Influence of various types of damage on the fracture strength of ceramic femoral heads.

Ceramic-on-ceramic articulations are a frequently used bearing for total hip replacements. This success mainly is due to their excellent tribological properties. Ceramics can withstand high pressure loads due to its brittleness but only low bending stresses.

[The diagnosis of posttraumatic neuroma via sonography and CT].

The sonographic CT and myelographic findings in three peripheral amputation neuromas are described, as well as a cauda equina neuroma following a tear of the lumbar plexus. Sonographically, the peripheral neuromas produced low intensity echoes with sharp differentiation from their highly echogenic surroundings. On CT the neuromas were hypodense, compared with muscle, measuring between 40 and 60 HU and showing only minimal enhancement after contrast.