Non-rigid immobilisation of odontoid fractures.

Despite various reports on the management of odontoid fractures, there is no consensus on the subject, and the appropriate treatment still remains controversial. While untreated fractures or fractures treated only with a cervical orthosis seem to have the highest rate of non-union, the need for rigid external stabilisation has never been substantiated. In a retrospective analysis we reviewed 26 patients with acute type II and III fractures of the odontoid, treated with a cervical orthosis only.

Technical complications of continuous intra-arterial chemotherapy with 5-fluorodeoxyuridine and 5-fluorouracil for colorectal liver metastases.

Background: Intra-arterial chemotherapy is an effective modality to treat unresectable hepatic metastases from colorectal primaries if systemic chemotherapy has failed. Response rates of more than 40% and a median survival of 15 to 25 months have been reported from randomized trials. In this retrospective study, we analyzed specific technical complications associated with continuous intra-arterial chemotherapy for colorectal liver metastases.

[A comparison of total knee replacement in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and those with degenerative arthritis].

This article aims at determining the differences in resources needed for the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis as opposed to osteoarthritis. Data on ten patients for each of these diagnoses, all of whom had been subject to the implantation of a knee arthroplasty,were compared. We looked at parameters such as the duration of surgery, further diagnoses, costs of radiological measures and medical treatment, simultaneous operations, need of nursing care,physical and occupational therapy and complications.

[Differences between rheumatoid and degenerative disease in total hip replacement].

The aim of this study was to compare total hip replacement (THR) in rheumatoid and osteoarthritic patients. Ten rheumatoid and ten osteoarthritic patients undergoing THR were compared with respect to preoperative diagnostics, operative therapy, nursing and rehabilitation. Statistically significant differences existed between the groups: In rheumatoid patients, radiographic diagnostics were more extensive ( P=0.