Editor's Note, Volume 6 Issue 4

D’Arcy Little, MD, CCFP, FRCPC
Medical Director, JCCC and HealthPlexus.NET

I am pleased to introduce the next issue of the Journal of Current Clinical Care for your reading pleasure.

Drs. Safraz Mohammed, Robert A. Ravinsky and Albert J.M. Yee, present Current Concepts in the Surgical Treatment of the Degenerative Spine. Degenerative conditions of the spine are a major cause of disability, and represent a large economic burden on the health care system. This article emphasizes some clinical pearls in this condition, and outlines specific indications for surgical referral, as well as red flags that should prompt urgent referral for serious entities, such as malignancy and infection.

In his case study, A New Approach for the Excision of a Vallecular Cyst Using a Zero-Degree Nasal Endoscope, Dr. Pradeep Shenoy, from Campbellton Regional Hospital in New Brunswick reviews the clinical presentation and treatment of a patient’s vascular cyst. Though rare, it could be a medical emergency for an individual of any age. A new approach for the complete excision of the vallecular cyst is described in detail.

For the Dermatology Resource, Dr. Joseph M. Lam from the University of British Columbia and Mary Tong, from McMaster University present a case study on Median Raphe Cysts. Median raphe cysts are rare congenital lesions caused by a defect in embryological development of the male genitalia. They can present as solitary or multiple papules along the median raphe from urethral meatus to the anus. Although they are asymptomatic during childhood, they can cause problems later on as they increase in size. Surgical excision of the lesion is not necessary unless the patient becomes symptomatic.

In their blog, Beyond Medications for Dementia, Dr. Michael Gordon, from the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care in Toronto examines a variety of non-medication interventions that may be very effective and helpful without the risk of medication side-effects for patients who have disruptive behaviour associated with dementia. Doll therapy, massage, pet therapy, and individualized music therapy have shown to be effective methods for dealing with behavioural disturbances.

I hope you enjoy this latest edition. Please consider commenting or submitting an article of your own.