A mushroom-shaped osteochondral patella allograft.

Replacement of the damaged chondral surface of the patella is often difficult because of the high mechanical stresses and the relatively thin cancellous surfaces. A new method has been developed to resurface the whole gliding surface with a mushroom-shaped allograft which provides firm fixation and an excellent base for rapid revascularisation. Fibrin gives additional stability and bonematrix gelatin (BMG) is used to enhance creeping substitution.

Doppler echocardiographic evaluation of left ventricular relaxation in patients with coronary artery disease.

The time constant of the left ventricular isovolumic pressure decline (Tc) was determined according to the Weiss equation in 23 patients with chest pain who underwent cardiac catheterization. Out of them 15 patients had significant coronary artery stenosis (CAD). Tc was compared to 21 diastolic Doppler data derived from the transmitral inflow.