Scalp avulsion injuries (author's transl)

In a recent scalp avulsion injury, the scalp should always be re-implanted without delay if at all available. Subsequent normal hair growth can hardly be expected, but at least an original skin replacement has been effected. The reconstruction of only a part of the scalp should be performed in such a way that the hairless area is situated in the centre. The surrounding hair will cover this centre part. Rotation flaps in the region of the scalp follow other rules than apply to all other areas of the body. If applied correctly, good results can be achieved because of the excellent blood supply.     

Microbiological investigations in tamponades after tympanoplasties (author's transl)

In 100 cases microbiological examinations of removed tamponades after tympanoplasties were performed. This paper is concerned with the question, whether there is a correlation between the preoperative status of the middle-ear-mucosa and the postoperative bacterial flora.     

Microcalorimetric investigations in polluted surface waters (author's transl)

The hygienic control of polluted surface waters has to be correlated with measurements of the decomposition rate of heterotrophic microbial populations. Starting in 1970 different methods have been tested for this purpose. Uptakekinetic studies of radioactive labelled substrates as well as automated BOD-registrations can not be handled as flow systems. Flow-Microcalorimetry (heat-conduction-principle) could be an easier approach to test the activity of heterotrophic aquatic populations. Probes from a trickling-filter outflow, from an oxidation pond and from a small river were tested simultaneously in a Flow-Microcalorimeter (LKB, 2107, Fig. 1) and a Drop-Microcalorimeter (WADSO, 1974 (fig. 2)) after adding 200 mug/L of Glucose. The resulting voltage/timecurves (Fig. 4,5,6) show a good correlation to the heterotrophic capacity of the probes. The minimal detectable continnous heat effect was 1 muW corresponding to a (relative) activity of 5.6-10(4) bacterial colonies/ml on Difco agar (counts after 48 hours incubation at 22 degrees C incubation temperature). A modification of the Flow-Microcalorimeter using a 5-10 times larger reaction vessel could enable the system to be used also in testing scarcely polluted surface waters and for toxicity tests of surface water samples.     

Total hip replacement with isoelastic prosthesis in animals (author's transl)

Uncemented fixation and low-fraction materials are the basis of this experiment. Plastics with an elasticity similar to the bone ("isoelasticity") show very propitious material qualities. The direct cementless incorporation of test bodies must be checked. In 63 sheep isoelastic total hip joints were implanted. After 2 till 51 weeks the animals were sacrificed and 44 specimen of hips and organs were explored macroscopically, radiologically, spherimetrically and histologically. The result was: 1. Plastic hip prosthesis are incorporated in the bone, but the boundary layer is built by a collagenous fiber tissue. 2. Loosening brings resoption of the bone and expansion of the structural changed soft tissue. 3. The transformation of the femoral cortex to osteoporosis is considered possibly as the consequence of an insufficient biological transfer of the weight. 4. Fractures of the femoral prosthesis-stem could not be observed. 5. The radiology allows at the pelvis prosthesis a concret statement concerning stability, on the femoral part a probable one. 6. The abrasion is minimal, the tissue reaction to abrasion products is unessential. 7. Small abrasion particles are carried of by the lymph tract and stored in the first regional gland. A more distant spreading is not demonstrable.     

Ophthalmic and orthoptic investigations in the kindergarten (author's transl)

Recent observations of about 4000 children within the age of two to seven years are reported. It seems to be very useful to do all examinations such as visual acuity, cover-test and stereo-test in familial surroundings by experienced investigators. A survey of visual acuity, squint and stereopsis of all children is given in detail as well as an outline of the consequences of this study to the public health welfare.     

