[On the surgical treatment of paraplegia (author's transl)]

We report on a modified dorso-ventral operation method for the treatment of unstable vertebral lesions in parapletic patients. We see the indication for ca. 10% of the paraplegics with unstable vertebral fractures and incomplete neurological pareses with a real of expected worsening of the neurological status. A real stabilisation can only be reached by combined dorsal and ventral fusioning, which only rectify the operative risks. The geometrical arguments for this method are presented.

[The possibility of isolated joint transplantation with microsurgery of the blood vessels]

The transplantation of isolated joints with intact blood supply and good biomechanic conditions is possible. Biomechanical and neurotropic disturbances lead eventually to progressive degenerative alterations. The regularly seen periarticular adhesions with reduced joint mobility may also reduce the clinical application. Considering our very good results of joint-replantation also good clinical results of the transplantation with vascular and neural anastomoses may be expected. Microsurgery has a proven place for bridging great bone defects with vascular bone fragments. Histological examinations show a prompt and regular bone metabolism in the transplanted bone.

Single cilia in the articular cartilage of the cat

Single cilia (SC) in the articular cartilage of the cat are described with regard to structure, frequency and intracellular location. Comparison is made with their occurrence in the cartilage of other species or in other tissues; special consideration is given to their developmental stages. In the 1-year-old cat examined, about 20% of the cells showed SC with a predominantly intracellular course and some of them did not reach the extracellular space at all. Cross-sections of the proximal region of SC reveal the familiary 9+0 pattern; towards the distal end, the number of doublets and the diameter of the shaft are decreasing. It is concluded that most of the SC encountered are undergoing involution.

Experimental autologous transplantation of the knee joint: contributions of microvascular surgery (a preliminary report)

Free autologous transplantations of joints can be successfully performed, if careful microsurgical techniques are used. We have carried out autologous exchange transplants of the knee in 28 cats, anastomosing the vessels supplying the knee on one side and leaving the other side with no anastomosis as a control. The operational procedures and the general anaesthesia require special precautions. The permeability of a vascular anastomosis can be judged with scintigraphic and arteriographic techniques. The vascularization and bone remodeling as measured scintigraphically are in direct relation to the blood supply of the operated knee joints. Histological examinations have confirmed the clinical and radiographic findings.

[Radiological diagnosis of the narrow lumbar spinal canal syndrome (author's transl)]

31 myelograms of patients with the syndrome of lumbar spinal canal constriction were analysed. Two forms can be distinguished - a primary form with hypoplasia of the lumbar section of the spinal canal, and a secondary form with circumscribed constriction through olisthy or spondylosis deformans. The characteristics symptoms of the primary form (n = 21) are: difficult lumbar puncture, the ascent of the contrast medium in the thoracic section of the vertebral canal, multiple protrusions of the intervertebral discs, reduced sagittal diameter of the dural area which is marked by additional signs of spondylosis. In this connection, the alterations were so characteristic that it was possible to diagnose the condition even before the operation. The myelogram with water-soluble contrast-medium is considered to be markedly superior to other methods of radiological examination.