A comparative analysis of burn injuries at two burns centres in Denmark.

In order to compare the epidemiology of burns and predisposing factors to burns at two burn centres representing the cities of Aarhus and Copenhagen, Denmark, a prospective study was set up at the University Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, Aarhus and the Centre of Plastic Surgery and Burns Unit, Hvidovre Hospital, Denmark. Several significant differences in the epidemiology of burns in the two populations were found. Considering the social circumstances, the situation in Aarhus was characterized by the fact that most patients lived in their own houses, had a larger family and a larger family income. At the Hvidovre Hospital, the patients more often lived in a flat, had a smaller family and a lower family income than the average.

Separation of tendon ends after Achilles tendon repair: a prospective, randomized, multicenter study.

Fifty-seven patients treated for an acute rupture of the Achilles tendon were studied. The patients were randomized into a Mason suture technique or a reinforced continuous six-strand suture technique, and markers were attached to each tendon end perioperatively. The postoperative separation of the markers was studied by repeat radiographic examination. Despite immobilization, separation developed after a biphasic course, and after 7 weeks the mean separation was 10.5 mm. No difference was found between the two techniques. We attempt to correlate the separation to the clinical outcome, examined at 1 year follow up.

Heterotopic bone formation following hip arthroplasty. A retrospective study of 65 bilateral cases.

Heterotopic bone formation after two-stage bilateral cemented total hip arthroplasty was evaluated in 65 patients (23 women and 42 men) who had not received treatment with antiinflammatory drugs in the immediate postoperative weeks. The mean age at the first operation was 65 years, and the median interval between the two arthroplasties was 3 months. Fifty-two patients developed heterotopic ossification after the initial hip arthroplasty. Of these patients, 40 also developed ossifications after contralateral hip arthroplasty. Out of 11 males developing Grade-III heterotopic ossification after the initial hip arthroplasty, 8 also developed Grade-III ossification after contralateral hip arthroplasty. Two females developed Grade-III ossification after the initial arthroplasty, but neither of them developed a Grade-III lesion after contralateral total hip arthroplasty. Males with Grade-III heterotopic ossification after the initial hip arthroplasty were shown to be at a high risk of developing the same severe lesion after contralateral total hip arthroplasty, making them candidates for postoperative prophylaxis.

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis: long-term results of an abandoned technique.

Sixty-two (11 women and 51 men) of 76 consecutive patients treated between January 1960 and December 1979 with percutaneous pinning, traction, and ambulation in Thomas splints for slipped capital femoral epiphyses (physiolysis colli femoris; PCF) were re-examined radiologically and clinically to evaluate long-term results of an abandoned technique. Median follow-up time was 21 years (range: 8 to 28). The average age at symptom start was 14 years (range: 9 to 17). Fourteen patients were operated bilaterally, while 15 were operated on the right side only and 33 on the left side only. No additional hip surgery for coxarthrosis as adults had been performed. At the clinical examination the mean hip-movement-sum was 220 degrees (range: 30 degrees to 300 degrees). Pain occurred in 31 hips. A limp was found in 23 patients, and 56 had no impairment of working ability. At radiologic examination, 30 patients showed sequelae of PCF, and 30 (48%) had bilateral signs of PCF at follow up.

Hip physiolysis. Bilaterality in 62 cases followed for 20 years.

The frequency of bilateral physiolysis colli femoris was evaluated in 62 patients. At first admission, 5 patients had a bilateral slipping. Further, 9 patients had slipping diagnosed in the contralateral hip during adolescence 1-3 years after the primary operation. At the follow-up examination 22 years after the primary operation, radiographs showed bilateral sequelae of slipping in 30 of 62 patients. Of the nine slips diagnosed later during adolescence, one showed mild and two severe arthrosis. Among the 16 slips diagnosed at follow-up, mild arthrosis was found in four hips. We recommend bilateral pinning at first admission in all patients with a slipped capital femoral epiphysis.

Hohmann-Thomasen metatarsal osteotomy for tailor's bunion (bunionette).

We used subcapital displacement osteotomy of the fifth metatarsal bone and peg-and-hole fixation to treat a tailor's bunion (bunionette) in forty-four feet (twenty-seven patients). The result was good in 86 per cent, fair in 9 per cent, and poor in 5 per cent. All but one of the patients were satisfied with the result. The average medial displacement of the head of the fifth metatarsal was five millimeters. In all feet, secure union was noted in five weeks, and no patient had osteonecrosis of the head of the fifth metatarsal.