Biomechanical investigations of the liver capsule (author's transl)

The strain properties of geometrically defined specimens of human, pig, and bovine liver capsule were analysed in vitro by applying histomechanical procedures. The dynamic relaxation correlates with the static relaxation under sinus shaped strain process after previous additional predetermined increase in length. If such a process occurs in the linear region of the stress-strain curve, the relaxation process continues on a new level even if the amplitude of the sinus length-time input function is augmented. The same experiment causes in the lower non-linear region of the stress-strain relation the so-called asymmetric amplitude phenomenon. Further histomechanical features of the liver capsule obtained after defined length-time input functions such as relaxation, static isorheological line, dynamic isorheological curve, increase of the vertices of the dynamic force-time function after static relaxation and dynamic force recovery curve are shown. The phase shift between force and lenth is pointed out. The significance of the biomechanical properties of the liver capsule under physiological and pathological conditions is discussed.     

Finger Microtremor--an experimental study (author's transl)

This paper deals with the recording of finger microtremor using a self-constructed apparatus (amplitudes 0.5 to 0.05 mm). 32 healthy subjects aged 7 to 60 years were examined by means of a test set permitting the exact recording of the amplitudes and frequencies of the right middle finger movement. Special attention was given to the vertical plane of the tremor in order to permit more exact demonstration. Frequencies of 5 to 12 cps. were recorded, the mean frequency being 7.55+/-1.12 cps. The minimum amplitude was 0.02 and the maximum recorded amplitude amounted to 1.4 mm, with a mean amplitude of 0.12+/- 0.07 mm. No significant differences in amplitude or frequency were noted with respect to age or sex. This method is useful in the accurate quantitative assessment of every kind of tremor.     

Stress ulcer-an experimental study (author's transl)

This experimental study demonstrates by means of electromagnetic flow measurements that hypovolaemic shock results in a significant decrease in gastric flow. 14 mongrel dogs were subjected to haemorrhagic shock for 3 or 4 hours. Significant histological changes are seen in the gastric mucosa as a result of the haemodynamic changes, especially when the duration of shock was 4 hours. All stages of stress ulcer from the superficial erosion to deep ulcers were documented. The possibility that the mast cell plays a pathogenetic role as mediator in the origination of a stress ulcer is considered.     

Pattern of prehension in patients with high cervical injuries (author's transl)

After explaining the tertiary patterns of prehension the possibilities of restoring prehensile function in patients after high cervical spinal injury (C4-C6) by means of orthotics or operation are discussed. Absolute indication for the application of electrical orthotics in patients with complete spinal cord injuries below C4 and C5 and the relative indication below C6 with a motoric orthotic or operation are cleared out.     

Concerning the development of brainstem injuries (author's transl)

Since the etiology of traumatic brainstem lesions has not been completely clarified we tried to analyse this question from autopsy material with special consideration of the effects of rotational acceleration of the head resulting from an impact force. Seventeen cases without a skull fracture were investigated. We considered the tentorium as a suitable indicator for possible relative movements occuring between cerebral hemispheres and the cerebellum as well as the brainstem since, because of its attachment to the skull, it follows all excursions of the skull directly and simultaneously. The brain, however, due to its inertia, remains stationary in the beginning so that injuries may occur on the structures mentioned. The results of the autopsies confirmed these assumptions, for both uni- and bilateral tears as well as hemorrhages in the tentorium cerebelli were found. Associated were subarchnoid hemorrhages over the upper vermis and thin layered hematomas between the tentorium and the cerebellum. In all cases the brainstems showed both microscopic and macroscopic hemorrhages of the isthmus cerebri and in some cases of the cerebral peduncles and the cerebellar brachia conjunctiva. These hemorrhages are attributed to shearing forces and tension arising from movements between tentorium and the surrounding brain components. The mechanical effects on the brainstem and its surrounding structures at various rotational accelerations of the head (along transversal, vertical and sagital axis) are discussed. The combination of brainstem lesions with injuries of the tentorium suggests that the brainstem injury was a primary result of the impact. Finally the possible significance of rotational acceleration for brainstem injuries caused by whiplash mechanism of the head in connection with improperly used automobile safety belts or inadequate headrests is discussed.