In search of a frame: challenges and opportunities for sampling immigrant minorities.

When it comes to evaluating immigrants' integration, survey data are particularly important. However, the endeavor of surveying immigrant minorities is challenging. This special issue focuses on the possibility of obtaining high-quality cross-country comparable samples of immigrant minorities.

Sampling migrants in six European countries: how to develop a comparative design?

This article discusses the possibilities and constraints of designing an identical or at least comparable sampling strategy across different European countries. It is based on expert reviews from six European Union member states that discuss the possibilities of sampling migrants in their respective countries. The country sample includes two countries from Northern Europe (Sweden, Denmark), two from Continental Europe (Germany, The Netherlands), and two from Southern Europe (Spain, Italy).

Is material deprivation decreasing in Germany? A trend analysis using PASS data from 2006 to 2013.

The analysis uses seven waves from the German Panel Study Labor Market and Social Security (PASS) covering the period from 2006 to 2013. During the observation period, Germany experienced a significant increase in average real incomes and employment, accompanied by a decrease of absolute income poverty as measured by the at-risk-of-poverty rate anchored at a fixed moment in time. PASS collects information on material deprivation with a list of 26 possessions and activities.

[Medial fracture of the femoral neck with enclosed Küntscher nail].

We report about an 81-year-old male patient who suffered a medial femoral neck fracture after a fall on the left leg. A total hip arthroplasty was planned based on the appropriate indications. The planning was complicated by the presence of an intramedullary Küntscher femoral nail inserted after a motorcycle incident approximately 60 years ago.

Income or living standard and health in Germany: different ways of measurement of relative poverty with regard to self-rated health.

Objectives: Current study introduces the living standard concept as an alternative approach of measuring poverty and compares its explanatory power to an income-based poverty measure with regard to subjective health status of the German population.

Methods: Analyses are based on the German Socio-Economic Panel (2001, 2003 and 2005) and refer to binary logistic regressions of poor subjective health status with regard to each poverty condition, their duration and their causal influence from a previous time point. To calculate the discriminate power of both poverty indicators, initially the indicators were considered separately in regression models and subsequently, both were included simultaneously.

Management of the infected shoulder prosthesis: a retrospective analysis and review of the literature.

Experience with infected shoulder arthroplasty is limited. Treatment options are either one- or two-stage reimplantation, débridement with retention of the prosthesis, resection arthroplasty or arthrodesis. We retrospectively analysed ten patients with an infected shoulder prosthesis and evaluated the diagnostic and therapeutic management as well as the clinical outcome, assessed by the Constant score, Neer's criteria and the mean abduction ability.

[Treatment of femoral bony defects with a modular hip prosthesis and distal interlocking].

Patients with bony defects of the proximal femur after trochanteric fracture, implant failure (cut-out), periprosthetic fracture or aseptic loosening of prosthesis are difficult to treat with primary or revision endoprosthesis. Modular femoral hip prosthesis (MHP) with stems of different length and the possibility of distal interlocking screws are an operative solution for those patients. In a prospective study from January 1996 to January 2002 all patients treated with a MHP because of proximal and / or distal femoral bony defect or fracture were included.

[Spinal fractures in multiply injured patients: an analysis of the German Trauma Society's Trauma Register].

Objective: Spinal trauma is frequently found in multiply injured patients. To gain more insight into the epidemiology and the clinical course of this entity, we analyzed the relevant data held in the German Trauma Registry (German Trauma Society, DGU). The Registry provides prospective, standardized and anonymous documentation on severely injured patients at different predetermined time points from the site of the accident until they are discharged from hospital.

[Surgical management of spondylodiscitis. An analysis of 78 cases].

Spondylodiscitis is a rare bacterial infection of the spine with an inflammatory, destructive course. To obtain further information on the therapeutic management and clinical course of spondylodiscitis, we retrospectively investigated 78 patients after surgical intervention. Mean age was 64 years (+/-4.

Timing of thoracic spine stabilization in trauma patients: impact on clinical course and outcome.

Background: Optimal timing of stabilization for thoracic spine injuries in multiply injured patients is still controversial because additional lung injury occurs frequently. Early operation might benefit clinical course and outcome in these patients.

Methods: We analyzed the German National Trauma Database (n = 8,057) and compared clinical parameters and outcome of patients with severe thoracic spine injuries (Abbreviated Injury Scale >2; n = 298) who underwent spine stabilization within 72 hours posttrauma (group I) or later (group II).

[Distal fracture of the radius].

The distal radius is the most common site of a fracture. The type of fracture presenting, stability/instability and concomitant injuries are the factors that determine whether the fracture should be treated conservatively or surgically. Possible sequelae include a dystrophy syndrome.

[Change of daily life activity after femoral hip fracture in elderly patients].

Hospital mortality after hip fracture in elderly patients has decreased significantly in previous years. However, patients often show reduction of daily life activity. The aim of the following study was to assess clinical and radiological results nine months after operation of hip fracture.

Bioabsorbable expansion bolt fixation in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

The current study evaluated initial fixation strength of a bioabsorbable expansion bolt compared with interference screw fixation in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using a bone-patellar tendon-bone graft. Thirty calf tibial plateaus with adjacent patella and extensor ligaments were used. Bioabsorbable poly-L-lactide interference screws were used for graft fixation in Group I, titanium screws in Group II, and bioabsorbable poly-DL-lactide expansion bolts were used in Group III.

