Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Immediately Post-op Carpal Tunnel release
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is common and is the result of the median nerve becoming squeezed or "entrapped" as it passes through the wrist down into the palm of the hand.  Because this is a sensory nerve, the compression causes tingling, burning and itching numbness in the palm of the hand and fingers. A different nerve goes to the little finger and

Teens and Soda and Junk Science

The headlines of a number of newspapers say "Soda Boosts Violence Among Teenagers."  A new study out of Harvard's Public Health Division analyzed data from 1878 14 to 18 year olds and found those who drank over 5 cans of non-diet soda a week consumed more alcohol and smoked more cigarettes.  Additionally those teens were more likely to carry a knife and exhibit violence toward family and peers.

Robots Bring Care to Remote Places

Both in the United States and around the globe there is a mismatch between needed medical care and the doctors who can provide it.  Most physicians are located in urban areas where there are hospitals, teaching schools, lab and Xray and specialists to deal with most every medical condition.  Rural areas in the United States lack these resources and patients either do without,  or must travel far

Kid's Allergies and Asthma

There never seems to be enough time for parents to ask all of the questions they want of their kid's pediatrician.  And parents whose children have allergies or asthma have lots of questions and new concerns that pop up all of the time.  The American Academy of Pediatrics has published an updated guide called "Allergies and Asthma - What Every Parent Needs to Know."   This paperback should go a

Ovarian Cancer Screening of No Value

If you want to create an outcry of indignation,  just inform people that certain screening tests are of no value and do not increase time on this earth.  People love the idea that if they do all the right things and get all the medical tests at the right time, they can prevent disease ( ....uh...no, tests don't prevent anything) or catch cancer early and cure it.

The furor over the lack of

Male Circumcision

Male circumcision has been practiced for cultural and religious reasons since ancient times and it is estimated that about 1/4 of the world's men are circumcised.  It is a controversial topic and the debate about medical benefits of circumcision has not been fully resolved.   The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has recently published three randomized trials from Africa that

Doctors Charging Add On Fees

 My telecom bill is pretty high when you take the basic rate and then add on "additional bundled services ($4.99)", "Internet Services ($7.00)", "Additional Voice Service ($25.72)", Taxes, surcharges and fees ($10.47), "911 fee ($.24)" and "other charges and credits ($2.99).  One way doctors could deal with their declining incomes (down 7%-25% adjusted for inflation depending upon the specialty)

Calming

All is Well

Answer to Medical Challenge

The answer to the Medical Challenge this week is #3 - Graves' disease.

The skin changes seen on the lower legs are typical of Graves' dermopathy.  The skin has a leathery texture, thickening and fissuring.

Graves' disease, named after the Irish doctor Robert James Graves, who first described it in 1835 is caused by an overactive thyroid gland.  Thyroid auto-antibodies stimulate thyroid hormone

Michael Jackson's Doctor

The 2nd degree manslaughter trial of Dr. Conrad Murray, the doctor who attended Michael Jackson at the time of his death June 25, 2009,  is now underway in LA.  The testimony that is taking place is certainly revealing of the last day of Mr. Jackson's life.  Michael Jackson died of an acute Propofol overdose and the toxicology report also revealed Valium, Lorezepam, Versed, Lidocaine  and

This Weeks Medical Challenge

Avert your eyes if you can't stand this weeks Medical Challenge  from the New England Journal of Medicine.  Click on the image for a better view.

This Patient is being treated for an endocrine disease.  What is it?
1.  Acromegaly ("giantism")
2.  Cushing's disease (excess cortisol)
3.  Graves' Disease (hyperthyroidism)
4.  Hashimoto's thyroiditis (a thyroid disorder)
5.  Type 1 diabetes

  The

scintillating scotoma

image from myaspiebrain
Nothing like experiencing a medical condition first-hand to really help a doctor understand it from the patient's point of view.  After all these years, I had my first (and hopefully last) scintillating scotoma while sitting on the couch playing "words with friends" on my ipad and watching TV.  A scotoma is a partial loss of vision in a normal visual field.  Scintillate

Bedside Manners Worth $42 Million

A Chicago couple believes doctors should have good bedside manners and they have ponied up $42 million dollars to teach it.  Matthew and Carolyn Bucksbaum have donated to the Bucksbaum Institute for Clinical Excellence at the University of Chicago.  They made the donation for their own personal physician to lead it and say he's the kind of doctor students should emulate.  They were motivated to