[The role of core decompression for the treatment of femoral head avascular necrosis in renal transplant recipients].

Avascular bone necrosis is a relatively rare but significant complication in renal transplant recipients because it causes progressive pain and invalidity. It can be the consequence of the action of numerous causative factors, but it is mostly connected to corticosteroid treatment.The underlying pathophysiologic mechanism is a diminished blood flow to the bone leading to necrosis and bone destruction.

Subbrachial approach to humeral shaft fractures: new surgical technique and retrospective case series study.

Background: There are few surgical approaches for treating humeral shaft fractures. Here we present our results using a subbrachial approach.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective case series involving patients who had surgery for a humeral shaft fracture between January 1994 and January 2008.

Chondromyxoid fibroma of the second metacarpal bone--a case report.

This report describes a chondromyxoid fibroma of the second metacarpal bone in a 32-year-old female patient. Chondromyxoid fibroma is a rare, benign, slow-growing bone tumor of cartilaginous origin. Tumor has a high recurrance rate.

Comparison of results of surgical treatments of primary inguinal hernia with flat polypropylene mesh and three-dimensional prolene (Phs) mesh--one year follow up.

The aim of this study was to compare the results of the surgery of inguinal hernias using flat polypropylene mesh and three-dimensional prolene (PHS) mesh. The study included two groups of 40 male patients, aged 18-50 years, with the diagnosis of inguinal hernia. One group was operated with a flat polypropylene mesh, while the second group was operated with three-dimensional prolene (PHS) mesh.

Apoptotic cell death and rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm.

The abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) development and expansion is characterized by an extracellular matrix degradation and widespread inflammation. In contrast, the processes that characterize the AAA rupture are not completely understood. The results obtained in animal and clinical studies have shown the importance of inflammation, proteolysis, and antioxidant mechanisms in the aortic degeneration and formation of AAA.

Initial experience with external thoracic stabilization by the "figure of eight" osteosynthesis in polytraumatized patients with flail chest injury.

The aim of this study was to describe initial experience with external thoracic stabilization by the "figure of eight" osteosynthesis in polytraumatized patients with flail chest injury. From January 2002, fifteen patients underwent this surgical procedure at the University Hospital of Rijeka. Their mean age was 52 +/- 13.

Primary leiomyosarcoma of the tibia--five years without recidivism.

Primary leiomyosarcoma of the bone is a rare malignancy. Clinical follow-up suggests that primary osseous leiomyosarcoma has an aggressive biologic behaviour with poor survival time. We report a case of primary leiomyosarcoma arising from the proximal metaphysis of the right tibia of a 55-year old woman with a long follow-up period, without recidivism.

[Subtenonial application of triamcinolone in neovascular form of senile macular degeneration].

The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the effectiveness of sub-tenon application of triamcinolone for neovascular age-related macular degeneration. The study included 38 eyes (26 patients; 14 women and 12 men, aged 63 to 82 years) with newly diagnosed subfoveal neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Each eye received sub-tenon injection of 0.

Quality of screening for diabetic retinopathy in the Rijeka region of Croatia.

The aim of this study was to compare the quality of screening for diabetic retinopathy in cities of Rijeka and Zagreb, Croatia. Review of a random sample of 500 diabetic patient records and prospective ophthalmologic survey of 466 randomly selected diabetic patients in a secondary level diabetologic service in Rijeka (coastal region of Croatia). The main outcome measures were proportion of diabetic patient records with notes on ophthalmologic examination; rate of diabetic patients involved with screening for diabetic retinopathy; comparison with rates in Zagreb (Croatian capital).

Epidemiology of monosymptomatic optic neuritis in Rijeka County, Croatia: meteorological aspects.

In order to analyze the meteorological factors possibly influencing the monosymptomatic optic neuritis in Rijeka County, northwestern part of Croatia, retrospective analysis of all cases diagnosed in Rijeka County in period from 1977 to 2001, was done. Meteorological data on monthly and yearly temperature, humidity, insolation in Rijeka County were collected from Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service. In the observed period there were 173 cases of monosymptomatic optic neuritis, female/male ratio was 1.

Cost of treating preventable minor ocular injuries in Rijeka, Croatia.

Aim: To determine the cost of medical services for the treatment of preventable minor ocular injuries in Rijeka, Croatia.

Methods: We analyzed data on 3,755 outpatients (3,363 men and 392 women) treated for eye injuries at the Department of Ophthalmology, Rijeka University Hospital, from April 2002 to March 2003. Median age of patients was 37 years (range, 26-47 years).

Primary vs secondary wound reconstruction in Gustilo type III open tibial shaft fractures: follow-up study of 35 cases.

Aim: To compare primary and secondary wound reconstruction as a treatment method for Gustilo type III open tibial fractures.

Methods: Thirty-five consecutive patients with a Gustilo type III open tibial shaft fracture were treated and followed up for 3 years. The patients were divided into two groups depending on the treatment protocol and timing of wound reconstruction: primary wound reconstruction (n=15) and secondary wound reconstruction (n=20).

[Free forearm flap in the reconstruction of mucosal defects of the oral cavity and oropharynx after radical removal of a tumor].

In the Department of Surgery, Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka in cooperation with ENT Department and the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, fifty patients with the mouth and the throat tumor were operated since 1985. The defects were covered with free radial forearm flaps. In seven cases flap did not survived due to thrombosis of the anastomosis.