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kodak i2620 scanner driver free download
To maintain the integrity of your business process, you need a scanning solution that combines great image quality, simple operation and time-saving productivity. Kodak Scanner This latest i2000 series offers all in one powerful but small-sized package. With general inspection, this scanner can help you to make it easier for you to support the progress of business processes.
KODAK i2620 Scanner Specifications
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- Up to 7,000 pages per day
- Speed throughput (portrait, letter size) Up to 60 ppm / 120 ipm at 200 and 300 dpi
- Scanning Technology Dual CCD; Grayscale outputs bit depth is 256 levels (8-bit); the color capture bit depth is 48 bits (16 x 3); color output bit depth is 24 bits (8 x 3)
- Operator Control Panel
- Graphical LCD display
- Optical Resolution 600 dpi
- Dual indirect LED illumination
- Output Resolution 75/100/150/200/240/250/300/400/600/1200 dpi
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- 216 mm x 863 mm (8.5 x 34 in.) / 50 mm x 50 mm (2 in. X 2 in.)
- Long document mode: 216 mm x 4,064 mm (8.5 in. X 160 in.)
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Syptec offers Baremetal Servers, VMWare Cloud, Powerful SAN and NAS platforms. We have an extensive resume for powerful custom tailored solutions. We can help you today. HP, Dell, Oracle, freeNAS IX and more!
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Arizona's Central Region is the home of two of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the nation, including the Phoenix and Glendale area. As a result, the area boasts luxurious resorts, from turn-of-the-century to turn-of-the-moment; excellent golf courses designed by the world's most notable golf architects, five star dining, and entertainment ranging from colorful celebrations of Arizona heritage to ballet, theatre, and opera.
Outside of city life some unique Arizona activities exist: searching for gold at the Lost Dutchman Mine, visiting the animals at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum - one of the country's finest, or star gazing - at the Old Tucson movie location and Kitt Peak National Observatory.


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Lazy summer days are meant to be spent by the pool or under the shade tree with a book (or an eBook!) in your hand. Add a glass of something cool to drink by your side, and a big, floppy hat or a great pair of shades and you've just created the perfect summer afternoon.
If you need a little help rounding out your summer reading list, you've come to the right place!
All Stories are Love Stories
Elizabeth Percer
Two major earthquakes strike San Francisco and destroy the city on Valentine's Day. Three people's lives are changed forever as they fight for survival, confront their pasts and search for those they love.
Miller's Valley
Anna Quindlen
An emotional story about family life in a small town, and all the secrets, history, memory and loss that go with it. But more than that, it's also a story about finding identity and hope.
Everyone Brave is Forgiven
Chris Cleave
Love triangles are always complicated - especially during times of war. Travel from London to Malta during WWII as Mary, Tom and Alistair fight not only the way, but the small daily battles of life. Inspired by the real-life love letters of the author's grandparents.
Antonia Hayes
Ethan is a gifted 12 year old boy, being raised by a single mother. He's becoming curious about his missing father when he suddenly becomes very ill, tied to a tragic accident that occurred when he was a baby. His illness brings his father back into his life, forcing his parents to face the issues that first tore them apart.
The Girls in the Garden
Lisa Jewell
Things are not always as they seem. Even in beautiful neighborhoods, where you know and trust those who live near, bad things can happen. What really happened? To what lengths will your neighbors go to protect their own?
The Marriage of Opposites
Alice Hoffman
Young, beautiful Rachel was married off to an older widow with three children to save her father's business. When her husband suddenly died and his younger, handsome nephew arrived to settle the estate, Rachel's love story began. While she followed her heart, her choice was not without consequences - for her entire family.
The Sunlit Night
Rebecca Dinerstein
Sometimes, running away and coming home turn out to be the same thing. In The Sunlit Night, Frances and Yasha have both fled to an archipelago of tiny islands nearly 100 miles north of the Arctic circle to find isolation. Instead, they find each other, and love.
Ready to start reading? Well, what are you waiting for?!?


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LED Light Pivoting Compass Dashboard Dash Mount Marine Boat Truck Car Black
Features: Pivoting compass for car and boat. Easy to read precision dial. Adjustable mounting bracket and visible lubber line for easy direction reading. Fast response and precision engineering. It is made of high quality corrosion resistant enviromental-friendly material. Great for boat, marine boat, truck, and caravan. * Please never let the compass soak in water.


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Whenever we use any machine, then its cleaning is essential. To make the machinery work properly, then cleaning and maintaining the device is necessary. Not only the washing machine is important, but cleaning each part of the coffee maker is essential. So to keep the espresso coffee maker look like new, clean it after every use, or if it is used at commercial purpose, then rinse it at the end of the day. If you want to purchase a new coffee maker, then take a look at Helix coffee. They have a wide range of coffee makers.
- Click here to know the steps of cleaning the machine.
Cleaning takes ten minutes to clean it, so try to clean the machinery daily. With the help of proper sanitation, the life span of the machinery increases. When we clean the coffee maker regularly, then the life span of the machinery increases. So to make you coffee maker your long-time partners then wash it like you are cleaning your Mercedes. So follow the specific steps carefully:
- Step#1
Clean the machine with hot water to remove the impurities. After cleaning the pieces of equipment, wipe off the steam wands. The owner should clean the machinery in such a manner that no drop of milk is left over on the machine. Use the brush to clean the delicate part of the mechanism to avoid any scratch because it is made up of steel.
- Step#2
Remove the part of the machine from the portafilter. Use a soft brush to clean the basket as it is a delicate substance. Pass the hot water through the basket to make sure that the machinery is clean. While cleaning the insider part of the machine, wear gloves to protect your hands from chemical substances and hot water. Pour the water thrice to make sure that no impurity is left behind the machinery.
- Step#3
After washing the machinery parts from inside and out the surface area. Make sure that the espresso machine is cleaned from the underside. If you remove any piece of the machinery, then fit it properly with all screws and nuts to make its function effectively and efficiently. Scrub the machinery parts to make it look like a new one. The central piece of the machinery is its accurate and proper functioning.
- Step#4
Wash the machinery with fresh water to remove the chemical substances. Run the water through the basket until the water is poured clean. Follow the instructions written on the manual booklet. Clean the espresso machine according to the steps written below. Therefore, deep clean your machine thrice a month to avoid any problems. To make the taste of the coffee better, make sure that all the parts of the device are clean and tidy.
- Step#5
To make the coffee taste perfect cleans the machine properly. The taste of the coffee also depends upon on the cleanliness. If the machinery is dirty, then the taste of the coffee will not be perfect due to some bitterness and oily sticky substances. Use proper equipment to clean the machinery from deep inside. In the market, special detergents are also available for cleaning the espresso machine. So the person can also buy those particular substances to clean the machinery.


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Portico Benefit Services will never send you email asking for sensitive information. If we need to collect information from you, we'll always contact you by phone or in writing.
Beware of identity thieves who send fraudulent emails to trick you into disclosing personal or financial information. Criminals go to great lengths to create phony emails that appear to come from legitimate sources.
You can protect yourself from this form of identity theft. Know that Portico will never send you an email that:
If you receive suspicious email that claims to be from Portico, please contact us at 800.352.2876 or firstname.lastname@example.com to report it immediately. Don't reply to or click any links provided in the suspicious email.
We may send you email about your account and in response to your questions. We may also send you email with information and special offers about products and services that may be of interest to you, unless you indicate you don't want to receive them. For additional information about declining email from us, please contact our Customer Care Center at 800.352.2876 or email@example.com.


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Nov 5, 2018
If you're going to master one time-saving thing for a successful Disney vacation, it's the FastPass and MaxPass system. Knowing how these work will give you less time in lines, and more times enjoying the park. Our special guest Leslie Harvey joins us with over 60 visits to Disney parks to lend us extra expertise on this crucial Disney Parks topic.


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Criminal background checks are an important part of screening the workers and volunteers who assist with the children and youth in your church. Among the questions that we are asked at Tedford Insurance regarding background checks, the following three are among the most commonly asked:
1. Can we perform criminal background checks on minors who are seeking to volunteer or work with children/youth?
Yes, while it is technically possible, with parents' or guardian's permission, to run a criminal background check on a minor, the results obtained are likely to be extremely limited. Most juvenile court records are not publicly available. If the minor was charged and convicted as an adult, the background check would return a "hit," but otherwise no record would be returned even if the minor was found to be involved in a juvenile offense. Still, for the purpose of showing the church's due diligence, some organizations choose to run the criminal background check on a minor, regardless.
When an organization is aware that the integrity of one part of its child protection program (background checks) is lessened, it should consider increasing vigilance in other parts. This can be accomplished, for example, by focusing on reference checks where the minor has volunteered or worked with children in the past, including babysitting, and requiring increased adult supervision of the minor.
2. How long should we retain records of criminal background checks?
Due to the sensitive nature of the data involved in the background check process, your organization should have a process in place to keep all documents regarding background checks secure and confidential. This would include, but not be limited to, the consent form, the results, and any related documentation. Hard copy documents should be kept in a secured (locked) file and office. Records
maintained on a computer should likewise be secured with a password and other protections.
It is recommended that the organization keep a copy of the background check in some format as long as state law allows. Some states limit the length of time that an employer can keep background check material on an employ
ee but most states do not. Because sexual abuse claims by minors can be filed years later, a recommended practice is to retain the documentation indefinitely to assist with defense of a claim if it is presented years later. Since storage space is often an issue, one way to address this is to have a policy of retaining only electronic copies of the documents (scanned and saved onto a CD, flash drive or other compact, savable media) and not hard copies. GuideOne's Check and Protect background check program powered by SingleSource Services provides indefinite storage of all searches and can be accessed at any time if copies are needed in the future.
3. How often should we re-run criminal background checks?
The most common practice is to run criminal background checks every two to five years, with the following caveats:
If your organization operates a school, day care or preschool that is licensed or accredited, the licensing body or accreditation organization may have requirements on the frequency of running criminal background checks on workers.
If a worker or volunteer ends their service and then comes back and wants to work with minors again, it is a good idea to run the background check at that time.
Your organization may want to check with local schools or other youth-serving organizations in the area to see how often they run background checks, then consider following that frequency at a minimum. In that way, it could be argued that the organization is following the standard of care in their community.
To find out more about employee screening and background checks contact Tedford Insurance and learn more about our strategic partnership with Trak-1 and how it can benefit you.


