[Integrated navigation. Preclinical evaluation and initial clinical experience].

Background: Computer navigation systems have increasingly become part of the surgical routine due to the improvements of intraoperative visualization procedures. Because of limited space in the operating room and insufficient workflow, the project of integrated navigation had been started.

Methods: As the first step, the navigation system VectorVision2 and the second-generation fluoroscopic C-arm system Orbic 3D were integrated into one common trolley.

The effect of computerized tailored brief advice on at-risk drinking in subcritically injured trauma patients.

Background: One-third of injured patients treated in the emergency department (ED) have an alcohol use disorder (AUD). Few are screened and receive counseling because ED staff have little time for additional tasks. We hypothesized that computer technology can screen and provide an intervention that reduces at-risk drinking (British Medical Association criteria) in injured ED patients.

Central venous catheter techniques in infants and children.

Purpose Of Review: The placement of central venous catheters is often necessary to facilitate optimal anaesthetic and perioperative management or for the long-term management of chronic underlying diseases. Insertion may be a challenge in selected patients, and the risk of infection, thrombosis, and other complications may result in significant risk factors.

Recent Findings: Ultrasound visualization of the cervical veins with Valsalva manoeuvres significantly increases the rate and safety of central venous cannulation, and decreases needle passes in paediatric patients even with experienced operators.

Successful use of surfactant to treat severe intrapulmonary hemorrhage after iatrogenic lung injury--A case report.

Objective: To describe the beneficial clinical effect of the use of surfactant in a patient with severe unilateral pulmonary hemorrhage after iatrogenic lung injury during corrective surgery for congenital heart defects.

Design: Case report.

Setting: Pediatric cardiac intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital.

Local cooling restores microcirculatory hemodynamics after closed soft-tissue trauma in rats.

Background: Severe closed soft-tissue injury (CSTI) results in progressively developing microvascular dysfunction and local inflammation. Cooling reduces swelling, pain, cellular oxygen demand, and metabolic activity. However, effects of cooling on posttraumatic microcirculation are not yet fully understood.

[Development of the medical treatment of diabetes in Luxembourg].

Objectives: The aims of the study were to estimate the prevalence of diabetes in Luxembourg in 2002, to compare it to the prevalence reported in 1991 and to evaluate if prescription attitudes have changed since 1991.

Methods: The prevalence of diabetes was estimated using the drug sales data. The key parameters, total amount of antidiabetic drugs sold in one year and the average daily dose or Prescribed Daily Dose (PDD), have been obtained from the National Social Security Organization and by a standardized questionnaire sent to all general practitioners and all internists and endocrinologists of the country.

Quantitative assessment of growth factors in reaming aspirate, iliac crest, and platelet preparation.

Large bony defects and non-unions are still a complication in trauma and orthopedic surgery. Treatment strategies include the use of autogenous materials (iliac crest), allogenic bone, bone substitutes, and currently stimulation with growth factors such as BMP-2, BMP-7 or the growth factors containing platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Another source of bone graft material might be the cuttings produced during intramedullary reaming.

Mild executive dysfunctions in undergraduates are related to recollecting words never presented.

The aim of this study was to explore whether individual differences in executive function in undergraduate students (n = 72) contribute to false recall and recognition as obtained with the Deese/Roediger-McDermott (DRM) paradigm. Participants were subjected to the DRM paradigm and also were given a test designed to assess executive function--the Random Number Generation task (RNG). A relationship was found between heightened seriation on the RNG (indicating a deficiency in the ability to inhibit cognitive schemes) and false recognition of non-presented, critical lure words in the DRM paradigm.

Mechanical concepts for disc regeneration.

Different strategies exist to treat intervertebral disc degeneration. Biological attempts to regenerate the disc are promising. However, degeneration of the disc is always accompanied by alterations of disc height, intradiscal pressure, load distribution, and motion patterns, respectively.

Percutaneous balloon kyphoplasty in the treatment of pathological vertebral body fracture and deformity in multiple myeloma: a one-year follow-up.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes of balloon kyphoplasty in patients with fractures of the thoracic and lumbar spine caused by multiple myeloma.

Material And Methods: Vertebral fractures due to multiple myeloma were treated by balloon kyphoplasty (20 patients, 48 vertebral bodies). Symptomatic levels were identified by clinical presentation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), radiographs, and computed tomography (CT).

Clinical review: thyroid hormone replacement in children after cardiac surgery--is it worth a try?

Cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass produces a generalized systemic inflammatory response, resulting in increased postoperative morbidity and mortality. Under these circumstances, a typical pattern of thyroid abnormalities is seen in the absence of primary disease, defined as sick euthyroid syndrome (SES). The presence of postoperative SES mainly in small children and neonates exposed to long bypass times and the pharmacological profile of thyroid hormones and their effects on the cardiovascular physiology make supplementation therapy an attractive treatment option to improve postoperative morbidity and mortality.

