Concentrations of radon and its progeny in the rooms of Polish spas.

Radon concentrations and radon-daughter exposures of workers have been determined in three Polish spas where radon is used as a therapeutic agent. A wide range of values for both parameters was observed during the late 1970s, with some exposures above the annual limit of 3.5 WLM, particularly among technical personnel at a spa using uranium ore as a source. A downward trend in these exposures in recent years reflects the effect of improved practices.

[Method for the determination of alpha radiation potential energy of radon decay products occurring as free ions]. / Metoda okreslania stezenia energii potencjalnej promieniowania alfa produktów rozpadu radonu wystepujacych w powietrzu w postaci wolnych jonów.

The paper presents a simple method of measuring the concentration of alpha radiation potential energy of radon decay products occurring as free ions in the air. This method consists in deposition of free ions of radon decay products on the surface of metal plates in so called impactor, which is constructed by an appropriate selection of shapes and mutual arrangement of the plates. The paper presents an improved system of calibration of impactor, which continuously produces free ions in the tube, through which the filtered air containing radon is being passed. The least concentration of alpha radiation potential energy of radon decay products free ions, detactable by this method, when 1 liter of air is passed through the impactor, is 10(3) MeV liter-1). This method may be applied in laboratory and environmental measurements.

[Effect of contamination of drinking water with sodium fluoride on the alkaline phosphatase activity of peripheral granulocytes in the rat]. / Wplyw zanieczyszczenia wody pitnej fluorkiem sodu na aktywnosc fosfatazy zasadowej w granulocytach krwi obwodowej u szczurów.

During a 4-week administration of water contaminated with sodium fluoride in doses of 20 mg/kg of body weight and above, decreased activity of granulocytes alkaline phosphatase and increased count of leucocytes in peripheral blood were found. This may be indicative of a toxic effect of high doses of sodium fluoride on the leucocytic system. Thus, observation of those parameters in people and animals from the area surrounding the factories, contaminated by fluorine compounds, seems advisable.

The application of Ilizarov's "bone segment transport" method in the treatment of tumors and tumor-like changes in bone.

Background. The authors present their own experience in the application of the "bone segment transport" method developed by Ilizarov for filling post-resection bone deficits in the treatment of neoplastic tumors in long bones. Material and method. Our research involved 9 patients: 2 female patients with an average age of 14.5, and 7 male patients with an average age of 16.7. The follow-up time ranged from 2 to 8 years (average 3.4). Of these patients, 5 were treated for giant-cell tumors with varying degrees of malignancy. Among the remaining patients the bone transport method was used in 2 cases of osteogenic sarcoma, 1 case of chondrosarcoma, and 1 case of aneurismatic cyst. The choice of surgical treatment method was made on the basis of the surgical systems of evaluation and classification of tumors in the locomotor apparatus provided by the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society and described by Enneking. Results. The authors discuss the method and the results using the example of three cases: an osteogenic sarcoma, a giant-cell tumor, and an aneurismatic cyst. The outcome for bone tumors treated with the "bone segment transport" method are satisfactory. Conclusions. In our material there were no tumor relapses after the combined treatment program was completed. In addition, the preservation of the limb provides psychological comfort for the patient, for whom the potential loss of the limb is a source of stress, often undermining faith in the good effects of treatment.

[Anatomical-functional rating system related to pedobarographic examination of the foot in patients treated operatively for hallux valgus]. / Porównanie punktowej oceny anatomiczno-czynnosciowej stopy z baropodometryczna ocena wyników leczenia paluchów koslawych.

Author undertook a trial of elaboration of rating system for evaluation of the operating treatment results of hallux valgus, in relation to pedobarographic examination performed with the use of computed platform PEL-38. 335 feet in 173 patients (females) treated operatively due to hallux valgus in Orthopaedic Department of Wroclaw Medical University in years 1975-1990 were examined. Those patients were operated on according to Keller, Dega and McBride method. There was elaborated anatomical-functional rating system for the foot. In this system different variables were incorporated such as: pain within foot, physical activity, walking ability, footwear requirements, hallux valgus angle, callus related to forefoot, bunion and MTP joint's ROM. There were distinguished 4 grades of results: excellent, good, fair and poor, in accordance to number of points achieved. Basing on comparison of pedobarographic examination results with results of the rating system, definite relation between mentioned above evaluating systems was not found.