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As Wales looks forward to the start of the Rugby World Cup, Ynys Môn Assembly Member Rhun ap Iorwerth is looking forward to representing his country as he joins the Assembly's rugby team for the launch of their bid for Parliamentary World Cup glory this weekend.
The Welsh side play their first game on Sunday at Rugby School – on the very pitch that the game was invented. The team's opponents will be announced on Saturday at the Opening Ceremony and draw.
The House of Commons and Lords RFC play hosts, welcoming reigning champions New Zealand and parliamentary teams from around the globe – including Australia, France, Argentina, South Africa and Japan.
Assembly Rugby have been raising funds for the charity Bowel Cancer UK for ten years now and earlier this year raised more than £6,000 in a stunning victory over a Commons & Lords XV.
Mr Ap Iorwerth said:
"After coming to terms with Warren Gatland's refusal to pick me for the Wales squad this summer, this is now the nearest I will come to representing my country at rugby and I can't wait to get started.
"The team are raising money for a very good cause and I hope we can do the country proud and raise some money for Bowel Cancer UK.
"This will be the first time that Assembly Rugby have competed in the tournament and we are looking forward to promoting parliamentary rugby, a range of good causes and awareness of the work that Bowel Cancer UK do."


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There's a shape-shifting military robot on the horizon, and its name isn't Optimus Prime. The "Multi-Modal Vehicle Concept" designed by the Intelligent Systems, Robotics, and Cybernetics Unit at Sandia National Laboratory, is a drone that can fly, swim, or drive, according to Wired.
In other words, it's a Transformer.
The Multi-Modal Vehicle can fly like the many Unmanned Aerial Vehicles that regularly make headlines, then dive underwater and convert its wings into the fins. Underneath it all are a set of drive wheels. It can even jump 30 feet in the air.
This do-it-all vehicle could theoretically allow one remote operator to conduct an entire mission over varying terrain. Normally, this would require coordination among several different military units. Sandia also says the drone's ability to transform into different types of vehicles allows it to more readily adapt to changing circumstances mid-mission.
In a sense, the Multi-Modal Vehicle's ability to operate on air, land, and sea makes it the robotic equivalent of elite Special Operations units, like the Navy SEALs. Sandia engineer Jon Salton told Wired that the drone could potentially supplement human special operators on future missions.
The one drawback to all this flexibility is that--unlike an Autobot--the Multi-Modal Vehicle can't change back. It sheds parts as it transforms from winged aircraft to wheeled vehicle, meaning it would also have trouble making a return trip.
Sandia has conducted limited testing on prototype hardware, but still needs to secure funding for a complete test vehicle. Soon, there won't be anywhere to hide.


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|Until November 13, Plum's BC locations are sponsoring a purse drive for Dress for Success. Simply drop off any gently used, interview, career appropriate purses to one of our BC locations and they will be forwarded to Dress for Success.
What do you think dressing for success looks like? From what I can see it looks individual, personal and polished. Today I had the great honor of attending the Dress for Success luncheon. A room full of mostly women, gathered to support, celebrate, encourage and inspire. Women who have come a long way, and women who mentor others. Listening to the Inspiration Award winner Fiona Hogg speak of her life's journey and how Dress for Success played a key role in helping turn around a very long challenging path, was both eye opening and inspiring.
Dressing for Success means putting your best foot forward often on a new venture, new career, new path. Let's have a look at a few of Plum's career pieces:
The pencil skirt always has a place in the career closet. The above skirt has an outspoken hounds tooth print, a comfortable length and a hidden elastic for easy wear.
Plum pencil skirt with hidden elastic (purple or red)
$69 now $55
Shirts are to your office wardrobe what the calculator is to the accountant...although they need not be so stark as white. Without much effort your career pieces can have a spark of fun as well. In this case a light, fresh, bird print puts the fun in function.
acapella long sleeve button front blouse (White with grey bird print) $82
It's important that what you wear to work be comfortable and functional. This is a dress that has as much comfort and fit as it does style. Features cap sleeves and princess seams that help accentuate and flatter.
Simone princess seam v neck dress (black or merlot) $139
And finally in honor of the purse drive, perhaps you're looking for a new addition. Looks like real leather but nothing of the bovine variety died for this. Love the cross hatch body and large button fastener. Inside internal zip pocket as well as 2 zip pockets and assorted other small pockets.
Catwalk woven cross body bag (pewter) $69
Dress for Success was founded in 1997 and since it's inception has helped countless women, when all else felt hopeless, get back on their feet and find direction. Plum is Vancouver's founding sponsor and has been a proud sponsor for 15 years. Congratulations to this years very deserving 'Inspiration Award Recipient' Fiona Hogg. Find out more about Dress for Success, how to support, volunteer or donate here
Yours in Fashion Passion...
Suzanne M.
Success consists of getting up just one more time than you fall! ... read the full post and reader comments


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Anyone who has always wondered what a dinosaur might have smelled like at this moment discover out with the commence of a new animatronics exhibition. The period of the Dinosaur at the Natural History Museum in London features an amount of actual size and realistic-looking earliest beasts, entire with sound and smell.
The dinosaurs, counting a protoceratops and velociraptor, are seen in replications of their natural habitation from while they roamed the Earth other than 65 million years ago. Paul Barrett, of the museum's section of paleontology, said guests can press a button on a quantity of the exhibits to see what the dinosaur might have smelt like. He said the majority of the models were actual size, even though some had to be scaled downwards.
Paul Barrett said that, "The thought of the presentation is really annoying to show dinosaurs in their natural environments next to dissimilar sorts of plants and animals that we'd observe at the equal time, so quite than just absorbed on a exacting dinosaur or a exacting question concerning to dinosaurs, we actually desire to give a view of what a dinosaur world might have been like."The simulations are sensible as we can perhaps make them, so we use the most recent scientific discoveries to notify everything regarding them from how they sound to the surface of their skin, and still these days we can declare a little bit regarding dinosaur color."
Mr. Barrett said the thunderous sounds that can be heard pending from the dinosaurs were based on new animals. Barrett said that we have been using a cluster of information from, for example, our understanding of how they pay attention to work out the sorts of sounds they might have heard, and subsequently use examples from living animals to fill in the gaps regarding the sorts of noises we might suppose to hear if we were traveling about Jurassic forests. The presentation, which has been a year in growth and lasts until September 4, also features 60 specimens commencing from the museum's collections, together with dinosaur bones.


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Moon gazing – Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival
Moon gazing – Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival
01 November 2013
Today we celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. Originating in Greater China and also celebrated Vietnam and in Chinese communities in Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines, the festival is held on the 15th day of the 8th month in the lunar calendar during a full moon. Here's a quick Asia House guide to help you expand your cultural awareness of this celebration and its significance in part of Asia.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a public holiday in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. In Vietnam it is the second most important national celebration after Tet (the lunar new year), where it has evolved from a celebration to divine the future of the harvest to a day focused on fertility and abundance for harvests, livestock and babies. By the early 20th century, the festival had a firm identity as a children's festival.
Moon gazing is a traditional way to mark the festival – a symbol of completeness and unity, both concepts that are important in Chinese and Vietnamese culture. Confucian scholars would take the time to admire the moon, drink wine and recite poetry. Worshipping the moon and offering gifts of food and incense in the hope of an abundant harvest and fertile land (and women) was very traditional, and still practised. The contemporary celebration includes taking time to look at the moon as a family, and to eat the aptly-named mooncakes. Carrying lanterns or releasing sky lanterns into the night are also commonplace.
Mooncakes are a traditional symbol of the festival, with the round shape symbolising unity. Historically mooncakes were made at home. You'll see from this recipe that it's a fiddly process that involves a special mould to give the cakes their distinctive appearance.
Unsurprisingly, the modern custom is to buy mooncakes to give to family, colleagues and business associates. The gesture is still intended to represent unity. This year, the Chinese Government has forbidden Public Officials from giving and receiving mooncakes as part of its clampdown on corruption.
The Festival has also been a time to celebrate weddings and to carry out match-making activity. Young women would pray to Chang'e, the moon goddess of immortality, for assistance in achieving their romantic aims.
The British Council has created this lovely guide for schools with lesson and assembly plans to help children learn more about the Mid-Autumn Festival. Pass it on to your local school, or use it at home with the little people in your life.


