[Kyphoplasty combined with intraoperative radiotherapy (Kypho-IORT). Alternative therapy for patients with oligometastatic spinal metastases]. / Kyphoplastie kombiniert mit intraoperativer Radiotherapie (Kypho-IORT). Therapiealternative für den oligometastasierten Patienten mit Wirbelsäulenmetastasen.

BACKGROUND: Due to a more effective systemic therapy the survival of patients suffering from malignant tumors has been significantly improved but a longer life span is often associated with a higher incidence of osseous metastases. The majority of these metastases are localized in the spine causing pain, instability and neurological impairments. The interdisciplinary management of spinal metastases previously consisted of stabilization followed by fractionated external body radiation therapy. A reduction in procedural severity and morbidity as well as consideration of self-sufficiency and hospitalization time are important target parameters for these palliative patients. METHOD AND RESULTS: Kyphoplasty combined with intraoperative radiotherapy (Kypho-IORT) is one of several modern treatment options, which involves a minimally invasive procedure with local high-dose transpedicular irradiation of the spine with low-energy (50 kV) X-rays. Immediately following irradiation, stabilization of the spine is carried out using kyphoplasty via the same access route so that a single stage procedure with excellent pain reduction and good local tumor control can be achieved. This article presents clinical data for this procedure and the different fields of indications are critically reviewed and compared to other therapy options. Methodological improvements and options for further individualization of therapy are demonstrated. CONCLUSION: The Kypho-IORT procedure is a safe, feasible and beneficial modern treatment option for instant stabilization and local tumor control in patients with spinal metastases. More than 100 operations have been successfully performed so that the method can be deemed suitable for inclusion in the clinical routine. A phase II dose escalation study has now been completed and submitted for publication and a 2-arm non-inferiority trial (phase III study) for comparison with conventional irradiation is in progress.

[Fractures of the neck of the femur in younger patients (15-50 years old). Outcome 4 years after surgery]. / Die Schenkelhalsfraktur bei jüngeren Patienten (15-50 Jahre). Klinisch-radiografisches Outcome 4 Jahre nach operativer Therapie.

INTRODUCTION: Traumatic fractures of the neck of the femur are rare injuries in younger patients between 15 and 50 years old. The short-term and long-term complications may cause substantial problems, in particular non-union and avascular necrosis (AVN) of the head of the femur. In the literature (and from some experts) the impression is occasionally given that there might be "proven" successful therapeutic procedures. METHODS: For this purpose we retrospectively analysed follow-up-data from our own patients in the years 2003-2007 and compared them with the literature. We identified 23 of a total of 376 patients with a femoral neck fracture as a cohort being younger than 50 years. 17 of those 23 patients were treated with an internal fixation. We were able to collect and analyse complete clinical and radiological data of 11 of these 17 patients 4.2 years after surgery. RESULTS: The mean interval between accident and surgery was 22 hours. Only one of the patients developed an AVN after internal fixation of the fracture and was implanted a total hip replacement 18 months postoperatively. There was no non-union of the femoral neck The clinical outcome after 4.2 years was very good. The mean Harris Hip Score was 95 points (of a max. of 100 pts.). CONCLUSIONS: The osteosynthesis of femoral neck fractures in younger patients showed good results and a low risk of AVN and non-union. Therefore the internal fixation of the femoral neck fracture should be preferred for the younger patients instead of a primary total hip replacement.

[Learning and teaching abilities of a newly inaugurated operation technique. Analysis of learning curves and transferability exemplified by Kypho-IORT]. / Lehrfähigkeit und Erlernbarkeit einer neu inaugurierten Operationsmethode. Analyse der eigenen Erfahrungskurve und des Weitergabeerfolgs am Beispiel der Kypho-IORT.

