Helmholtz and Zoellner: nineteenth-century empiricism, spiritism, and the theory of space perception.

J. K. F.

An irreducible phalangeal epiphyseal fracture-dislocation. A case report.

A 20-month-old infant sustained an irreducible epiphyseal fracture-dislocation of a proximal interphalangeal joint. The dorsal dislocation of the joint was associated with a 90 degree rotational displacement (Salter-Harris Type I fracture) of the epiphysis of the middle phalanx. This injury, which seems not to have been described previously, required open reduction through both volar and dorsal incisions because the intact collateral ligaments and extensor central slip did not permit adequate distraction of the joint.

Reye's syndrome and salicylate use.

During an outbreak of influenza A, seven patients with Reye's syndrome and 16 ill classmate control subjects were evaluated for characteristics of the patients' prodromal illness and the control subjects illness and for medication usage. Patients during the prodrome and control subjects had similar rates of sore throat, coryza, cough, headache, and gastrointestinal complaints except for documented fever which occurred significantly more often in patients than in control subjects (P = .05).

Two-stage flexor tendon reconstruction in the hand.

The results of two-stage flexor tendon reconstruction in the hand, evaluated in 25 fingers in 20 patients with an average followup of 5 months, were graded on the basis of total range of active flexion and combined extension loss. Two-stage flexor tendon reconstruction can significantly improve the functional status of fingers with extensive damage or scarring of the flexor mechanism. Function was generally improved despite the preoperative status of the digit, but a completely normal flexion range can be restored only in rare instances.