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Chapter 13 Rehabilitation and Prosthetic Restoration in Lower Limb Amputation
Lower limb amputation remains one of the classic rehabilitation diagnoses amenable to intervention by a physiatrist. Rehabilitation and prosthetic interventions offer tremendous potential for improvement of amputee physical functioning, emotional well-being, and quality of life. Administering treatment to this population is profoundly rewarding.
Despite advances in medicine, industry, and technology, amputation remains a leading source of disability. Approximately 159,000 lower limb amputations are performed each year,68 with peripheral vascular disease accounting for the vast majority of lower limb amputations. Amputations secondary to vascular conditions accounted for 82% of limb loss discharges, with the incidence increasing by 27% from 1988 to 1996.23 Trauma-related amputations accounted for 16% of amputations, whereas those resulting from malignancy and congenital deformity were responsible for 0.9% and 0.8% of amputations, respectively. Interestingly, the incidence of amputation secondary to a traumatic etiology has not gone up significantly within the United States Armed Services personnel despite recent conflicts.90 The incidence of amputations is not expected to subside anytime soon for a number of reasons, including the aging of the population and the increased incidence of diabetes in the United States. As the population ages, the number of amputations in persons older than 65 years is expected to double.36 Amputation prevalence is also expected to more than double from 2005 to 2050.106 Diabetes creates the greatest risk for amputation, surpassing the risks created by both smoking and hypertension. Diabetes is related to 67% of all amputations.81 The age-adjusted amputation rate for persons with diabetes is as high as 18 to 28 times more than that of persons without diabetes.94
In terms of level of amputation, Dillingham et al.23 reported that lower limb amputation accounted for 97% of all amputations between 1988 and 1996 with the following distributions: 31.5% toes, 10.5% midfoot, 0.8% ankle disarticulation, 27.6% transtibial, 0.4% knee disarticulation, 25.8% transfemoral, and 0.4% hip disarticulation. Other sources report that 64% to 73% of amputations were transtibial; 26% to 31%, transfemoral level; and 4.5%, knee disarticulation.4,35 Patients with diabetes are at greater risk for a second amputation, with rates as high as 18% at 2 years and 45% at 4 years.26 A second amputation is shown by more recent studies to be a conversion to a more proximal amputation level in 9%, with amputation of the contralateral limb in 11% to 21% of patients with amputation.4,35,49,91 In patients with vascular disease, 34% required more than one amputation procedure.80
Survival rates after amputation vary based on a variety of factors. Those who have amputations from trauma tend to have good long-term survival, but those who have amputations because of a vascular etiology face sobering survival statistics. After a vascular amputation, the 30-day mortality rate ranges from 9% to 21%,1,4,28,49,80 and long-term survival has recently been found to be 48% to 69% at 1 year, 42% at 3 years, and 35% to 45% at 5 years.4,15,28,79,80 More proximal levels of amputation have also been associated with decreased survival rates.4,15,36,79 Diabetes and end-stage renal disease have been shown to negatively affect survival, with 5-year survival rates as low as 30.9% and 14.4%, respectively.4
The chances of prosthetic fitting vary depending on the etiology of amputation, the level of amputation, and the age. In a survey of individuals registered with the Amputee Coalition of America, 95% of respondents had a prosthesis and used it extensively.70 MacKenzie et al.58 found that 97% of all traumatic amputees were ambulating with a prosthesis at 3 months. Success rates are lower for people with amputations resulting from vascular disease and diabetes. Overall success rates for prosthetic fitting in dysvascular patients have been reported to be greater than 80%.40,72 Fletcher et al.36 reported a 78% success rate in transtibial patients and a 57% success rate in transfemoral patients for functional prosthetic use among people older than 65 years who were referred to an amputee clinic. He noted that success of fitting diminished with age and level of amputation. Patients with transtibial amputation older than 85 years had less than a 2% chance of successful prosthetic fitting. Johannesson et al.49 reported that 43% of all patients received a prosthesis after primary amputation. Multiple limb amputees can be successful ambulators. Two studies have reported that 70% of bilateral transtibial amputees were able to use their prosthesis for ambulation.13,93
Regardless of its etiology, amputation remains a source of significant physical and psychological trauma in individuals facing limb loss. Although many patients and physicians alike might consider it to be a failure of medical and surgical management, amputation is a reconstructive surgery that maximizes the patient's function and quality of life. Most patients have the potential for a successful outcome after amputation. Although elderly patients who have undergone vascular amputation might never run or participate in competitive sports, they can still have the potential for improved function with a prosthesis. For the young person with amputation, an active lifestyle with a prosthesis is expected. To illustrate the functional potential of a patient with amputation, the men's record for the 100-m sprint for an athlete with an amputation is 10.91 seconds. This was set in April 2007 by Oscar Pistorious, a man with bilateral transtibial amputations, who later petitioned to qualify for the 2008 Olympics.57 Although he did not compete, that is not far behind the able-bodied record of 9.69 seconds set by Usain Bolt at the 2008 Olympics.107
Presurgical Management
Rehabilitation of the lower limb amputee should begin as soon as amputation is considered. The primary goals of the presurgical period are medical stabilization, patient assessment for amputation level, pain control, psychological support, and initiation of a functional rehabilitation program. Whenever possible, the physiatrist should see the patient before surgery to conduct a patient evaluation, begin patient education about the rehabilitation process, and offer the patient emotional support.
Selection of Amputation Level
The quality and type of amputation performed greatly affects the overall outcome for the patient. When determining amputation level, all the factors affecting the patient's function must be considered. These factors include not only tissue viability, but also prosthetic options, gait dynamics, cosmesis, and the biomechanics of the residual limb. The objective of preoperative evaluation is to determine the level at which healing will occur and maximal function will be restored after removal of all compromised or infected tissue. Preservation of tissue is balanced with restoration of function, as higher amputations result in increased morbidity and decreased rehabilitation potential. Prediction of healing requires careful evaluation of surgical technique, postoperative care, nutritional status, and arterial circulation—particularly tissue perfusion.
The earliest attempts to judge the appropriate level of amputation focused on the presence of palpable pulses, angiographic findings, skin color and temperature, character and location of pain, and most notably, the presence of incisional skin bleeding at the time of surgery. Various diagnostic methods exist to help determine the level at which healing will occur. These include Doppler pressure measurements, pulse volume recordings, photoplethysmographic pressures, laser Doppler blood flow studies, xenon-133 skin blood flow studies, arterial angiography, and transcutaneous oxygen determinations (see Chapter 57). However, these tests have not been more consistently reliable than clinical judgment in predicting wound healing at a given level.5,25 Most surgeons use a combination of objective data and assessment of the appearance of the tissues at the time of surgery, particularly bleeding, to decide on the site of amputation.
Several other factors that influence the patient's prosthetic function need to be considered when determining amputation level. For example, Chopart and Lisfranc amputations might allow some ambulation for short distances without a device, but they have a short forefoot lever arm, and they are difficult to fit with an adequate prosthesis biomechanically. They also have a high rate of equinovarus deformity. Alternatively, higher levels of amputation, such as a Syme's or transtibial amputation, allow for better gait with a prosthesis and superior performance in more demanding activities. Cosmesis is also an important consideration. Ankle and knee disarticulations have the advantage of long lever arms for prosthesis control and end weight-bearing, but the prostheses have a considerably poorer appearance than that of transtibial or transfemoral prostheses. This can be a determining factor for some patients.
Amputations are classified into three categories: closed, open, and guillotine. Closed amputation is the most commonly used technique for amputations necessitated by arterial disease. For this procedure, an incision is made through presumably healthy tissues, and skin flaps are shaped for primary (sutured) closure. In contrast, open amputations are performed only in instances of severe trauma or overwhelming infection. This type of intervention allows for appropriate drainage and observation of the wound. Finally, guillotine amputation is an open procedure in which all the tissues are cut at the same level by a circular incision. This type of amputation eventually requires a closed amputation performed at a higher level. Guillotine amputation is rarely necessary today and is reserved for extremely ill patients who require quick control of a rapidly spreading infection such as gas gangrene.
Functional Rehabilitation
There are often a few days or even weeks from the time a decision is made to do an amputation until it actually occurs. This time can be used to initiate a functional rehabilitation program before the amputation. It is easier to stretch out a tight or contracted joint using the entire limb length before the amputation, than it is after surgery when the limb is shortened and tender. Preoperative rehabilitation should emphasize ROM, conditioning remaining limb segments, increasing endurance, improving transfers, and training the patient in one-legged gait with an assistive device. This can reduce or even eliminate the need for inpatient rehabilitation after the amputation.
Pain Control
Good perioperative pain control is essential for the patient facing limb loss. Beyond patient comfort, adequate pain control minimizes the patient's stress, and allows the patient to participate more fully in a rehabilitation program. Uncontrolled pain can result in the development of central nervous system–mediated pain and chronic pain,60 as well as impair postoperative healing and immune functions.8,22
The mainstay of perioperative pain control treatment is opioid therapy. Oral opiates are usually sufficient, but there should be no hesitation to use more aggressive pain control measures including transdermal, subcutaneous, intramuscular, or intravenous routes. A scheduled dose of a long-acting agent in conjunction with an immediate-release analgesic is recommended so that the patient has consistent pain relief. A sufficient dose of analgesia just before therapies often helps the patient fully participate. Caution, however, should be used in the geriatric population given the risk of delirium in these individuals, and opiate use should be streamlined in these instances.
Patient-controlled analgesia systems are useful for patients having severe pain in the perioperative period. They provide a continuous infusion of analgesic, with the ability of the patient to use a supplemental dose as needed. Patient-controlled analgesia provides excellent analgesia and can reduce some of the patient's stress or fear related to pain. Continuous regional nerve blocks and epidural anesthesia can also be used for perioperative pain control,58 although typically these cannot be continued in the post–acute care setting.
Psychological Support
Psychological assessment and support for the patient facing limb loss should be a high priority. Assessment of the patient's expectations and goals is important. Frequently, patients fear that they will never be able to walk again after amputation and might not expect to be able to accomplish more demanding occupational or recreational tasks. These perceptions are often unfounded because most amputees can do very well functionally. As noted above, several studies indicate that greater than 80% of amputees at all levels will be able to successfully walk with a prosthesis,40,63,72 and this is consistent with our experience. Each patient's specific long-term goals should be identified before surgery, and a comprehensive rehabilitation program should be outlined to achieve these goals. Patients feel empowered and reassured when higher functions (such as sports) are recognized as legitimate goals, and the rehabilitation team helps them achieve these goals.
Describing the rehabilitation process in detail to patients and educating them about prostheses can help to allay their fear of the unknown. Providing educational literature and website addresses can be a valuable and calming service to patients and their families (Box 13-1). Some programs use a peer counseling program in which patients who are successful prosthesis users visit patients with new amputees on request. Finally, it is important to discuss phantom limb sensation and phantom limb pain with patients before surgery. Phantom limb sensation is the temporary nonpainful feeling that the amputated limb is still present. This feeling typically fades away over a period of weeks. Phantom pain is the usually temporary pain that can occur in a limb after its amputation, especially in a patient with a long history of preamputation limb pain. All patients need to be told to expect these sensations in the missing limb after surgery and to realize that they are normal.
BOX 13-1 Educational Resources Available for Amputees
Postsurgical Management
Wound Care
Wound healing is dependent on adequate tissue perfusion, good wound care, and adequate nutrition. Care for primary surgical wounds is straightforward. The limb should be washed on a daily basis either with normal saline or simple soap and water; antiseptic agents such as iodine solutions or hydrogen peroxide inhibit wound healing and should be avoided unless there are signs of infection. Dressings should be kept clean and changed daily.
After traumatic amputations there are often large open wounds that could have been contaminated in the trauma, and additional coverage procedures such as flaps and grafts might have been performed. These wounds require close observation and meticulous wound care. They often cause a delay in the fitting of the initial lower limb prosthesis. Wounds do not need to be completely healed for the fitting of the prosthesis, but the viability of flaps and grafts needs to be established and monitored carefully.
In patients with vascular compromise, wound margin necrosis can develop. The limb should be monitored closely in these cases, kept clean, and protected from any trauma that could cause a dehiscence in such a fragile wound. Once the nonviable tissue is clearly demarcated, debridement can be considered. Adjuvant therapies such as negative pressure wound therapy and hyperbaric oxygen treatment are available options that have possible benefit but warrant further investigation to determine their efficacy with this population.43,91,98
Good nutrition must be encouraged and supported with supplements when necessary. Eneroth30 found that when supplementary nutrition was given to malnourished patients, twice as many adequately nourished patients healed their residual limb wound when compared with controls.
Edema Control
Reducing postsurgical edema is important to promote wound healing, minimize postoperative pain, and shape the limb for prosthetic fitting. Postsurgical edema stretches a surgical wound, which stretches nerve endings and causes pain. Edema puts tension on the wound, compromising healing. Swelling gives a bulbous shape to the residual limb, which interferes with prosthetic fitting and can slow the patient's functional recovery. An effective compressive dressing can minimize these problems.
Several different edema control systems are available. The most commonly used treatment is elastic wraps on the residual limb (e.g., Ace bandages). Although elastic wraps can provide effective compression, they are high-maintenance items that must be properly applied and changed about every 4 to 6 hours to maintain consistent compression.61 This can be difficult and time-consuming for a patient, or even the health care team, to accomplish. Elastic wraps that are improperly applied or displaced in the normal course of regular movement can turn into tourniquets, causing pressure wounds and even limb ischemia. Consequently the use of elastic wrapping is not recommended.
The use of elastic socks or elastic stockinette provides a better alternative than elastic wraps. Elastic stockinette (e.g., Compressigrip and Tubigrip) can be applied in multiple layers to give graded and increasing compression toward the end of the residual limb (Figure 13-1). It is inexpensive and easily applied. Premanufactured residual limb shrinkers can also be used. For transfemoral amputees, a residual limb shrinker with a waist belt must be used, because otherwise the dressing tends to slide off the conical-shaped residual limb. The waist belt should be attached to the elastic dressing at the side of the limb. If the attachment is worn in front, the shrinker will slide off during sitting.
FIGURE 13-1 Use of elastic stockinette for edema control. (A) Place just over half of the length on the limb and twist a half turn. (B) Pull second half over leg to provide two layers of compression.
Prosthetic elastomeric liners can also be used as compression socks for edema reduction in amputees.49,51 They can provide compression and also lend some degree of protection to the residual limb. Because of their suction fit, they can be used on the transfemoral amputee without a waist belt. When using any elastic dressing, bony prominences should be closely monitored because pressure can concentrate at protruding bony areas and lead to skin breakdown.
Rigid dressings provide additional benefits over soft dressings alone for transtibial amputees (Figure 13-2). Rigid dressings help protect the residual limb from any inadvertent trauma, such as a fall.31 They provide good compression to minimize edema, and the cast can be conformed to minimize pressure over bony prominences. Partial weight-bearing can also be started through the rigid dressing to help desensitize the limb and build tolerance to pressure.
FIGURE 13-2 Rigid dressings for transtibial amputee. (A) Rigid dressing. (B) Rigid removable dressing.
A nonremovable rigid dressing is a cast that is applied over the fully extended residual limb up to the midthigh (see Figure 13-2, A). This type of cast is helpful in preventing knee flexion contractures and can be used as an immediate postoperative prostheses (as discussed below). A nonremovable cast does not allow for wound inspection except at cast changes. It also does not allow patients to massage their residual limbs, an important part of the desensitization program.
A removable rigid dressing (RRD)104,105 is a custom-made cast that covers the residual limb up to the knee (see Figure 13-2, B). It is held in place with either elastic stockinette or a thigh cuff. As the limb shrinks, socks, shrinker socks, and elastic stockinette are added underneath the RRD to keep it snug. The RRD allows for frequent wound inspection and massage of the residual limb. It also helps to teach patients how to adjust sock ply, a necessary skill for using most types of prostheses. A suggested protocol is to start with a rigid nonremovable dressing applied immediately after surgery. After the first 3 to 6 days, the cast should be changed to an RRD, which should be used until most of the edema is resolved and the wound is well healed. If more than 12 to 18 ply of sock is required to keep the RRD snug, a new RRD is recommended.
Functional Rehabilitation
Early rehabilitation management is critical in the postoperative period. Hopefully the rehabilitation team has been involved already, but if not, consultation with physiatry and involvement of physical therapy and occupational therapy should begin as soon as possible. Therapy staff work on a variety of areas such as self-care, bed mobility, transfers, wheelchair skills, ambulation, and patient and family teaching. Amputee rehabilitation principles include proper positioning, initiation of ROM, early mobilization, and evaluation for durable medical equipment and adaptive devices.
Patients should be educated in proper positioning. Prevention of hip and knee contractures is critical in this period. Patients should not have pillows placed under the knee because this can lead to knee flexion contracture. To prevent hip abduction contractures, pillows should not be placed between the legs. Dangling the residual limb over the side of the bed or wheelchair should be avoided. A knee extension board (Figure 13-3) can be fitted underneath the wheelchair or chair to promote knee extension and help prevent dependent edema. Wheelchair-elevating leg rests are generally less effective and more expensive than these boards. If knee flexion contractures are of great concern, a knee immobilizer while the patient is in bed can be used to maintain knee extension. Patients should be instructed to lie prone several times a day for 10 to 15 minutes at a time to prevent hip flexion contractures. Individuals who cannot tolerate prone positioning can lie supine on a mat while performing hip extension exercises of their affected limb.
ROM and strengthening exercises of the affected limb are important adjuncts to positioning. Muscles that oppose the common sites of contracture must be strengthened, especially knee and hip extensors. Other important muscles groups that should be strengthened include the hip adductors and abductors. Because patients are increasingly reliant on their arms to assist with mobility, arm strengthening and conditioning are needed. Specific exercises include strengthening of the wrist, elbow extensors, and scapular stabilizers. This training prepares patients to properly execute transfers and to correctly use crutches or a walker. Initiation of aerobic exercise is needed to increase endurance and cardiovascular fitness, but given the high incidence of concomitant cardiovascular disease in individuals with a vascular etiology of amputation, adherence to cardiac precautions is important.
Early mobilization facilitates early functional improvements. Usually the first activities include bed mobility, transfers, and mobilization to a chair or wheelchair. As the patient progresses, the activities should increasingly focus on standing and balance exercises in the parallel bars, and hopping. The use of a walker or crutches is the next step in mobilization.
Early partial weight-bearing can begin in the first few days if there are no wound complications. For transtibial amputees with rigid dressings, limited weight-bearing can be performed through their cast using a strap across their wheelchair (Figure 13-4). When the patient is up in the parallel bars, weight-bearing can be done via a tire jack or adjustable footstool. Immediate postoperative prostheses can also be used for early weight-bearing as described below. Inspection after weight-bearing is important in monitoring wound tolerance of pressure. This is especially important in individuals with amputation from vascular disease or patients with impaired sensation.
Evaluation for appropriate adaptive equipment and durable medical equipment is important. Adaptive devices such as reachers, long handles, sponges, shoehorns, dressing sticks, and sock aids can be issued as needed to assist with activities of daily living. Long-handled mirrors can also be helpful to allow patients to monitor the status of their residual limb easily. Because sitting in a wheelchair makes the amputee's center of gravity higher and more posterior, rear wheels should be set posterior to the chair back and antitippers should be placed, to minimize the risk of tipping backwards and sustaining a head injury. This is particularly important for transfemoral and bilateral amputees.
A plan for ongoing rehabilitation services needs to be made during the early postoperative period. Younger patients with unilateral amputations can usually be discharged home as crutch ambulators with ongoing outpatient rehabilitation. Older and marginally functioning patients and multilimb amputees usually need acute inpatient rehabilitation before they can safely return home. These patients can generally be admitted to a rehabilitation unit between postoperative days 3 through 7, after any drains are removed, pain is under control with oral medications, and they have the endurance to participate in a comprehensive rehabilitation program. The acute postoperative period prepares the patient for a safe return home with the temporary assistance of a wheelchair, walker, crutches, or with an early fitted prosthesis.
Patients need to be followed up closely for the first 12 to 18 months. Early on, the key issues remain wound healing, edema control, psychological adjustment, and pain control. Prosthetic fitting and prosthetic gait training can usually be started within 3 to 6 weeks of surgery, and patients are usually able to ambulate independently (perhaps with an assistive device) within 1 month of starting therapy with their prosthesis. The residual limb continues to shrink during the first 6 to 8 months. This requires constant monitoring to ensure an adequate fit of the device by both the patient and the rehabilitation team. After shrinkage abates in 6 to 8 months, the patient can then be fitted with a new, definitive prosthesis (or at least a new socket).
Most amputees need a full year to completely adjust to their limb loss. Regular physician visits during this time are needed. Follow-up should be done, if possible, in multidisciplinary amputee clinics by a physiatrist, prosthetist, nurse, and preferably, a physical therapist. A multidisciplinary clinic also gives amputees the opportunity to visit with others being seen in the clinic. This provides a peer support or "milieu therapy" that is very beneficial.
Pain Management
Identifying the etiology of postoperative limb pain is important for successful control of the pain. Because of nerve fiber damage and ongoing stimulation of the nerves in the residual limb, a generalized residual limb pain is initially expected secondary to the surgical incision and postoperative edema. Ectopic activity at the cut end of nerves is expected and can be due to unstable sodium channels or the uncovering of new pathologic receptors.6,7 Ephaptic transmission, which is the stimulation of afferent fibers (nociceptors) by efferent neurons (motor or sympathetic), can also contribute to limb pain.48,77 This acute pain responds well to intravenous or intramuscular opiates. It subsides fairly rapidly, and the parenteral opiates can usually be discontinued within 2 to 3 days. Scheduled doses of oral opiates with rescue medications as needed should be continued beyond this period and weaned slowly so that the patient continues to receive adequate pain control.
Desensitization techniques should be added to the treatment plan within a few days of surgery. Patients should be instructed to start massaging and tapping their residual limb, which can be performed through any soft dressing. This gentle stimulation can help to reduce residual limb pain by closing the pain gate,60 and gives patients a technique for controlling their pain independently. Self-massage also forces patients to attend to their amputation; this can help with their new body image and psychological adjustment to limb loss.
When generalized residual limb pain does not subside as expected, the patient should be reevaluated. Wound infection and abscess must be excluded, and reevaluation of the arterial system needs to be considered. Patients with peripheral vascular disease, diabetes, or both can have continued limb ischemia that is a form of claudication. This claudication can be constant or intermittent, resulting from activity. Patients with residual limb ischemia often exhibit poor skin color, and the residual limb pain is frequently dependent on the limb's position. Over the course of weeks, ischemic pain often resolves as the swelling goes down, the circulation remodels with the decreased distal tissue load, and the limb heals. Sometimes reamputation to a higher level is required if the wound fails to heal, tissue necrosis progresses, or ischemic pain persists. During the interim, the patient needs to continue to receive adequate analgesia, although giving adequate pain relief without excessively sedating the patient can be difficult. When ischemic limb pain does not quickly subside, the patient, the family, and the entire rehabilitation team need to be made aware of the plan to wait and see whether the residual limb is salvageable or reamputation is necessary.
