BACKGROUND: A single centre study was planned to asses the incidence and clinical feature of snake bite cellulitis in order to find out the nature and burden of the disease. OBJECTIVES: To assess incidence and clinical features of snake bite cellulitis. METHODOLOGY: This present one year prospective study was conducted in the Department of Surgery, Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences, Hubli. Out of 520 total cases of snake bites 66 patients with cellulitis changes were studied. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The data obtained was coded and entered in Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet. The categorical data was expressed as rates, ratios and percentages. RESULTS: Out of 520 total snake bite cases, 66 patients developed signs of cellulitis. In patients with cellulitis 49(74.24%) were males and 17(25.75%) were females. In patients with cellulitis, most were aged between 31 to 45 years (36.36%) and 19 to 30 years (34.84.The mean age of the study population was 32.43 ± 13.75 years. Majority of the patients (74.24%) had snake bite on lower limbs. Most common symptom complex noted was pain + swelling in 30(39.39%) of the patients followed by pain in 9(13.6%), swelling in 6(9%), pain+swelling+fever in 4(6%), pain + discolouration in 2(3%) and pain + fever in 1(1.5%) of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows high incidence of cellulitis in patients with snake bite and most common clinical feature is cellulitis is pain + swelling. So in any case of snake of snake bite we should take the proper precautionary measures to prevent cellulitis. If cellulitis has already formed, then it should be treated without delay in order to prevent limb loss, compartment syndrome, other morbidities and even death.

The aim of our study was to find the difference between the mean duration of union and functional outcome between the dynamic compression plating (DCP) and the intramedullary interlocking nailing in diaphyseal fractures of the humerus in adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2007 to December 2008, 34 patients with diaphyseal fractures of the humerus were treated with compression plating using dynamic compression plate or with intramedullary interlocking nail. The time taken for radiological union in the two groups was compared. After satisfactory radiological union, the functional outcome was assessed by the "Disabilities of Hand, Shoulder and Elbow (DASH) Questionnaire". RESULTS: All fractures united and a marginal difference was noted in the time taken for union. The functional outcome was better in DCP group compared to interlocking nailing group which was statistically significant (P= 0.010). The complication associated with interlocking group was more than the DCP group. CONCLUSION: We are of the opinion that when surgery is opted as a choice of treatment, both the modalities of treatment i.e. dynamic compression plating and interlocking nailing are good as far as union of the fracture is concerned, but considering the number of complications and functional outcome, we opine that dynamic compression plating offers better result than antegrade interlocking nailing with respect to pain and function of the shoulder joint. INTRODUCTION: Fractures of the diaphysis of the humerus and its complications are a major cause of morbidity in trauma patients. Fractures of the humeral shaft account for 20 % of the humeral fractures 1 and about 3-5 % of all fractures 2. Humeral fractures have a bimodal pattern in terms of age and sex of patients. The 1st peak is seen predominantly in young males in the age group 21-30 years mainly due to high energy trauma 2. The 2nd peak in seen in females of age 60-80 years caused primarily due to simple falls 2. Closed reduction is the mainstay of treatment of diaphyseal fractures of the humerus 3. Operative treatment is required only if indicated 2. Operative treatment commonly involves either plating or intramedullary nailing. The dynamic compression plate (DCP) is commonly used for plating and interlocking intramedullary nail is used for nailing. Closed intramedullary nailing is widely accepted for the stabilization of femur and tibia. Nowadays it is also being applied to the fractures of the humerus. Plate fixation gives high rates of union, but requires extensive open operation with stripping of soft tissues from the bone 4. It also provides less "secure "fixation, especially in osteoporotic bone and if crutch walking is required. Closed intramedullary nailing avoids all these problems. Taking these points in mind, we undertook this study to compare these two modalities in the treatment of humerus fractures with respect to the mean duration for union & the functional outcome.