[Osseous extensor tendon rupture of the finger joint: surgical technique and results]. / Der knöcherne Strecksehnenausriss am Fingerendglied: operative Technik und Ergebnisse.

Mostly mallet finger can be treated conservatively. In cases of fracture of the distal phalanx open reduction and fixation is recommended. We favour the well-established cerclage, yet perform it in a more comfortable way with the use of cannulated drilling. This technique was applied on 13 patients even with lesions several weeks old. The evaluation 5-16 months postoperatively based on radiological, clinical and subjective criteria. We present the technique and the results followed by the discussion of the advantages over conservative and other operative managements.

[Perforated small intestine diverticulum as a cause of acute abdomen in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome]. / Das perforierte Dünndarmdivertikel als Ursache eines akuten Abdomens beim Ehlers-Danlos-Syndrom.

Based on a rare case of perforated small-bowel diverticulum combined with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) we investigated in a retrospective study several swiss hospitals for symptomatic small-bowel diverticulosis aiming at any clue on EDS. We came up with 15 more cases, 5 of them with perforation, yet none showed any sign of EDS. A review of the literature on either small-bowel diverticulosis or the intestinal complications of EDS amounted to 131 cases of perforation and 11 cases of symptomatic small-bowel diverticulosis in combination with EDS, 2 of them suffering from perforation. Regarding the rarity of these diseases the number of patients presenting both is surprising. Although the EDS-specific histopathological changes of the skin could not be shown in the specimen of the intestinum, it seems quite reasonable to suggest an increased incidence of diverticulosis in patients with EDS, since the weakness of the connective tissue allows an easy protrusion of the mucosa through the intestinal wall.

Efficacy and toxicity of fleroxacin in the treatment of travelers' diarrhea.

The efficacy and safety of fleroxacin in brief self-treatment of travelers' diarrhea were studied. In The Gambia, 195 tourists with acute diarrhea were randomized in a double-blind, controlled trial into three treatment groups: fleroxacin 400 mg for 1 day, fleroxacin 400 mg daily for 2 days, and placebo. Microbiology of stools was assessed only at recruitment. In the fleroxacin-treated groups, stool consistency was normal in 67% and 71% of the volunteers after 48 hours, as compared to 37% in the placebo group (p < 0.01). The time to total relief of diarrhea and of all symptoms was also significantly shorter in fleroxacin-treated patients. Adverse events, particularly slight neuropsychiatric reactions (headache, insomnia) were more frequent in the fleroxacin-treated groups (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in efficacy and tolerance if fleroxacin was administered for 1 or 2 days. A single dose of fleroxacin 400 mg may be recommended for the self-treatment of travelers' diarrhea.