Even after the immediate postoperative period and residual limb healing, the incidence of pain is high in patients with amputation, with 68% reporting residual limb pain and 80% reporting phantom pain.32 The most common types of sensory problems reported include phantom pain, phantom sensation, and residual limb pain. The differential diagnoses for pain in an amputated lower limb are diverse, and treatment options differ significantly based on the etiology of pain. Consequently the source and mechanism of the pain must be investigated and identified so that an optimal treatment plan can be implemented.
Prosthesis use is a common cause of residual limb pain in individuals with amputation. In these instances, pain tends to be worse with prosthetic use and during ambulation. Usually there is skin irritation that correlates with the area of the prosthesis causing the pain. Multiple factors can contribute to prosthetic pain including socket fit, suspension, alignment, and gait pathology. Consideration must be given to all of these areas when there are complaints of pain in the residual limb during prosthetic use. As an example, Table 13-1 lists some of the common causes of distal tibial pain, a very common site for prosthesis-related pain in transtibial amputees. Addressing the prosthetic etiology typically results in pain reduction.
|Contributing factors
|Excessive socket pressure
|Socket relief.
Remove sock ply.
|Pistoning in the socket
|Add socks to tighten fit.
Build up the liner.
Tighten socket.
Tighten suspension system.
|Excessive pressure from liner
|Change suspension system.
|Excessive early knee flexion
|Move foot forward.
Plantar flex foot.
Decrease socket flexion.
Soften heel of foot or shoe.
Add anteroposterior ankle motion.
Round heel of shoe or change shoe.
Strengthen quadriceps/hamstring muscles.
Phantom limb sensation and pain are likely maintained by afferent, central, and efferent (sympathetic) dysfunction.54 Phantom limb sensation and pain are neuropathic perceptions in a portion of the limb that was amputated. Most amputees experience some degree of phantom limb sensation and pain, but the natural history is for these feelings to diminish both in frequency and intensity over the first few weeks to months after the amputation.29 These sensations are highly variable in character. Phantom limb sensations are frequently described as numbness, tingling, pins and needles, or itching. Some amputees report the sensation of the phantom limb becoming shorter, known as telescoping. Patients can also complain that the missing limb feels like it is moving or is in a cramped or awkward position. It is important to explain that these are normal sensations that will likely diminish with time. Sometimes patients do not consider the sensation to be painful, but uncomfortable or "bothersome." These sensations can be severe enough to interfere with sleep, impair patients' functioning, or significantly reduce their quality of life. At this point the phantom limb sensation should be treated as neuropathic pain. The character of phantom limb pain is often described as sharp, burning, stabbing, tingling, shooting, electric, or cramping. Patients frequently perceive the same type of pain that they had before the amputation. For example, they might feel like they still have a painful foot ulcer.
Residual limb pain, previously referred to as stump pain, is another manifestation of central sensitization. Preliminary work in the area suggests that it is a form of allodynia (i.e., pain evoked by previously innocuous stimuli) or a spontaneous pain of peripheral neuropathic origin, central neuropathic origin, or both. Spontaneous residual limb pain is usually described as aching, burning, or throbbing, whereas evoked pain can be electrical or shooting (which can easily be confused with a clinically significant neuroma).95 The pain is localized in the residual limb and can be associated with phantom limb pain. Edhe et al.29 reported residual limb pain to be as common as phantom limb pain in lower limb amputees, and often more distressing.
The first line of treatment for bothersome phantom limb sensation, phantom limb pain, and residual limb pain is desensitization techniques. Massaging, tapping, slapping, wrapping, and friction rubbing of the residual limb often diminish such sensations. Patients frequently find that their phantom limb pain diminishes with the stimulation of using a prosthesis. Anecdotally, many patients find that for a phantom itch, scratching the remaining leg in the same spot is helpful. For cramped or malpositioned limb sensations, hypnosis can be helpful.27,65,88 Under hypnosis, the patient might be able to alleviate a cramped phantom hand or move an awkwardly phantom positioned limb to a more comfortable position.
If desensitization techniques are insufficient and these pains are significantly interfering with quality of life, pharmacologic treatment should be considered. Unfortunately, the literature is not robust with regards to demonstrating efficacy of any particular agent in treating phantom pain.69 However, the two primary categories of medicines generally used in clinical practice to treat chronic phantom limb phenomenon are antidepressants and anticonvulsants. Antidepressants have several advantages in addition to pain control. They can also treat depression, which is a common problem in new amputees. They generally have anxiolytic effects and, some being sedative, can improve sleep. They are convenient because they are usually taken just once per day, and they are generally less expensive than the newer antiseizure medications. Analgesic antidepressants apparently need to have both noradrenergic and serotonergic receptor activity to effectively treat neuropathic pain,33 which explains why the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors do not help with the treatment of phantom limb pain. Tricyclic antidepressants have the most anecdotal and empirical support for treating pain, but they also have undesirable anticholinergic side effects.52,82 Some antidepressants have both serotonergic and noradrenergic activity without the anticholinergic activity (serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors [SNRIs]), and might help in treating neuropathic pain. Mirtazapine is an SNRI that can be useful for the treatment of phantom limb pain because it has no anticholinergic side effects, and it enhances sleep (night is often when phantom limb pain is most problematic). It is an effective antidepressant and an anxiolytic, although weight gain can be a significant side effect.85 Venlafaxine and the newer agent duloxetine are also SNRI-type agents that might have some value for the treatment of neuropathic pain.
A number of anticonvulsants have been used to treat neuropathic pain syndromes.6 At present, gabapentin is probably the most widely prescribed neuropathic pain medicine in the United States. Despite its name, gabapentin's mechanism of action is unknown. Nevertheless, gabapentin has demonstrated efficacy with neuropathic pain, has minimal side effects, and has been shown in a small study to have efficacy in phantom pain.10,45 However, it usually requires frequent dosing (generally three to four times a day). Traditional anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine and phenytoin are membrane stabilizing agents (sodium channel blockers) that have the widest historical use for the treatment of neuropathic pain syndromes.21,69 However, they have a high incidence of significant side effects. Other anticonvulsants that are being used to treat neuropathic pain include oxcarbazepine, topiramate, levetiracetam, and pregabalin, but few or no data exist yet concerning their efficacy. Anticonvulsants can also be used in combination with antidepressants or with each other to maximize relief from phantom limb pain. This must be done in a thoughtful fashion that uses complementary mechanisms.
Some success has been reported with topical anesthetic agents such as various analgesic balms, sprays, and patches. Capsaicin, a substance P inhibitor, has been anecdotally reported to be effective for phantom limb pain and residual limb pain.51 Lidocaine cream, ointment, and patches have also been used with some success.
Other nonpharmacologic modalities exist for the treatment of phantom limb pain such as stress-relaxation techniques and biofeedback.37,50,87,88 Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation has also been shown to give temporary pain relief.35,56 Mirror therapy, while primarily used with upper limb amputations, has been attempted in patients with lower limb loss,16,19 with some success.
If these measures are unsuccessful or inadequate, then a judicious use of opioids can significantly improve the amputee's quality of life. Care must be taken in prescription with consideration to addiction, tolerance, and side effects.
Neuromas are bundles of nerve endings that form after a nerve is cut, as is done during an amputation. They can produce sharp, focal pain under pressure or upon palpation (i.e., Tinel's sign).22 If a neuroma is superficial, then a small, tender mass can be palpated. It can cause significant pain and can preclude use of a prosthesis. Initially, prosthetic socket adjustments are used to relieve pressure over a neuroma. If this is unsuccessful, neuropathic pain medication, intralesional steroid and anesthetic injection, or neuroma ablation with phenol, alcohol or cryoablation can provide pain relief. However, literature demonstrating efficacy in patients with amputation remains severely limited. Ultrasound-guided phenol instillation has been shown in a small case series to provide some benefit in the treatment of neuroma pain.44 Radiofrequency ablation has also had some success in case reports for both neuroma and phantom limb–related pain.76,103
If these interventions are all ineffective, the neuroma can be surgically excised and the nerve endings buried deep in the soft tissue to protect them from mechanical pressures. Surgical resection has been found to be up to 80% successful.12,42
While the causal relationship between amputation and phantom limb pain or residual limb pain is obvious, other conditions can also cause pain in a phantom limb. In trauma, referred pain can be generated down the leg by a proximal nerve injury, plexopathy, radiculopathy, or occult fractures, even if the leg has been amputated. Referred leg pain from spinal stenosis or arthritis at the knee or hip can also be mistaken for phantom limb pain. These alternative diagnoses must be considered and clearly require different treatment plans.
Psychological Adjustment
The emotional impact of limb loss is devastating and is frequently underestimated by the rehabilitation team. Grieving over the loss of one's limb is necessary, and a brief exogenous (reactive) depression is expected. Amputees are at high risk of developing more severe psychological problems. The incidence of persistent clinical depression is estimated to be 21% to 35% for people with limb loss.20,83 Risk factors for depression include low income, comorbid conditions, and the presence of phantom and back pain.20 Posttraumatic stress disorder is a recognized complication after traumatic amputation, but frequently goes untreated. Nontraumatic amputees can also develop anxiety disorders from the stress related to limb loss.
The rehabilitation team should assist patients with their psychological adjustment by giving encouragement about prognosis, providing educational materials, and incorporating the patient's specific goals into the rehabilitation plan. Team members can also reassure their patients by emphasizing gains made in therapy. They should also initiate discussions about prosthetic options with patients early on and impress upon patients that their input in the decision-making process is necessary. This not only educates patients and optimizes their prosthetic prescriptions, but it also helps to empower them and give them a sense of control.
Peer counseling and amputee support groups are another important emotional support mechanism. The opportunity to talk to persons who have been through a similar amputation, and to see how well they are doing, can be very valuable to the patient. The Amputee Coalition of America (see Box 13-1) has a national peer network that provides peer counselor training sessions and lists amputee support groups by region.
The physician should regularly monitor the patient's emotional adjustment to amputation by assessing mood, appetite, weight changes, quality of sleep, and the occurrence of nightmares. Any correlation between the patient's perceived stress level and pain should be explored. Sometimes adjustment issues will not become problematic until shock and denial wear off and time passes. Because studies have shown that the incidence of depression in younger amputees increases with time,38 continued monitoring by the rehabilitation team is necessary. The whole team must be involved in monitoring the patient's emotional state, and not just the physician. In most cases the therapists and prosthetists will spend much more time with the patient and might have better insight regarding a patient's emotional status.
Each patient should be encouraged to have an evaluation by an experienced psychologist. This evaluation should include an assessment of mood, pain, other stressors, coping skills, past psychological problems, alcohol and drug use, body image issues, and sexuality. When clinical depression, anxiety disorders, or adjustment disorders are identified, a comprehensive treatment plan should be initiated, with cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy as needed.
Skin Problems
Problems with skin are frequent in patients with amputation. It has been reported that 63% of patients experienced a skin problem in the past month in one questionnaire.61 Adequate treatment requires proper identification of etiology and type of skin issue.
Pressure/Shear Ulcerations
A frequent skin disorder in the residual limbs of lower limb amputees is ulceration caused by excessive pressure, shear, or both. The most common places for pressure sores are over bony prominences and at the brim of the socket. Problematic bony prominences include the anterior surface of midfoot amputations; the malleoli of ankle disarticulations; the distal tibia, fibular head, and tibial crest of transtibial amputees; and the distal femur of transfemoral amputees (especially when myodesis and myoplasty have not been performed to stabilize the femur).
These wounds have a variety of etiologies. Patients might not be donning their prostheses correctly. Wrinkles in socks and liners, as well as too many sock ply, can cause excessive pressure. Insufficient sock ply can lead to pistoning (up and down movement in the socket), with bottoming out on the bone as well as excessive shear. Socket fit is clearly important, and pressure-sensitive areas need to have adequate "reliefs" in the socket. The suspension system must be adequate to prevent pistoning and rotational shear. Socket brims need to be rounded adequately in problematic areas and not cause excessive pressure on soft tissue. Finally, the patient's biomechanics must be examined, because poor gait mechanics can lead to excessive pressures and shear, causing skin ulceration.
Bulky wound dressings should be avoided because they can put additional pressure on the ulcer when the limb is in the prosthesis. Transparent film dressing and elastomeric liners can reduce shear. If wounds are large or do not respond to initial treatments, then a decrease in wear time for the prosthesis is indicated. In refractory cases, a change to a different type of socket or suspension system should be considered.
Verrucose Hyperplasia
Verrucose hyperplasia (also termed verrucous hyperplasia) is the development of a wart-like lesion on the end of the residual limb (Figure 13-5). Cracks in the skin and even infection can occur in severe cases. Verrucose hyperplasia is most common in the transtibial amputee, but can occur with other levels of amputation. This dysplastic skin condition is thought to be due to choking effect on the residual limb. It is hypothesized that if the prosthesis fits tightly around the limb (circumferentially) and there is a lack of distal pressure, then vascular congestion can occur that somehow leads to verrucose hyperplasia. The pathophysiology of the condition remains unknown. Adjusting the prosthesis to create adequate distal pressure usually resolves the verrucose hyperplasia within a few weeks or months. Adjustments such as simply adding an end pad to the socket can be sufficient; otherwise a new total contact socket is recommended.
Contact Dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is inflammation of the skin manifested by erythema and sometimes mild edema. It can be caused by an irritant that causes scaling, or an allergic reaction that induces vesiculation. Contact dermatitis is a common problem with prostheses, especially with the increased use of elastomeric liners. It is treated by locating the causative agent and preventing it from contacting the residual limb. Hygiene of the residual limb and its prosthetic components must be considered first, because poor hygiene can allow the accumulation of allergens on the residual limb. Soaps can also be the causative agent, and the patient should wash the residual limb each night with a mild or hypoallergenic soap and then rinse the limb well. Similarly the skin interface system (e.g., socks, liners, or the socket itself) should be washed daily per the manufacturer's recommendations, rinsed well, and allowed to dry before donning. If these simple measures fail, then a change in the skin interface system is needed. Wool socks can be changed to cotton or acrylic. Elastomeric liners made of different materials can be tried. If the contact dermatitis persists, then a change to a different interface system must be considered. For acute contact dermatitis, a short course of topical steroids can decrease inflammation and discomfort. Because the use of topical steroids cannot be considered a long-term plan, the causative agent must be identified and eliminated.
Hyperhidrosis has been reported to be one of the most common skin issues in patients with amputation, with 32% to 50% of patients reporting this as a symptom in one large study.59 It is usually associated with prosthetic use and can be seen with all types of suspension and liner materials, because heat dissipation is impaired with the use of a prosthetic device or material over the residual limb. Hyperhidrosis can be alleviated by using nylon sheaths as an interface with the liner material, and by using topical or spray antiperspirants. One case series showed promise with the use of botulinum toxin for alleviating this symptom.17
Bacterial or fungal infection can affect the residual limb at any point in the postoperative period. A superficial cellulitis can be seen in the early postoperative period. This can present as erythema, persistent or new drainage at the incision line, or increased incisional tenderness. In most cases these can be treated with oral antibiotics. A boil or abscess can form near the surgical incision site. In these cases an incision is necessary to allow the purulent material to drain. Most cases require parenteral antibiotics for treatment in addition to local wound care. Fungal infections, such as those caused by Candida species, can accompany a local cellulitis and might be seen early or late. These infections usually develop in moist areas, making it advisable to air out the limb when possible. Topical antifungal and moisture barrier combination agents are useful for treatment.
Once the residual limb is healed, other infections can arise. Aeration of the residual limb, good limb hygiene, good prosthetic hygiene, and proper prosthetic fitting can all prevent and treat such infections. Residual limbs tend to harbor more abundant bacterial flora than unaffected limbs.3 Folliculitis is a hair root infection that can occur in limbs with excessive perspiration and oily skin. This is aggravated by sweating and is worse in warmer, humid months. Skin maceration and moisture can allow bacterial invasion of the hair follicles. This can eventually lead to cellulitis.51 Treatment consists of warm compresses and topical antimicrobials. More severe cases warrant the use of oral or parenteral antibiotics, and incision and drainage of boils.
Other fungal infections such as tinea corporis and cruris can occur, especially in patients with a tendency to perspire. Treatment consists of topical agents such as ketoconazole and terbinafine, with the latter preferred because of the shorter treatment duration. Once the infection is resolved, cornstarch, unscented talc, and antiperspirant agents (without a deodorant) can be useful in prevention of recurrence. Prescription-strength antiperspirants (Drysol) are available when needed. Limiting prosthetic use until the infections are resolved or stop draining will facilitate recovery.
Epidermoid Cysts
Epidermoid cysts occur when sebaceous glands are plugged. These cysts are firm, round, mobile, subcutaneous nodules of variable size that are most commonly found in the popliteal fossa of transtibial amputees and the upper thigh of transfemoral amputees (Figure 13-6). They can be quite tender and can become inflamed by the pressure of the prosthesis. Sometimes bleeding into the cyst makes them appear dark. Ruptured epidermoid cysts have a purulent or serosanguineous discharge. Treatment with topical or oral antifungal and/or antibacterial agents has been recommended.52 Treatment should also include minimizing pressure over the cysts by adjusting the prosthesis and ensuring an optimal fit. Sometimes larger inflamed cysts require incision and drainage. However, recurrences are frequent because incision and draining does not remove the keratin-producing lining of the cyst. A more definitive treatment consists of surgical excision, but even this intervention cannot completely eliminate the possibility of recurrence.
Other Complications
Joint contractures are frequent complications during the rehabilitation of people with limb loss. Initial treatment consists of a stretching program both in therapy and at home. For knee contractures, extension devices like knee immobilizers can provide relief. For hip flexion contractures, prone lying on a daily basis is helpful. Ultrasound heating can also be an effective therapy when combined with aggressive stretching, provided the patient's vasculature is adequate for vigorous heating. For transtibial patients who are expected to ambulate, the knee flexion contracture is initially accommodated in the prosthetic alignment. Once the patient is ambulating adequately, flexion is gradually taken out of the socket. This causes an extension stretch when the patient walks, and progressively reduces the contracture. In severe cases that do not respond to the above treatment, surgical release can be considered.
Bony growths at the end of the amputated bone are called bone spurs. They occur frequently and are usually asymptomatic. Similarly, heterotopic ossification (HO) is a spontaneous development of bone in soft tissue, usually occurring after traumatic amputations. The incidence of HO with traumatic amputation has been reported to be as high as 63% in recent armed conflicts.73 If a bone spur or HO protrudes distally and is not covered by adequate soft tissue, it can become painful and cause skin breakdown. Accommodating the spur or HO with a relief and/or padding in the socket might solve the problem. If this fails, surgical excision might be required.
Timing of Prosthetic Fitting
Prosthetic sponsorship must be considered as soon as possible, even before the patient is ready to be fitted with an artificial limb. Many insurers require preapproval before the patient can be fitted with a prosthesis. Such authorization can sometimes take weeks (or even months) to obtain and cause detrimental delays in the rehabilitation of the amputee. Starting the required paperwork as soon as possible can minimize these delays. Some providers also have copayment restrictions in coverage that affect prosthetic prescription (preferred providers, component limitations, even a restriction of one prosthesis per lifetime). These restrictions need to be determined, considered, and discussed with the patient when designing a treatment plan.
Determining when to fit the lower limb amputee with a prosthesis and what kind of prosthesis to use are issues open to considerable debate. One option for transtibial amputees is to use an immediate postoperative prosthesis (IPOP). IPOPs traditionally have been thigh-high casts with a pylon and foot attached (Figure 13-7, A). Prefabricated devices are also now available (Figure 13-7, B and C). These devices allow for earlier bipedal ambulation. Although many claims have been made for the advantages of IPOPs over soft dressing management (including improved psychological acceptance, reduction in pain, accelerated rehabilitation times, reduced revision rates, and time to healing), these claims have rarely been evaluated with controlled studies.89 A review of 10 controlled studies yielded only two proven claims for the IPOP: (1) that rigid plaster casts result in accelerated rehabilitation times and significantly less edema compared with soft dressings; and (2) that prefabricated pneumatic prostheses were found to have significantly fewer postsurgical complications and fewer higher level revisions compared with soft gauze dressings. Only limited weight-bearing can take place with an IPOP, and patient compliance is important for such success.89 Although weight-bearing is limited through IPOPs, patients clearly have greater stability in standing and walking with the bipedal support. Some studies have shown an increase in wound dehiscence and infection with these devices.18 Frequently the residual limb is too tender and painful to allow early weight-bearing to take full advantage of these devices. With the nonremovable IPOPs, patients are unable to inspect or massage their residual limbs, which can interfere with desensitization and emotional adjustment to their amputation.
FIGURE 13-7 Immediate postoperative prostheses (IPOPs) for transtibial amputees. (A) Custom-made, full-length cast IPOP. (Courtesy Prosthetic Research Study.) (B and C) Prefabricated adjustable socket IPOPs.
(B courtesy Flo-Tech O&P Systems; C courtesy Airlimb Inc.)
Another option is early fitting of a custom prosthesis, which requires a delay of 3 to 6 weeks until much of the surgical swelling has resolved and the wound has started to heal. Ideally the limb has also become cylindrically shaped (i.e., the circumference of the distal residual limb is equal to or less than the proximal size). It is preferable that the wound has also attained some integrity (although it need not be completely healed and sutures or staples do not need to be removed). Because most of the postsurgical pain has subsided by the time of early prosthetic fitting, patients are better able to tolerate weight-bearing. Much of the postoperative edema is gone, so the residual limb has a better shape for fitting with a prosthesis. A custom device is used so there is a more intimate and secure fit with the prosthesis, and full weight-bearing is allowed. However, the patient has only one leg for any support until the prosthesis is made, and is less stable for transfers and gait as compared with using an IPOP.
The most conservative option is to wait until the wound on the residual limb is completely healed and surgical edema has resolved before the patient is fitted with a custom prosthesis. This generally takes 3 to 6 months with dysvascular amputees. Although this approach can minimize wound problems related to early weight-bearing, there is a higher risk of complications such as joint contracture, deconditioning, pressure ulcers, and an unnecessarily long delay in returning to functional ambulation.
After 6 to 9 months, when the residual limb volume stabilizes, a new prosthesis, or at least a new socket, is recommended. At this point, different componentry can be considered. If a new prosthesis is made, the preparatory prosthesis can serve as a backup prosthesis.
All amputees will require prosthetic gait training from an experienced physical therapist. The therapist initially trains the patient to independently don and doff the prosthesis, monitor skin tolerance, and adjust sock ply fitting as the residual limb shrinks. The training maximizes the patient's function. The level of performance will vary with each patient, but community ambulation and the negotiation of stairs and curbs are goals for most patients. A floor-to-sit transfer should also be a goal for most patients and is frequently overlooked. Therapy does not need to stop with this level of performance. For more active amputees, continuing to work in therapy on vocational activities, running, bike riding, or other sports present more advanced therapeutic goals.


