoke.

This project was designed to collect normative data on the genital anatomy from a sample of nonabused prepubertal girls. A total of 114 girls between the ages of 10 months and 10 years were examined and photographed with a colposcope. After screening for the onset of puberty and the possibility of undetected abuse, 93 subjects remained. Examination techniques included a supine labial separation approach, a supine labial traction method, and a prone knee-chest position. Common genital finding included erythema of the vestibule (56%), periurethral bands (50.6%), labial adhesions (38.9%), lymphoid follicles on the fossa navicularis (33.7%), posterior fourchette midline avascular areas (25.6%), and urethral dilation with labial traction (14.9%). The hymenal orifice opened more frequently during the knee-chest (95.2%) and the labial traction (90.5%) methods than with the supine separation (79.3%) approach. Hymenal findings included mounds (33.8%), projections (33.3%), and "septal remnants"/midline hymenal tags (18.5%). Intravaginal findings of vaginal ridges (90.2%) and rugae (88.7%) were found primarily through the labial traction approach. The cervix was visualized without the use of speculum in 69% of the children during the knee-chest examination. Unusual findings included posterior fourchette friability (4.7%), anterior hymenal clefts (1.2%), and notches of the hymen (6%). One child had an imperforate hymen (1.2%) and 2 (2.5%) had hymenal septa. A vaginal discharge was detected in 2 (2.6%) and a foreign body in 1 (1.3%). Tables that include the vertical and horizontal hymenal orifice diameters by age group and by method are presented.

BACKGROUND: Patient navigators may increase colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates among adults in underserved communities, but prior randomized trials have been small or conducted at single sites and have not included substantial numbers of Haitian Creole-speaking or Portuguese-speaking patients. METHODS: We identified 465 primary care patients from 4 community health centers and 2 public hospital-based clinics who were not up-to-date with CRC screening and spoke English, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, or Spanish as their primary language. We enrolled participants from September 1, 2008, through March 31, 2009, and followed them up for 1 year after enrollment. We randomly allocated patients to receive a patient navigation-based intervention or usual care. Intervention patients received an introductory letter from their primary care provider with educational material, followed by telephone calls from a language-concordant navigator. The navigators offered patients the option of being screened by fecal occult blood testing or colonoscopy. The primary outcome was completion of any CRC screening within 1 year. Secondary outcomes included the proportions of patients screened by colonoscopy who had adenomas or cancer detected. RESULTS: During a 1-year period, intervention patients were more likely to undergo CRC screening than control patients (33.6% vs 20.0%; P < .001), to be screened by colonoscopy (26.4% vs 13.0%; P < .001), and to have adenomas detected (8.1% vs 3.9%; P = .06). In prespecified subgroup analyses, the navigator intervention was particularly beneficial for patients whose primary language was other than English (39.8% vs 18.6%; P < .001) and black patients (39.7% vs 16.7%; P = .004). CONCLUSIONS: Patient navigation increased completion of CRC screening among ethnically diverse patients. Targeting patient navigation to black and non-English-speaking patients may be a useful approach to reducing disparities in CRC screening. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01141114.

