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A medicolegal perspective on dental implants and bone grafting

For patients with missing teeth, dental implants offer an effective replacement, and the results of the procedure are generally very predictable and successful. Despite this, some dental implants do fail, at a rate of around…
Categories : Articles, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
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The management of nerve injuries in children

A major nerve injury can be devastating for the patient and full functional capability may never be regained, particularly when the injury occurs in adulthood. Conversely, children tend to recover much faster and experience better…
Categories : Articles, Plastic Surgery
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Assessing The Causality Of Osteoarthritis Following A Hip Fracture

Osteoarthritis (OA), also known as age-related arthritis or degenerative joint disease, is the commonest form of joint disorder and can affect any of the body’s joints. As the hip is one of the body’s largest…
Categories : Articles, Trauma and orthopaedics
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The Interaction Between Psychological Factors And Physical Pain Symptoms

Chronic pain is a debilitating condition that affects millions of people each year across the world. Historically, pain has always been viewed as a purely biological process and psychological and social factors were considered irrelevant.…
Categories : Articles, Defence, Pain
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A Medicolegal Perspective on Hospital Acquired Infections in the Intensive Care Unit

A hospital-acquired infection (HAI) is any infection that originates from a stay in a medical facility. HAIs occur frequently and represent the most common adverse event among hospitalised patients. The highest incidence is seen in…
Categories : Intensive care
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A Medicolegal Perspective on Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a rare but serious adverse reaction seen in patients administered one of several drugs used to treat skeletal conditions (1-3). It is most commonly associated with bisphosphonate (BP), which…
Categories : Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
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Complications and failures in airway management

While complications of airway management are surprisingly common, most are minor in nature. Major complications are rare, and although they have the potential to be life-threatening, they tend to result in morbidity rather than mortality (1-4).…
Categories : Articles, Intensive care
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The Medical and Medicolegal Implications of the Undertreatment of Pain

Pain is the commonest reason for a patient to visit their doctor, with around 25% of adults suffering from chronic pain at any one time, a figure that rises to around 50% in the over-65s.…
Categories : Articles, Pain
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Outcomes following upper limb injuries and their medicolegal implications

Injuries to the upper limbs can arise as the result of both disease processes, often associated with repetitive movements and wear and tear, and traumatic accidents. While many conditions can be treated successfully, the loss…
Categories : Articles, Trauma and orthopaedics
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The Medicolegal Aspects of Nerve, Muscle and Tendon Injury

Muscles and tendons (collectively known as musculotendinous units), and nerves are soft tissues that are found throughout the body (see figure 1). Nerves electrically stimulate the muscles, which pull on tendons which move bones – this…
Categories : Articles, Plastic Surgery
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