Semen analysis of patients who had orchidopexy in childhood.

Fertility potential of 135 patients who had an orchidopexy aged between 2 years 7 months and 15 years 8 months has been evaluated using semen analysis. The patients were divided into several groups taking into consideration the following criteria: (1) unilateral (112 cases) and bilateral (23 cases) orchidopexy; (2) the patient's age at the time of the operation: under 6, between 6 and 10, and over 10 years; (3) position of testes at the time of operation: abdominal, canalicular or inguinal. It has been found that increasing age at the time of unilateral orchidopexy the fraction of patients with normospermia decreases and the average number of spermatozoa both in 1 ml and in the sperm liquid as a whole goes down. In the smaller group of the bilateral orchidopexy patients the differences are not statistically significant. The beneficial effect of early operation is more clearly seen in the sub-groups of patients with the same pre-operative testicular position. Since the fertility potential is higher among the earlier operated patients, orchidopexy performed as early as possible (preferably between 1 and 2 years of age) may bring a chance to improve the results of treatment.

[Increase in the number of operations for undescended testis]. / Wzrost liczby operacji niezstapionych jader.

In recent years the frequency of operations for cryptorchism has been increasing, as evidence by operation protocols of boys qualified for treatment and operated on by the same surgeon in certain years. The principles of qualification for surgical treatment was evaluated on the basis of testicle position during and after the operation, testicle size, presence of inguinal hernia sac or patent vaginal peritoneal processes. It was found that the increase in the number of these operations in the hospital was not due to changes of these principles. Possible causes of increased frequency of these operations are discussed.

[Periventricular brain edema in hydrocephalus]. / Przykomorowy obrzek mózgu w wodoglowiu.

The authors present the pathophysiology of the zone of lowered density in periventricular white substance of the brain in computer tomography of the head in patients with hydrocephalus. The importance is discussed of that pathology for establishing of indications for surgical control of the shunt. Regression or decrease of that zone after operation is an index of efficacy of the shunt.

[Surgical treatment of long bone shaft fracture in children using the Polfix external fixator]. / Operacyjne leczenie zlaman trzonów kosci dlugich u dzieci z zastosownaiam zewnetrznego stabilizatora kostnego Polfix.

Possibility of surgical treatment of long bone shaft fracture in children with the use of POLFIX external fixator is presented. The method was employed in 17 cases treated in Children Surgery Department between 1993 and 1994. Early mobilization was possible and the treatment duration has been shortened.

[Treatment of epicondylar fractures of the humerus in children]. / Leczenie zlaman nadklykciowych kosci ramiennej u dzieci.

On the basis of the follow-up of 120 children after epicondylar fracture of the humerus, the relation of the late result with the way of treatment, the number of attempts of reposition, the time from injury to reposition, and the position of fragments after reposition has been discussed. Better results were obtained after immediate reposition or treatment by traction than after surgical reposition varus deformity of the elbow is the most frequent complication of epicondylar fracture in children.

Concentration of malonic dialdehyde in the cerebrospinal fluid as a measure of the intensity of lipid peroxidation processes in intracranial hypertension in small children.

The authors analyzed the concentration of malonic dialdehyde (MDA) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of children with intracranial hypertension. For the control group an intracranial pressure (ICP) of 250 mm H2O was taken as a reference point. The concentration of MDA was determined by a method using thiobarbituric acid. In a group of children with ICP values greater than the limiting value, the concentration of malonic dialdehyde was 0.629 mmol/mg protein, while in the control group with an ICP below 250 mm H2O, this value was 0.610 mmol/mg protein. The differences between the two groups were not statistically significant. from the results obtained it can be concluded that the concentration of MDA, as an isolated parameter, does not constitute a good measure of intensity of the lipid peroxidation processes in central nervous system (CNS) tissues, taken as an indicator of their disintegration in cases of hydrocephalus with intracranial hypertension.