[Radiographic diagnosis of sacral meningeal cysts]. / Rentgenodiagnostyka oponowych torbieli wewnatrzkrzyzowych.

The aim of this study was to establish the incidence and morphological variety of sacral meningeal cysts as well as proposing diagnostic algorithm in dubious cases. A series of 1800 radicular-radiographies has been retrospectively analysed and 17 cases of a terminal cistern enlargement have been found (0.94%). Three types of cysts have emerged depending on its communication with the cerebral fluid reservoir. Two cases have illustrated the suggestion of performing CT scan instead of epidural administration of the contrast agent in case of suspected pathological mass within sacral spinal canal.

[Attempts at hierarchic classification of radio-morphologic changes of the lumbar spine in screening examinations]. / Próba hierarchizacji zmian radiomorfologicznych kregoslupa ledzwiowego w badaniach przesiewowych.

An objective evaluation of condition of the spine in candidates for study and employment in continuous and excessive loading of the lumbar spine is difficult because of the lack of suitable criteria classifying pathomorphological changes found on X-ray examination. In order to fill this gap, the authors analyzed 85 X-ray pictures of the lumbar spine of candidates within the preliminary screening examinations. A 5-points-scale considering the clinical value of individual deviations in lumbar spine structure was accepted. On the basis of that research the groups of the examined were determined: able to physical work (0-3 points), admitted on condition (4 points) and disqualified (5 points and over). On the basis of this model 57.6 per cent of the candidates were disqualified and only 25.9 per cent were admitted to study and work with no conditions.

[Contemporary methods of imaging injuries of the spine and spinal cord]. / Wspólczesne metody obrazowania uszkodzen kregoslupa i rdzenia kregowego.

A review of current methods of visualization of injuries of the axial organ on the basis of the literature from the last decade, including also the author's own experience, has been done. The techniques of visualization accessible in Poland have been discussed more widely.

[Spondylolisthesis of L5 and retrospondylolisthesis of L4]. / Kregozmyk L5 a tylozmyk L4.

A group of 106 cases of I. isthmic spondylolisthesis of L5 was divided into two subgroups: "A", without retrospondylolisthesis(n = 51) and "B", with retrospondylolisthesis of L4 (n = 55). A spondylometric analysis took into account the line of static loading, lumbar lordosis, the Fergusson's angle, the angles of the L4L5 and L5S1 intervertebral disks, and their heights. The measurements showed that a statistically significant difference occurs in the medium values of incidence of the line of static loading. It would confirm the thesis about the compensatory character of the position in retrospondylolisthesis of the L4 vertebra in consequence of disturbances of statics caused by isthmic spondylolisthesis of L5. Furthermore, this interdependence occurring in 52 per cent of the cases manifests possibility of complications caused by instability in the segment above spondylolisthesis.

[Ability of the tissues to assimilate glucose and the pyruvate and lactate levels after intravenous glucose load in patients with peripheral facial paralysis]. / Zdolnosc przyswajania tkankowego glukozy i stezenie pirogronianu, mleczanu po dozylnym obciazeniu glukoza u chorych z obwodowym porazeniem nerwu twarzowego.

In 60 control subjects and 48 patients with peripheral facial nerve palsy carbohydrate metabolism was tested performing a rapid intravenous glucose tolerance test with 0.5 g glucose per 1 kg of actual body weight and with determination of concentrations of glucose, pyruvate and lactate at rest in fasting state and after intravenous glucose load. Glucose was determined in capillary blood by the orthotoluidine method, pyruvate and lactate in venous blood by the enzymatic method. In the group of patients with facial nerve palsy a significantly lower number of subjects had a normal ability of glucose assimilation by tissues and a significantly higher frequency of pathological results of glucose tolerance test with a high prevalence of fasting hyperglycaemia. In patients with abnormal glucose tolerance test the fasting pyruvate concentration was high. After an intravenous glucose load the concentration of pyruvate in the 120th minute of the test was significantly increased (p less than 0.05) in patients with facial nerve palsy independently of the degree of glucose tolerance impairment. In patients with pathological result of the glucose tolerance test disturbances were observed also in lactate concentration. The production of lactate was decreased in the initial phase and then it was increased in the time up to 120 minutes. No direct correlation was observed between the disturbances of pyruvate concentration and the preserved ability of glucose assimilation by the peripheral tissues.

[Radiodiagnosis of the spinal canal using a nonionic contrast medium]. / Radiodiagnostyka kanalu kregowego z uzyciem bezjonowego srodka cieniujacego.

In 320 cases contrast investigations of the vertebral column were carried out injecting by lumbar tap Metrizamide in 174 cases and Amipaque in 126 cases. In 259 cases the investigation was limited to the lumbar part, in 25 cases to the thoracic part, and in 19 cases to the cervical part of the spine. In 12 cases the whole vertebral canal was explored in this way. In 5 cases only epidurography was done. Very good or good contrast filling of the dural sac was obtained in the thoracolumbar segment using contrast medium 200 mg I/ml. In some cases this degree of concentration was inadequate for good visualization of the cervical segment. Side effects included headaches in 52%, nausea in 15%, vomiting in 4% of cases. In 28% of cases fever up to 38 degrees C was observed on the first day after the procedure. In 8 cases of repeated radiculography no evidence of arachnitis was demonstrated.