High-resolution, selective water-excitation MRI-based cartilage thickness and volume measurements in upper extremity joints.

The objective if this study was to obtain quantitative data about cartilage thickness and volume in joints of the upper extremity by applying a high resolution MR imaging technique, and to validate these data by A-module ultrasound and CT arthrography.
10 elbow and 7 shoulder joints (age 20 to 69 yrs) were investigated with a 3D gradient echo sequence with selective water excitation (TR 18 ms; TE 9 ms; FA 250, resolution 1 x 0,25 x 0,25 mm2, imaging time 19 min.).

[Ligament instability in total knee arthroplasty--causal analysis].

Ligament instability is a common reason for revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA). A meticulous analysis of the type of instability is very important in order to revise such a knee successfully. The objective of this study was to analyze the different reasons for ligament instability in revision TKA.

Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRAP 5b) as a marker of osteoclast activity in the early phase after cementless total hip replacement.

Background: After total hip replacement, increased bone metabolism is seen. A local periprosthetic osteopenia can be measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), but it is still unkown whether biochemical markers can be used to monitor the local remodeling at an earlier stage.

Patients And Methods: In this prospective study we compared the biochemical markers tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRAP 5b), bone ALP, osteocalcin and CrossLaps with periprosthetic DXA in 17 consecutive patients after uncemented total hip replacement.

Fracture of ceramic heads in total hip replacement.

After introduction of ceramics in total hip replacement, there have been several studies on wear and fracture of the femoral head component. Though reports on fractures are few, we saw four fractures within 2 months. In all patients, a cementless hip prosthesis by four different surgeons was implanted between 3/2001 and 2/2004.

Total hip replacement in patients with severe bleeding disorders. A 30 years single center experience.

Arthropathy of the hip is moderate in frequency in haemophiliac patients, but is less common than ankle, knee or elbow arthropathy. We report about our experience with total hip replacement in patients with severe bleeding disorders over a period of 30 years. Between July 1972 and 2002, 15 hips in 13 patients were replaced.