British-Czech co-operation in a mass casualty incident, Sipovo. From aeromedical evacuation from Bosnia to discharge from Central Military Hospital, Prague.

On Thursday 8 January 1998, a Czech Hip helicopter with 21 personnel on board crashed in Bos Krupa, northwest Bosnia, resulting in one of the largest mass casualty incidents involving peacekeepers in Bosnia since conflict broke out there in 1992. Seventeen patients were airlifted from the scene to the British Hospital Squadron in Sipovo, central Bosnia for resuscitation and initial treatment. The next day, six severely injured patients underwent aeromedical evacuation to the Central Military Hospital in Prague. The role of the British Defence Medical Services in this incident was documented in the first article of this two part series. This second article highlights the role of the Czech medical services following aeromedical evacuation of these six patients, and closes the audit trial by documenting the patients' progress and final outcome in Prague.

[External fixation in fractures of distal radius.]. / Pouzití zevní fixace pri lécbe zlomenin distálního konce radia.

On a group of 30 patients authors present the results they have achieved in the treatment of fractures of distal radius by external fixation. They deal with indications to the treatment of this injury by external fixation and describe in detail the method of such treatment. They discuss the pitfalls of this treatment, potential complications and adequacy of individual types of external fixators. They point out the discrepancy in the evaluation of objective achievements and subjective evaluation of patients. In total they evaluate the results as good and recommend a more consistent diagnostic and therapeutic connsidera-tion of the treatment of these injuries in out-patient departments. Key words: fracture of distal radius, external fixator.

[Initial experience with implantation of a cemented endoprosthesis.]. / První zkusenosti s implantací cementované endoprotézy kycelního kloubu Saphir I.

The authors present their experience with the use of a cemented endoprosthesis of the hip joint Saphir I. During a three-year period they implanted at the Orthopaedic department of the Central Military Hospital in Prague 82 of these endoprostheses with very good mediumterm results. In the first part of the paper they deal with the description of the implant and the range of sizes. They emphasize the satisfactory technical solution of the implant and instruments and the easy technique of implantation. In view of the minimal number of complications and the reasonable price they envisage the use this endoprosthesis in elderly but perspective patients where with regard to osteoporosis and other factors the use of non-cemented endoprosthesis of the hip joint is not indicated. Key words: cemented endoprosthesis of the hip joint, complications of endoprostheses, bone cement.

[Fractures of the distal end of the radius.]. / Zlomeniny distálního konce radia.

The authors evaluate in a group of 92 patients the results of conservative treatment of fractures of the distal radius. They draw attention to terminological inaccuracies in the evaluation of these fractures. This leads to a relatively high percentage of poor results in their patients, though their results are comparable with those of other authors. As a guideline for treatment they suggest the AO classification and on its basis they propose a more active approach to the treatment of these fractures. Key words: fracture of the distal end of the radius, reposition, redislocation.

[Spontaneously healed pseudoarthrosis of the navicular bone?]. / Spontánne zhojený pakloub clunkové kosti?

The authors demonstrate a relatively rare case of spontaneous healing of the navicular bone almost four years after the injury. They draw attention to diagnostic difficulties in acute injuries of the wrist and in the diagnosis of a pseudoarthrosis of the navicular bone. Key words: navicular bone of the wrist, pseudoarthrosis of the navicular bone.

[Arteriovenous aneurysm--an uncommon complication in open fractures of the leg]. / Arteriovenózní aneuryzma--méne obvyklá komplikace zevní zlomeniny bérce.

The authors describe a less common complication of external osteosynthesis--a false arteriovenous aneurysm. On the case-history of a patient they demonstrate the risk associated with insertion of nails, the necessity of careful follow-up of patients after operation, and in case of suspicion, the necessity of accurate diagnosis and urgent surgical operation.

[Heterotopic ossification from the view of an orthopaedist and anesthesiologist.]. / Heterotopická osifikace z pohledu ortopéda a anesteziologa.

The authors draw attention to the possible development of heterotopic ossifications in patients treated at resuscitation departments on account of prolonged loss of consciousness and in orthopaedic and traumatological departments after operations of the locomotor apparatus. They reflect on the aetiology, pathogenesis of this unpleasant complication. In the conclusion they draw attention to possible prevention and treatment by non-steroid antirheumatic drugs, X-ray therapy in small doses and surgical treatment. Key words: heterotopic ossification, paraarticular ossification.