[Treatment and prognosis in vertebral fractures in children and adolescents]. / Behandlung und Prognose von Wirbelfrakturen im Kindes- und Jugendalter

Twenty-six children and adolescents with a total of 65 vertebral fractures are reported. Sixteen patients could be followed up an average of 3 1/4 years after the accident. The questions of growth disturbance after vertebral body fractures and adequate treatment are chiefly considered. -Most of the fractures occurred in the midthoracic spine. As a rule they were serial fractures. -Fractures of the vertebral body with sagittal wedge deformity alone have a better prognosis than those with concomitant sagittal and frontal wedge deformities. Whereas those in the first group correct themselves partially or completely during subsequent growth, improvement in the wedge deformity was only observed in about one-third of the patients in the second group. When the end-plates were fractured, there was no correction and there was a lack in vertebral growth. Severe destruction of the cartilagenous plates and intervertebral discs led to a fusion of the corresponding segment. Increase in wedge deformity was observed twice. -Slight axial deviations of the intervertebral discs following vertebral body fractures are compensated for during growth in most cases. In comminuted fractures, the axial deviation persists but can be compensated for by the adjacent segments of the spine. In instable fractures, it can increase in spite of treatment in a Milwaukee corset. -No difference was found between the children treated with a hyperextension plaster corset and those treated functionally. On the basis of the results, the fracture types which should be treated functionally and those for which a plaster cast is recommended are indicated.

Internal derangement of the knee joint due to pathologic synovial folds: the mediopatellar plica syndrome.

A prospective study of the mediopatellar plica was performed by arthroscopy in 134 patients. The mediopatellar plica is a fold of synovial tissue attaching medially at the undersurface of the quadriceps tendon which extends distally around the patella and over the medial femoral condyle to insert into the fat pad. Extensor mechanism derangement may be produced by a mediopatellar plica when it loses its pliability owing to fibrosis or hyalinization. Persistent disabling symptoms require surgical treatment consisting of excision by arthrotomy or by operative arthroscopy.

[Complications of arthroscopy. A review of 3714 cases (author's transl)]. / Komplikationen der Arthroskopie. Eine Analyse von 3714 Fällen.

This review is drawn from a total of 3,714 knee arthroscopies carried out on patients from six clinics. The diagnostic value of arthroscopy at this site is established for it can improve prognostication, prevention and treatment of derangements of the knee. The complications of the procedure, both theoretical and in practice, have been considered by subdividing them into four groups. Firstly, the infection rate following arthroscopy alone was nil. Secondly, minor articular cartilage damage attributable to the instrument occurred in just over 2% of cases. This complication is more common when the technique is first being learned and is usually avoidable when experience has been gained. Thirdly, complications of a general nature included four cases of subcutaneous emphysema produced by the insufflation of gas, and 22 instances of an allergic skin reaction to the disinfectant preparation. Finally, failures in the technique itself resulted from the instrument bending or breaking when negotiating the condyles. This occurred on 26 occasions. In a further seven instances the fat pad was entered and distended in error, thus preventing examination of the joint. Overall, the complication rate was acceptable low and confirmed that arthroscopy can be safely applied clinically.

[Surgical interventions on the vertebral bodies of the thoracic spine (author's transl)]. / Operationen an den Wirbelkörpern der Brustwirbelsäule

27 operations on the vertebral bodies of the thoracic spine are reported. Indications for operation included markedly progressive infantile and juvenile scoliosis, correction of severe kyphoses in congenital malformation, fractures, Scheuermann's disease and post-laminectomy as well as tuberculous spondylitis and tumors. The two uppermost thoracic vertebrae can be reached by the method of Southwick and Robinson, the two lowest vertebrae from an extraperitoreal-subdiaphragm approach. Thoracotomy was chosen for the remaining thoracic vertebrae. If the staff and material are available, operations on the thoracic vertebrae can be regarded as relatively safe and, in many cases, are the only possibility for obtaining a satisfactory or good result. In spite of this, strict indications must be observed. Severe complications (death, paraplegia etc.) did not occur in any of the patients.