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Thursday, March 20, 2014
CCDD 032014—Blind Levy
3/20/2014 - In some ways better and in some ways worse than Silence, Blind Levy exists because white has dabbled with cost-increase effects for a long time, but never at common. Ironically, this could easily prove broken below rare. At least it's simple.
16 comments:
Would this be too good as an instant?ReplyDeleteReplies
It would make some players think you could use it like a Mana Tithe. Not sure what it would gain you. Why not cast this at the end of your own turn?Delete
When I first read the card I didn't realize it wasn't "Until end of turn" like most if not all effects of this type are. I would have just tossed it aside as a card I didn't want to try and make work and not given it a second thought.Delete
(Were there enough negatives in that thought?)
Yeah, I forgot about the "next time" clause too. Might run into memory issues.Delete
I think it should be an enchantment, actually.Delete
I'd want to playtest it, because it's such a big specter players might not forget. That said, we lose very little by making it an enchantment and giving it physical board presence.Delete
As an instant, you can cast multiple copies at once to increase the effect.Delete
Hadn't thought of that. Neat.Delete
Following Havelock's idea:ReplyDelete
Blind Levy {W}
When Blind Levy enters the battlefield, draw a card.
When a player casts a spell, sacrifice Blind Levy. If you do, counter that spell if its controller does not pay 1.Replies
This is easier to remember, but more punishing when players do forget. Intentional?Delete
I don't know how to do the "costs 1 more to cast" as a triggered, one-time ability on an enchantment.Delete
"Spells cost 1 more to cast. Whenever a player casts a spell, sacrifice CARDNAME"?
That's how I'd do it.Delete
I also thought of the enchantment idea, but I really like the elegance of the sorcery.ReplyDelete
The real problem is not that it's a sorcery. The problem is the frame. WotC really ought to have taken the opportunity with M15 to make card frames a little more distinct between the card types. The Instant/Sorcery confusion would be cleaned up so quickly.
I'm not a fan of "sorcery-ness" of this when it's clearly trying to be an enchantment. I also don't like the symmetry of the effect. Symmetry is a downside mechanic and it dilutes a neat idea.ReplyDelete
Sign me up for:
Blind Levy W
Enchantment U
Sacrifice Blind Levy: Counter target spell unless it's controller pays 1. Draw a card.Replies
I wouldn't print that for less than 1W in the modern era. Force spikes aren't necessarily too strong, they're just unfun, and as an onboard trick, I'm pretty sure the feel-bad is increased.Delete
While this isn't strictly better than Mana Tithe, it is much better: Force your opponent to keep an extra mana up for every spell until they finally don't *and* you choose to use the levy to counter that spell, AND draw a card.Delete
It's also no longer white.