[Selected anatomical features of the foot with hallux valgus]. / Niektóre cechy anatomiczne stopy a znieksztalcenie koslawe palucha.

Hallux valgus is still an open problem consists of many unexplained questions related to, not only its etiopathogenesis and biomechanics but also to treatment of this deformity. The purpose of investigation: 1) To find out hallux valgus predisposing factors; 2) To recognise anatomic features of the foot in hallux valgus patients, basing on orthopaedic physical examination as well as to find out the frequency of the occurrence of foot skeleton disorders in rentgenometric and plantoconturographic (foot prints) measurements. 335 feet in 173 patients (females) treated operatively due to hallux valgus in Orthopaedic Department of Wroclaw Medical Academy in years 1980-1994 were examined. Those patients were operated on according to Keller, Dega and McBride method. All the patients underwent preoperative orthopaedic physical examination as well as rentgenographic and plantoconturographic one. Such factors as heredity and Egyptian shape of the foot as well as metatarsal index "plus" were recognised as hallux valgus predisposing factors. Most of the parameters evaluated in orthopaedic, rentgenographic and plantocontourographic examination presented pathologic values that indicated pathology within foot in hallux valgus patients.

[Radiologic analysis of the patello-femoral joint after treatment of patella fracture]. / Obraz radiologiczny stawu udowo-rzepkowe-go po leczeniu zlaman rzepki.

Anatomical condition and congruence of the patello-femoral joint after differently treated fracture of the patella was assessed on the basis of roentgenometric analysis of radiographs of 39 patients. The best situation was found in surgically treated cases with the use of the wire loop (cerclage), less favorable in patients managed conservatively and the worst in patients operated after Weber.

[The influence of osteotomy technique on distraction osteogenesis]. / Znaczenie sposobu przeciecia kosci w metodzie osteogenezy dystrakcyjnej.

The authors reviewed the clinical results of leg lengthening by distraction osteogenesis, where two different osteotomy techniques were used: classical corticotomy according to Ilizarov or osteoclasis. Evaluation of results of 64 patients were bases on orthopedic examination and detailed X-ray analysis which included criteria assessing osseous regeneration rate. In those cases where osteoclasis was performed bone formation in the distraction gap was faster than in after osteotomy. An accelerated rate of regenerate formation, as well as a more active regenerate remodelling was observed. This allowed to shorten the time of external fixator application and an earlier rehabilitation.

[Complications of distraction-compression osteogenesis and their prophylaxis--a clinical report]. / Niektóre aspekty powiklan osteogenezy dystrakcyjno-kompresyjnej oraz ich profilaktyka w swietle wlasnych doswiadczen klinicznych.

The authors present a historical overview of various classifications of distraction osteogenesis complications. Paley's classification as well as the authors' own classification also presented. Basing on the authors' own 10 year experiences with the Ilizarov method, selected complications at different stages of diagnostics, treatment and rehabilitation are presented. The most effective forms of prophylaxis are presented, with special attention given to the surgeon's own experience with the Ilizarov method.

[Evaluation of knee joint function after fracture of the patella]. / Ocena funkcji stawu kolanowego po zlamaniu rzepki.

Clinical assessment of the function of the knee joint after surgically and conservatively treated fracture of the patella was carried out. On the basis of C. Ranawat criteria it was found that regardless the method of treatment applied restriction of the joint function was expressed mainly by limited range of motion and by weakening of the knee extensors. The results of surgical and conservative management are similar. The best results of treatment for fracture of the patella were achieved in patients operated with the use of wire loop-cerclage.