Surgical treatment of spondylodiscitis.

Background: Spondylodiscitis is a rare bacterial infection of the vertebra and intervertebral discs with an inflammatory, destructive course.

Methods: To gain further information about the management and clinical course of spondylodiscitis, we retrospectively reviewed 32 patients in 2002 who had surgical interventions between 1992 and 2001.

Results: The mean age of patients was 61 years (29-78 years).

[Unspecific spondylodiscitis following anastomotic leakage after rectal resection].

Anastomotic leakage is a serious complication in abdominal surgery. We report on two cases of spondylodiscitis L5/S1 following anastomotic leakage with fistula after low anterior rectal resection. Within five months after rectal resection two patients with massive back pain were admitted to our department.

[The femoral neck fracture in the elderly patient - cemented or cementless hip arthroplasty?].

This is a report on the treatment results of femoral neck fractures with a cemented (group 1) and cementless (group 2) type of hip prosthesis, resp. 72 patients were enrolled. 35 patients were treated with a cemented hip prosthesis (mean age: 78 years), and 37 patients with a cementless modular hip prosthesis (mean age: 77 years).

Long-term results after posterior fixation of thoraco-lumbar burst fractures.

Current concepts of treating thoraco-lumbar burst-compression injuries are based on posterior transpedicular fixation techniques which are angular stable. However, the long-term results of this approach are controversial due to inconsistent reports and due to a paucity of data on late outcome. In the present study we analyzed 50 patients retrospectively who had an unstable burst-compression injury at T 11-L 2 (type A 3 according to Magerl) without a neurological deficit.

[Experiences with calcitonin treatment of patients with type I complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS I--Sudeck disease)].

Unlabelled: PURPOSE/METHODS/PATIENTS: Calcitonin is a common treatment in patients suffering from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type 1 (CRPS I), although its effects are being controversially discussed. In a prospective study of 24 patients with CRPS I of the upper limb, we examined the tolerance of daily doses of 0.5 mg human calcitonin administered subcutaneously over 8 weeks.

Frequency of natural rubber latex allergy in adults is increased after multiple operative procedures.

Background: It has been shown that immediate-type allergy to natural rubber latex (NRL) affects predominantly health-care workers and infants with malformations requiring repeated medical procedures. Adult patients with multiple invasive procedures are not thought to be at an increased risk of NRL allergy.

Methods: A total of 325 consecutive adult inpatients (54.

[Changes in bone density of the femur after cement-free implantation of a modular hip prosthesis with a long shaft].

Until now, no reports exist on the existence of femoral bone loss after hip arthroplasty using long-stem cementless prostheses in elderly patients. In a prospective evaluation the amount of bone loss (stress-shielding) after implantation of a long stem hip prosthesis in patients with femoral neck fractures (group A) or pertrochanteric femoral fractures (group B) was examined. Eleven patients (five from group A and six from group B) were treated with a long-stem modular hip prosthesis (MHP).

Peripheral sympathetic function as a predictor of complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS I) in patients with radial fracture.

Complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS I) is a frequent complication after injuries of the upper limbs. The pathophysiology of this disease remains unclear, although disturbances of the sympathetic nervous system have been detected in several clinical studies, and sympathetic blocks resolve the symptoms in many of the cases. To investigate the meaning of sympathetic dysfunction at the beginning of the disease, 27 patients with distal radial fracture were examined prospectively during the course of the disease with regard to their clinical symptoms and their peripheral sympathetic nervous function.

Clinical and finite element analysis of a modular femoral prosthesis consisting of a head and stem component in the treatment of pertrochanteric fractures.

Objective: To determine the biomechanical characteristics and potential clinical efficacy of a cementless modular femoral prosthesis consisting of a variable head (50 to 80 millimeters) and stem (length 120 to 280 millimeters, diameter 10 to 20 millimeters) component in patients with pertrochanteric femoral fracture.

Design: Finite element analysis (FEA) of different lengths and diameters of prosthesis components and first clinical prospective study in pertrochanteric femoral fracture.

Method: Using a 3D-CAD program, a model of femoral cortical bone with a pertrochanteric fracture was created and combined with a model of the prosthesis.

Metastatic lesions of the humerus treated with the isoelastic diaphysis prosthesis.

Between January 1, 1987, and December 31, 1997, an isoelastic polyacetal resin prosthesis was used in 50 patients with metastatic bone disease to reconstruct pathologic or impending fractures of the humeral diaphysis. Fifty-seven operations were performed, including seven revision surgeries. The patients were assessed before and after surgery for limb function and quality of life using a modified Karnofsky scale.

[Unstable pediatric femoral and forearm shaft fractures. Comparison between conservative treatment and stable intramedullary nailing].

Elastic intramedullary nailing represents a new surgical concept in the treatment of unstable shaft fractures in children. The present case control study wanted to examine the superiority of intramedullary nailing in comparison to conservative therapeutic concepts which had been applied so far. 13 children with forearm fractures who were treated initially by conservative measures were compared to 13 other children who received a primary intramedullary nailing.