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Another Shooting Diminishes Detroit And Music World
The Detroit Free Press weighed in on the death of Proof in an editorial published Wednesday (April 12). They write, "As an artist and a man, Proof was a good ambassador for Detroit, a likeable slice of the city's storied heritage of talent, energy and creativity. But his death — senseless, violent and untimely — showed a flip side of Motown that Detroiters have seen too much of lately." Freep.com has since removed the article.


text: Free Nightlife Events in Miami\r\n \r\nFind a long list of free things to do in Miami, whether you want to hit the dance floor, explore culture, or spend time with the little ones. Here's a taste of the many ongoing events and activities that take place in the "Magic City".\r\n \r\nGo into the galleries. Head to Wynwood Arts District, and encounter contemporary art from massive murals to dozens of boutique galleries. If you happen to be in town on the second Saturday of the month, galleries open their doors for extended hours to stroll and socialize.\r\n \r\nWander the art walks. During the Bird Road Art Walk, get a glimpse of the artistic process. Watch photographers snap live sessions as potters mold their medium into handmade crafts. For first Fridays, the Gables Gallery Walk draws crowds for diverse monthly exhibits. Conversely, head to historic Little Havana on the last Fridays to celebrate art, music and culture at Viernes Culturales. \r\n \r\nDance the night away. There is no shortage of clubs, bars and lounges in Miami. And you can tap into the happening nightlife scene without tapping into your bank account. Check out the poolside Skybar at the Shore Club. Admire stunning panoramic views of the city at the Sunset Lounge. Go out for perfectly mixed mojitos at rooftop bars, and get dressed up to go to Delano's cover-fee free lounge. For live music, make your way to the Design District or The Stage.\r\n \r\nSpend time with the kids. Pack a picnic to see an outdoor film at the Miami Beach SoundScape Cinema Series. The second Friday of the month, head to the Miami Science Museum to see the stars. Find shopping, dining and entertainment that never ends near our hotel at CocoWalk, Bayside Marketplace, Lincoln Road, and Ocean Drive.


