[Long-term follow-up of 37 patients with retrofixation of the temporomandibular joint disk 1987-1995]. / Langzeitkontrolle von 37 Patienten mit Diskusretrofixation im Zeitraum von 1986-1995.

Between January 1986 and December 1995 64 patients with anterior disc displacement were operated on, the technique being disc retrofixation. Follow-up of 37 patients was possible. Successful treatment was determined using the following criteria: one single operation, the clinical examination and the patient's opinion. The operative treatment was considered as unsuccessful if the patient had to undergo more than one operation or if, postoperatively, the clinical symptoms remained unchanged or even increased. 6 out of 37 patients were operated on twice or three times, another four patients postoperatively complained of unchanged or increased clinical symptoms. Using these criteria, disc retrofixation was ineffective in 30%. Using the correct anatomic position as an additional criterion of effective treatment, unsuccessful retrofixation would be even more than 30%. As a consequence we no longer recommend this technique.

[Experimental reconstruction of the sheep orbit with biodegradable implants]. / Experimentelle Rekonstruktion der Orbita beim Schaf mit biodegradablen Implantaten.

In a complex animal model in sheep, polydioxanone (PDS) and polylactic membranes were used for the reconstruction of large orbital-wall defects. In a long-term experiment over 1 year, polylactic implants alone showed the best performance as compared with combinations involving autogenous bone grafts and titanium miniplate fixation. As soon as these polylactic implants are approved for human surgery, they will be used to solve the still challenging problem of anatomical reconstruction of large comminuted fractures of more than one orbital wall.

[Experimental reconstruction of sheep orbits using biodegradable implants]. / Experimentelle Rekonstruktion der Orbita beim Schaf mit biodegradablen Implantaten.

In a complex animal model in sheep, polydioxanone (PDS(®)) and polylactic membranes were used for the reconstruction of large orbital-wall defects. In a long-term experiment over 1 year, polylactic implants alone showed the best performance as compared with combinations involving autogenous bone grafts and titanium miniplate fixation. As soon as these polylactic implants are approved for human surgery, they will be used to solve the still challenging problem of anatomical reconstruction of large comminuted fractures of more than one orbital wall.

Clinical degradation and biocompatibility of different bioabsorbable interference screws: a report of six cases.

The clinical biocompatibility and degradation of bioabsorbable interference screws of different polymer composition is described in this report for six patients who underwent repeat arthroscopy after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Bioabsorbable interference screws were used for bone plug fixation of bone--patellar tendon--bone (BPTB) autografts. Poly (L-lactide) (PLLA) interference screws were used in one case, poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PDLLA-co-PGA) in two cases and poly (D,L-lactide) (PDLLA) in three cases. The patients either underwent removal of the femoral screw or had a biopsy taken from the screw site during re-arthroscopy. Large fragments of the PLLA screw were still present 20 months postoperatively. In one case, the PDLLA-co-PGA screw was extruded spontaneously from the tibial bone tunnel 3 weeks after the operation. In the second PDLLA-co-PGA screw case, there was no evidence left of the screw material on biopsy 12 months after implantation. The PDLLA screw in one patient was removed 6 weeks after implantation without any signs of degradation. No traces of the PDLLA screws were found in the two other patients, 10 or 14 months postoperatively. There were no clinical signs of foreign-body reactions in all cases.

[Sonography of jugular vein thrombosis]. / Sonographie bei Jugularvenenthrombose.

Based on a case report, angiographic and sonographic findings of jugular venous thrombosis are discussed. On the strength of the sonographic demarcation of anatomical and functional soft tissue structures of the neck ultrasound should rank first in the diagnostic hierarchy after clinical investigation.

[Computer tomography in injuries of the cervical vertebrae]. / Computertomographie bei Verletzung der Halswirbelsäule.

32 patients with traumatic injuries of the cervical spine were investigated by CT. All patients were initially examined by plain films. CT was definitely superior to conventional radiology in compressive fractures of vertebral bodies. In flexion-extension injuries CT was useful showing fractures of the posterior elements in great detail. Conventional tomography was superior to CT in patients with complex dislocations of vertebral bodies. In the absence of fracture CT failed to detect disruptions of ligaments, which were readily shown by functional examination.