Prophylaxis and treatment of implant-related infections by antibiotic-coated implants: a review.

Implant-related infection is a feared complication in orthopedic and trauma surgery with tremendous consequences for the patient. To reduce this risk, administration of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis is a routine procedure in orthopedic surgery. A local delivery system for antibiotics based on a polymer implant coating has been developed to optimize the prophylaxis.

Collective review: bioactive implants coated with poly(D,L-lactide) and growth factors IGF-I, TGF-beta1, or BMP-2 for stimulation of fracture healing.

Demographic data reveal that due to the increasing aging of the population, complications with the musculoskeletal system will increase in the next years. One major problem in orthopedic and trauma surgery are the delayed healing or non-unions of long bone fractures. The exogenous application of growth factors can stimulate the bone healing to reduce these complications.

[Percutaneous reduction and stabilization of a dislocated acetabular fracture. Case report].

In the treatment of acetabular fractures, anatomic reconstruction of the joint is the primary aim. To achieve this, rather large approaches with approach-related morbidity are needed. Percutaneous stabilizations are still limited to nondisplaced or minimally displaced fractures.

Primary carcinoma of ectopic axillary breast tissue.

The presence of ectopic breast tissue is reported in 2-6% of the general population with most cases being located in the axillary region. Although the same pathology occurs in both eutopic and ectopic breast tissue, primary carcinoma of ectopic breast tissue has been reported only in a small number of cases. Because an overlying accessory areola or nipple is often missing and because of a general lack of awareness among physicians and patients concerning these unsuspicious nodules, clinical diagnosis is frequently delayed.

[Traumatic aneurysm of the superior mesenteric artery associated with a burst- fracture of the second lumbar spine -- unforeseen sequelae of a fall from a ladder!].

Traumatic aneurysms of the superior mesenteric artery, although uncommon, are nevertheless life-threatening because of their high risk of rupture. In this case report the aneurysm was accompanied by a burst fracture of the second lumbar spine nearly at the same height. In a prolonged case the diagnosis of the injury was delayed.

Hairstyles in the arts of Greek and Roman antiquity.

Styling one's hair seems to be an innate desire of humans to emphasize their beauty and power. As reviewed here, hairstyles were influenced by preceding cultures, by religion, by those depicted for gods and emperors on sculptures and coins. In addition, they were determined by aspects of lifestyle such as sports, wealth, and the desire to display inner feelings.

Successful treatment of oleander intoxication (cardiac glycosides) with digoxin-specific Fab antibody fragments in a 7-year-old child: case report and review of literature.

Unlabelled: A 7-year-old girl presented six hours after ingestion of a yellow oleander seed (Thevetia peruviana) with severe emesis, change in colour vision and complete heart block. Initial treatment with phenytoin and isoprenalin infusion led to intermittent supraventricular and ventricular tachycardia. The patient was then treated with two intravenous doses of 190 mg of digoxin-specific Fab antibody fragments (Digibind).

Stabilisation of periprosthetic fractures with angular stable internal fixation: a report of 13 cases.

Introduction: Periprosthetic fractures of the femur present a challenging surgical problem. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the outcome of periprosthetic fractures stabilised with an angular stable, less invasive stabilisation system (LISS).

Patients And Methods: Thirteen patients (ten total hip-, two total knee-, one total hip- and knee-arthroplasty) with periprosthetic fractures were treated with the LISS internal fixator (in ten cases minimal invasive).

Changes in diabetes prevalence and treatment in the last ten years in Luxembourg. A lesson from the United Kingdom prospective diabetes study?

Objectives: The aims of the study were to estimate the prevalence of diabetes in Luxembourg in 2002, to compare it to the prevalence reported in 1991 and to evaluate if prescription attitudes have changed since 1991.

Methods: The prevalence of diabetes was estimated using the drug sales data. The key parameters, total amount of antidiabetic drugs sold in one year and the average daily dose or Prescribed Daily Dose (PDD), have been obtained from the National Social Security Organization and by a standardized questionnaire sent to all general practitioners and all internists and endocrinologists of the country.

[Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty in osteoporotic fractures of vertebral bodies -- a prospective 1-year follow-up analysis].

Purpose: Kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty offer two minimally invasive operative stabilization procedures for vertebral compression fractures. The purpose of this prospective study was to investigate whether both procedures are able to reduce pain and to preserve postoperative vertebral height during a 1-year follow up.

Materials And Methods: Osteoporotic vertebral fractures were treated in 42 cases, 20 patients (15 female, 5 male) underwent vertebroplasty, 22 patients (14 female, 8 male) underwent kyphoplasty.