[Replacement of the anterior cruciate ligament by cold preserved bone-cruciate ligament-bone allotransplants. An experimental study in the sheep].

One ACL in each of 17 mature sheep was replaced with a deep-frozen bone-an ACL bone allograft. Allografts were obtained from skeletally mature sheep using a standard aseptic technique and stored deep frozen for at least 6 days (mean 21 days). Macroscopical, biomechanical, and histological changes were evaluated 12, 24, and 52 weeks following implantation.

Elective surgery for blunt cardiac trauma.

The cases of eight patients who underwent elective surgery for blunt cardiac trauma are presented. All but one experienced multiple trauma and the median Injury Severity Score was 26 (range, 18-59). A posttraumatic cardiac defect was diagnosed from 1 day up to 6.

Comparison of the mechanical performance of three types of unilateral, dynamizable external fixators. An experimental study.

Due to the increasing popularity of unilateral dynamizable external fixators for treating tibial shaft fractures, many new devices are being introduced onto the market. Especially in such half-frame fixators, the choice of any particular device depends above all on the stability of its construction. This study compares the biomechanical stability of three systems tested in axial compression, torsion, and both anterior-posterior and medial-lateral bending.

[The course of intracranial pressure during respirator weaning after severe craniocerebral trauma].

To analyze the characteristics of hemodynamic parameters and cerebral dynamics, the courses of intracranial pressure (ICP), cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and PaCO2 were analyzed retrospectively in 29 patients with severe head injury, comparing periods before and after the ventilatory mode was changed from controlled mechanical ventilation to spontaneous breathing with continuous positive airway pressure. Measurements were done before and after changing of the ventilation. Patients were allocated either to group I (n = 22, ICP remained stable: 18 +/- 2 mm Hg in both periods of observation) or group II (n = 7, ICP increased from 25 +/- 3 mm Hg to 33 +/- 4 mm Hg, P < 0.

[Surgery of blunt heart trauma].

Between 1972 and 1990 11 patients--all but one of them with multiple injuries--were treated surgically for blunt cardiac trauma caused by traffic accident in about 90%. Myocardial rupture (n = 3), laceration of the pericardial sac (n = 1), mitral insufficiency (n = 5; one of them in combination with atrial septal defect), ventricular septal defect (n = 1) and myocardial aneurysm (n = 1) occurred. Patients with myocardial rupture and pericardial laceration died within 2 h after admission to hospital; the other patients were successfully treated by mitral valve replacement (n = 4), mitral valvuloplasty and repair of ASD, suture repair of VSD and resection of myocardial aneurysm in one case, respectively.