The Kypho-IORT procedure is a recently developed surgical technique to combine intraoperative radiotherapy with cement augmentation of the vertebra for spinal metastases. The technical feasibility and the operation principle of this new method have been described. In the following article the refinement of the standard operation procedure and the technical development of the method are described. Not only the procedural improvements but also the learning curves of the inaugurators are pointed out. Moreover, the article presents the measures which were necessary to educate trainees during surgical master classes in this new method and to transfer the method. The learning success was quantified by recording the accuracy reached by the trainees in the key procedure during hands-on cadaver exercises. Improvements of the standard operation procedure could be successfully transferred in a second master class. The method of Kypho-IORT and the demonstrated way of postgraduate education is feasible to instruct trainees. The Kypho-IORT procedure can be learnt and performed safely by running through the surgical master class.

[Kyphoplasty in combination with intraoperative radiotherapy. Technical and regulatory characteristics of a concept for treatment of vertebral metastases]. / Kyphoplastie in Kombination mit intraoperativer Radiotherapie. Technische und regulatorische Besonderheiten eines Konzepts zur Behandlung von Wirbelkörpermetastasen.

BACKGROUND: Operative and radiotherapeutic procedures are available for the treatment of symptomatic vertebral metastases. The method for treatment of vertebral metastases presented in this article involves a combination of intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) and kyphoplasty. METHODS AND RESULTS: Kyphoplasty-IORT allows treatment of symptomatic vertebral metastases between vertebrae T3 and L5. With the patient under intubation narcosis an extrapedicular or bipedicular access to the vertebra is selected as for conventional kyphoplasty. This is followed by insertion of special sheaths of the radiation applicator and radiation therapy is intraoperatively administered via a radiation generator (Intrabeam®, Carl Zeiss Surgical, Oberkochen, Germany). The radiation dose is 8 Gy at a depth of 5-10 mm depending on the study protocol (50 kV X-radiation). Following radiation a conventional kyphoplasty procedure (Medtronic, USA) is carried out and the vertebra stabilized with cement. CONCLUSIONS: The procedure presented demonstrates a new approach to treatment of vertebral metastases and represents a valuable alternative to previously established methods.

[Significance of drains in surgery]. / Stellenwert von Drainagen in der Chirurgie.

Placing drains is one the most common procedures following operations in surgical disciplines. The indication for placing a drain is, however, usually based on a traditional belief rather than being evidence-based. This paper presents an overview of the literature regarding the indications and the evidence level for placing drains following operations in visceral, vascular, thoracic and orthopeedic surgery as well as traumatology. In visceral surgery the indications for placing drains could be clarified over the past decades but in other surgical fields the level of evidence needs further investigation and clarification through future studies. The available data suggest that in most cases a prophylactic drainage can be avoided. In addition, drains may lead to increased morbidity and higher treatment costs.

[Fractures of the neck of the femur in younger patients (15-50 years old). Systematic literature research on medial fractures of the neck of the femur in young patients]. / Schenkelhalsfrakturen bei jüngeren Patienten (15-50 Jahre). Systematische Literaturrecherche zur medialen Schenkelhalsfraktur beim jungen Patienten.

Non-pathologic fractures of the neck of the femur in younger patients aged between 15 and 50 years old are rare injuries. These are so-called effectual injuries with very high energy induction due to traffic accidents, falls and sport accidents, causing healthy bones to be fractured and often leading to multiple injuries. The short-term and long-term complications of such injuries sometimes give rise to substantial problems, in particular from non-union fractures and avascular necrosis of the head of the femur. In the literature (and from some experts) the impression is occasionally given that there might be "proven" successful therapeutic procedures for the methods and in particular the timing of treatment of fractures of the neck of the femur in younger patients. This presentation has gone so far that in some cases the term "treatment malpractice" has been used in legal disputes (and judgments) (Judgment IU 5146/00, Higher Regional Court Munich; 2O 861/07 Hei, Regional District Court Ansbach; 118C 421/05, District Court Cologne). The authors have often been called upon as medical experts to comment on the current state of medical knowledge on the question of the biology of healing of fractures of the neck of the femur and the question of"verified" therapy strategies. With this in mind this article is designed to give a review of the current state of proven knowledge according to the available clinical and experimental data and last but not least to stimulate constructive discussion.