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Contemporary Arts Museum Houston's (CAMH) Teen Council is pleased to present Shapeshifters, a group exhibition featuring work by over forty Houston-area teen artists. The exhibition includes painting, sculpture, video, photography, textile, and digital media, including an interactive website. Shapeshifters addresses both instant and continuous responses to rapid shifts in our cultural, socio-political, and physical landscapes.
About CAMH Teen Council
Composed of young arts enthusiasts, Teen Council serves as the Museum's vehicle for attracting the city's teen population to CAMH and exposing them to the vibrant field of contemporary art. For council members, the group serves as a highly collaborative creative incubator that opens up opportunities for leadership, visual literacy, and life skill development. During weekly meetings, the council is introduced to the inner workings of museums and to the dynamic Houston arts community. Teen Council activities are decided upon by its members and can change from year to year, but past events developed by the Teen Council include art markets, exhibitions, fashion shows, film screenings, listening parties, music festivals, and poetry readings. Teen Council Members for the 2018–19 season are Madison Akindele, Isabel An, Jamauri Bagby, Karen Cheng, Gabriela De Castro, Mia Fares, Sophia Ghauri, Jonah Gleitman, Emily Goll-Broyles, Ashton Haq, Hannah Holliday, Zak Pham, Olivia Vargas, and Hannia Yeverino.


