[Smoking and lung cancer].

Since fifty years it is clear now that smoking of tobacco products is responsible for the lung cancer epidemic that is currently in progress worldwide. Although in the Western world a small decrease of lung cancer in males is found, the number of female patients is steadily increasing. Changes in tobacco production have resulted in exposition of smokers to other carcinogens.

[Reconstruction possibilities after tumor surgery in the head-neck region].

Surgery and radiotherapy are the most important primary modalities for treatment of head and neck cancer. After excision of a tumour, a considerable defect may remain. Reconstructive surgery may serve several purposes: closure of the defect and restitution of functions such as respiration, swallowing, speech and chewing.

[Allergic reactions to local anesthetics].

In this article type I and type IV allergic reactions evoked by local anaesthetics are discussed. Contact dermatitis (type IV) reactions are mainly caused by local anaesthetics of the ester-type like procaine. Both contact dermatitis and anaphylactic reactions (type I) can be caused by anaesthetics of the amide-type (e.

Surgical treatment of fracture-dislocations of the ankle joint with biodegradable implants: a prospective randomized study.

In a randomized study 43 patients with fracture-dislocations of the ankle joint were treated by open reduction and fixation with either steel or biodegradable implants. Results in both groups were favorable and the biodegradable material appears to be useful for some fracture-dislocations to obviate the need for a second operation.