Medical science, drawn into focus.

ACL Tear

Overview Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear is one of the most common knee injuries, particularly in young athletes involved in pivoting sports (soccer, basketball, skiing). ACL injuries account for ~50% of all knee ligament injuries, with an incidence of ~68 per 100,000 annually, more common in females due to anatomical and biomechanical risk factors. ACL…

Osteomalacia / Rickets

Overview Osteomalacia (adults) and rickets (children) are disorders of impaired bone mineralisation leading to soft, poorly mineralised bone. It arises when there is insufficient calcium–phosphate supply to the mineralising matrix due to vitamin D deficiency, calcium deficiency, phosphate deficiency (often FGF23-mediated). Nutritional rickets still occurs worldwide, while hypophosphataemic forms (e.g., XLH, tumour-induced osteomalacia) are rarer…

Varicose Veins

Overview Varivose veins (VV) are long, torturous and dilated don't veins of the superficial venous system. There is a spectrum ranging from telangiectasias (dilated interdermal venules less than 1 mm), through to reticular veins (non-palpable subdermal veins 1–3 mm) to varicose veins (greater than 3 mm). 35% of the general population affected. The venous system of…

Stroke (Ischaemic and Haemorrhagic)

Overview Third most common cause of death worldwide and most common cause of neurological disability. It is subdivided into ischaemic stroke (caused by vascular occlusion or stenosis) and haemorrhagic stroke (caused by vascular rupture, resulting in intra-parenchymal and/or subarachnoid haemorrhage). Stroke: Acute onset of a focal neurologic deficit due to a cerebral infarction or hemorrhage. Transient Ischaemic…

Valvular Heart Disease

Overview Valvular disease can come to clinical attention due to stenosis, insufficiency (regurgitation/incompetence) or both. Stenosis is the failure of a valve to open completely, which impedes forward flow. Insufficiency results from failure of a valve to close completely, thereby allows reversed flow.  Doppler echocardiogram is the best technique for assessing patients with valvular heart disease, but…

Acute Liver (Hepatic) Failure

Overview Acute liver failure is a rare but life-threatening critical illness that occurs most often in patients who do not have preexisting liver disease. Acute liver failure is seen most commonly in previously healthy adults in their 30s and presents unique challenges in clinical management. The clinical presentation usually includes hepatic dysfunction, abnormal liver biochemical…

Somatoform Disorders

Overview Doctors and patients often experience frustration and helplessness in consultations around medically unexplained symptoms. Up to 50 percent of primary care patients present with physical symptoms that cannot be explained by a general medical condition. Although most do not meet the strict psychiatric diagnostic criteria for one of the somatoform disorders, they can be referred to…

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