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By Janette Haak
Living in this mecca of Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and the surrounding community, we have so many school choices. Recently, Rachael Varblow wrote a blog titled Shaping Kids Through Homeschool and Jan McMorris wrote about St. Paul Lutheran School as a great option. Those two articles focused on the elementary years. This one will move us down the line to High School and the options at that level.
Washtenaw Technical Middle College, also known as WTMC is a charter high school program at Washtenaw Community College. It is a wonderful opportunity for students who want to attend college classes while in high school.
Both of my children attended WTMC and had wonderfully successful experiences. You start the program your sophomore year. There are a few spots for freshman, but the student will be in all high school classes their freshman year.
When my children attended, they were in high school classes till they were ready for college classes. My daughter enrolled her jr. year, and still attended three years. My son attended his sophomore year and is graduating after three years this May.
One of the great things about WTC is that the teachers help the students decide by empowering them to make the choice as to when they are ready for the college classes. Beginning from the day that they're accepted into the program, they're learning how to advocate for themselves.
Beginning from the day that they're accepted into the program, they're learning how to advocate for themselves.
Having home schooled my children and being in charge of everything, it was quite a shock for me to no longer be in charge of what my children were doing in their classrooms. You can check your child's grades on power school, an online grading program.
The teachers and advisors see how often the student looks at power school, but they can also see how often parents check it. They want to see that the students are checking their grades more than their parents. We made it a point to check grades together every Wed.
The students have to poses two skills in order to move on to college classes; soft skills and academic grades. For some students, this can happen after only one semester of high school classes their sophomore year, for others it might take a little longer. They can also split and have two high school classes and two college classes.
The students have to poses two skills in order to move on to college classes; soft skills and academic grades.
Possessing soft skills includes, advocating for yourself, meaning you can talk to your teacher about questions, homework, tests or just some clarification. It also includes showing that you can keep a neat, organized folder, turn in assignments and show responsibility in general.
To achieve academic success, the teachers meet regularly and discuss each and every student as a team. They discuss their academics, their soft skills and how they can guide them to be successful in their classes. There is a special needs advocate for those who need extra help.
The WTMC students also have access to all the tutors used by the WCC students. My son would write his English paper and then take it to the writing tutor, they would go over his paper and the tutor would help him with changes that needed to be made.
The attention the students receive at WTMC/WCC compared to a typical high school is much different. The classes are much smaller and the teachers really have the opportunity to get to know the students. Each student has the same advisor thru the 3 years and they help them keep on course for their program.
Each student has the same advisor thru the 3 years and they help them keep on course for their program.
When they're ready, the advisor helps the student sign up for their WCC classes. I felt that my children were not just a number to their advisor, but a real student with great potential, who they cared for and about. (I'm not saying this can't happen at a typical high school, just saying that it felt different to me than Joel's freshman year at a typical high school.)
I felt that my children were not just a number to their advisor, but a real student with great potential, who they cared for and about.
One of the classes the student takes in the WTMC program is a survey to see what program they might be interested in. My daughter went with photography and my son has studied welding. For both of them to have passion for a field and know what they wanted to do, made it much easier to choose a college for them to further their degrees.
You can also research the admissions requirements and make sure your child is taking classes that will transfer. Some schools have an articulation agreement which is helpful in knowing what classes will transfer and how many credit hours they will take. (this =$) My daughter will only be in college for three years instead of 4. The average college student is actually in school for 5 years, so I'm pleased with three!
It is also important to consider your child's personality when thinking about WTMC. Although it offers great potential for college classes, it also means, that your child will not have a typical high school experience. They will be in classes with a variety of people in their college classes. They need to be mature and self-motivated. If they thrive on school dances, and other school events, WTMC is not the choice for them. Neither of my children cared about those things.
It is also important to consider your child's personality when thinking about WTMC.
The one drawback is that they are not allowed to play any of the sports teams at WTMC. They can play ultimate Frisbee, but not any other of WCC's sports teams. Likewise, they're not allowed to play high school sports since they do not attend any classes at their high school. My son plays tennis, so that meant that he played community tennis for Ann Arbor Rec and Ed. It was a competitive and was not as time consuming as high school tennis, so it was perfect.
When making a school choice for your children, remember also that what works for one may not be the right choice for another of your children. School for my children was a year to year analysis and prayer time. God always gave us peace about our choice and I know it can happen for you if you're open to thinking about school outside of the box.


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MY AMAZING COUSIN, Natalie Hart, had a link to an article about a murder trial and the victim's family giving the media treats. It's a good read and well-written column.
The only thing I don't like is the timing.
Here's the story - an Ontario man was murdered and two defendants are on trial. It started Feb. 1 and has obviously been tedious. The family of the victim is Dutch, and they gave media members covering the trial the infamous Dutch dropjes, or salted licorice.
The reactions were priceless. Dropjes are acquired tastes. And if you ain't Dutch, you ain't much, especially when it comes to puckering up with a double salted dropje.
The author calls herself a "crime, court and social justice columnist," whatever that means. I suppose you can have an editorial slant, but that's a dangerous thing to do when a trial is taking place.
Look. A dirtball is a dirtball, and families are unwitting and innocent victims in a grinding and often unfair system. If you spend a lot of time with them, you may become close. It's human nature. You may even root for the outcome, obvious as it may be, or otherwise.
But to me, if I'm going to write about it, I have to stay detached during the proceedings. It reeks of "Oh look at me in the middle of this thing." Just my opinion. When it's said and done, you can opine.
Still, it's a good column and certainly human nature prevails, even at the darkest and most dreary of times.
And it's enhanced by Dutch licorice.