Göran C. H. Bauer

Epidemiology of fractures of the forearm. A biomechanical investigation of bone strength.

1. In an urban population of 209,473, the age-and-sex-specific rate of inicidence of 2,672 fractures of the forearm that occurred during a five-year period were determined. The fractures were classified as to location (distal, shaft, or proximal), degree of trauma (moderate or severe), and displacem

Improved operations for femoral neck fracture: A radiographic evaluation

A radiographic investigation was undertaken to determine whether an increased interest in femoral neck fractures improved the operative result. In 1977, all femoral neck fractures were operated on by any of 30 surgeons of the orthopedic department, but in 1981 all fractures were operated on by one of six specially devoted surgeons. Preoperative fracture classification was performed with three parameters and proved equal in the 1977 and 1981 groups of 105 and 114 fractures, respectively. The quality of fracture reduction, determined with four parameters, was improved somewhat. The position of the nail(s), also determined with four parameters, improved considerably. The technical result was better in Garden IV fractures than in Garden III fractures. An increased interest in femoral neck fracture treatment improved reduction and fixation.

EXTERNAL COUNTING OF Ca47 AND Sr85 IN STUDIES OF LOCALISED SKELETAL LESIONS IN MAN

1. Based on studies in seventy-five patients, a technique is described for body surface activity measurements over localised skeletal lesions up to one month after injection of the γ-emitting isotopes Ca 47 and Sr 85 . 2. The activity was high over skeletal lesions like fracture, metastatic cancer, eosinophilic granuloma, chondroma, osteomyelitis and Paget9s disease. 3. The high isotope uptake is interpreted as evidence of an increased rate of bone tissue turnover. 4. These findings suggest that external counting of Ca 47 and Sr 85 may be used for quantitation of the rate of formation of normal and pathological bone tissue. A special application would be localisation and delineation of metastatic cancer in cases where radiographic evidence is uncertain or non-existent.

Femoral head necrosis following traumatic hip joint tamponade: A case report

Necrosis of the left femoral head developed after a bicycle accident with undislocated acetabular fracture. 11/2 years later a Moore hemiarthroplasty was performed. The cause of the condition was probably hip joint tamponade.

Of University of Florence, Italy Uptake of Sr85 in Non-Malignant Vertebral Lesions in Man

By means of external scintillation counting, it was possible to demonstrate abnormally high spinal uptake of intravenously injected Sr/sup 85/ in various diseases of the vertebral column. A total dose of 50 mu c carrier-free Sr/sup 85/ was injected 7 to 14 days before recording spinal radioactivity with a collimated scintillation detector. An abnormal activity pattern was defined as a deviation from the normal pattern of twice the standard deviation of the normal mean value. Abnormal spinal patterns were detected in vertebral fractures, ankylosing spondylitis, tuberculous spondylitis, nonspecific discitis, and in a case with a lytic lesion of unknown origin. The value of 14 days was found more reliable than that at 7 days since by this time Sr/sup 85/ levels in soft tissues had fallen to low values. In 1 case, erroneous results were obtained from spinal counting due to a kidney stone which produced high activity in the spinal region. (H.H.D.)

Use of Antihemophilic Factor (Plasma Fraction I-0) during Correction of Knee-Joint Deformities in Hemophilia A

Three cases of chronic knee-joint contractures in patients with severe hemophilia A were corrected to near full extension without significant hemorrhage by using a human antihemophilic factor concentrate, fraction I-0, prepared by the glycine method of Blomback and Blomback. The amount of substitution needed was adjusted on the basis of serial determinations of the antihemophilic factor concentration in the patient9s plasma. The flexion contractures were corrected by skin traction for two to three weeks followed by an extension brace for a few more weeks. In one of these patients, a supracondylar wedge osteotomy was subsequently done to correct a 30-degree valgus deformity of the knee. Prior to intervention, the children were unable to walk. Postoperatively they could walk unaided and even cycle and ski despite persistent limitation or absence of knee flexion. It is emphasized that adequate substitution therapy in hemophilia, based on serial determinations of the plasma antihemophilic factor levels, is now feasible.