Importance: Functional impairment and pain are common indications for the initiation of lumbar spine surgery, but information about expected improvement in these patient-reported outcome (PRO) domains is not readily available to most patients and clinicians considering this type of surgery. Objective: To assess population-level PRO response after lumbar spine surgery, and develop/validate a prediction tool for PRO improvement. Design, Setting, and Participants: This statewide multicenter cohort was based at 15 Washington state hospitals representing approximately 75% of the state's spine fusion procedures. The Spine Surgical Care and Outcomes Assessment Program and the survey center at the Comparative Effectiveness Translational Network prospectively collected clinical and PRO data from adult candidates for lumbar surgery, preoperatively and postoperatively, between 2012 and 2016. Prediction models were derived for PRO improvement 1 year after lumbar fusion surgeries on a random sample of 85% of the data and were validated in the remaining 15%. Surgical candidates from 2012 through 2015 were included; follow-up surveying continued until December 31, 2016, and data analysis was completed from July 2016 to April 2017. Main Outcomes and Measures: Functional improvement, defined as a reduction in Oswestry Disability Index score of 15 points or more; and back pain and leg pain improvement, defined a reduction in Numeric Rating Scale score of 2 points or more. Results: A total of 1965 adult lumbar surgical candidates (mean [SD] age, 61.3 [12.5] years; 944 [59.6%] female) completed baseline surveys before surgery and at least 1 postoperative follow-up survey within 3 years. Of these, 1583 (80.6%) underwent elective lumbar fusion procedures; 1223 (77.3%) had stenosis, and 1033 (65.3%) had spondylolisthesis. Twelve-month follow-up participation rates for each outcome were between 66% and 70%. Improvements were reported in function, back pain, and leg pain at 12 months by 306 of 528 surgical patients (58.0%), 616 of 899 patients (68.5%), and 355 of 464 patients (76.5%), respectively, whose baseline scores indicated moderate to severe symptoms. Among nonoperative patients, 35 (43.8%), 47 (53.4%), and 53 (63.9%) reported improvements in function, back pain, and leg pain, respectively. Demographic and clinical characteristics included in the final prediction models were age, sex, race, insurance status, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, smoking status, diagnoses, prior surgery, prescription opioid use, asthma, and baseline PRO scores. The models had good predictive performance in the validation cohort (concordance statistic, 0.66-0.79) and were incorporated into a patient-facing, web-based interactive tool (https://becertain.shinyapps.io/lumbar_fusion_calculator). Conclusions and Relevance: The PRO response prediction tool, informed by population-level data, explained most of the variability in pain reduction and functional improvement after surgery. Giving patients accurate information about their likelihood of outcomes may be a helpful component in surgery decision making.

With the exception of oral medications, most traditional forms of drug delivery outside the operating suite require an injection with a needle-a process that is painful and anxiety-provoking, risks needle stick injury, and consumes valuable staff time. In addition, intravenous access in pediatrics may be difficult for inexperienced providers. Intranasal medication delivery offers an alternative method of drug delivery that is often as fast in onset as intravenous medication, usually painless, inexpensive, easy to deliver, and effective in a variety of acute pediatric medical conditions. This article briefly reviews the most common uses for intranasal medication delivery in pediatrics: pain control, anxiolysis, and seizure control.

Self-reported versus informant-reported memory problems in nondemented elderly adults and in individuals with very mild and mild dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) were correlated with cognitive outcomes. No significant correlations were found between self-reported memory complaints and cognitive performance or (in controls) later development of dementia. In contrast, informant-reported memory loss distinguished nondemented from demented individuals and predicted future diagnosis of DAT.

Four children who incurred perianal injuries as a result of a sexual assault were followed on a longitudinal basis to document the anatomical changes that ensued. The subjects, whose ages ranged from 4 to 8 years, were followed from 1 week to 14 months. They were examined in both supine and prone knee-chest positions and a 35-mm camera mounted on a colposcope was used to record their injuries. At the time of the initial examination, there were a variety of findings including erythema of the tissues, edema of the skin folds, localized venous engorgement, dilation of the external anal sphincter, and lacerations of different depths. Superficial lacerations reepithelized within 1 to 11 days. The second-degree wounds in two of the children were healed by the 1- and 5-week return visits, leaving narrow bands of scar tissue. In the two subjects who were followed the longest, signs of both a second-degree laceration and a surgically repaired third-degree injury had virtually disappeared by 12 to 14 months after the assaults. The wounds in one subject, infected with a herpes simplex type 2 virus, remained erythematous for a longer period of time than did similar injuries in the other children. A skin tag created by the avulsion of the tissues in one subject persisted, although it became less obvious as it retracted into the redundant folds of the perianal tissues over time.