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Pain in the thigh or groin due to a rupture of the rectus femoris muscle is rather uncommon. We report on a patient with a bilateral rupture of the rectus femoris muscle that occurred due to a landing maneuver while para-gliding. The diagnosis was confirmed by ultrasound and MRI. Additionally, an old unilateral anterior cruciate ligament rupture was present. As a functional deficit of the quadriceps muscle could not be observed, a primarily conservative treatment seems to be appropriate.

Aim: How well do ultrasound- and MRI-results after rotator cuff reconstruction correlate with postoperative clinical findings?, Methods: Ultrasound- and MR-imaging of the afflicted shoulder on 40 patients who were surgically managed for isolated tear of the tendon of supraspinatus was performed at least 24 months after intervention. Patients were also clinically assessed. Based on the clinical result, sensitivity and specificity for the two imaging procedures was determined., Results: Only 11 (27.5%) patients had a completely inconspicuous ultrasonography. By ignoring the sonographic parameter "echogenicity" this number was raised to 29 (72.5%) patients. Without the above mentioned parameter ultrasonography demonstrated a good specificity (90.3%) yet a poor sensitivity (33.3%). Incorporation of "echogenicity" markedly weakened both values. MR-imaging showed an intact cuff in 32 (80%) patients, 5 (12.5%) had signs for a partial tear and in 3 (7.5%) a recurrent tear was diagnosed. Based on the clinical result, MR-imaging showed sufficient specificity (87.1%), yet also a poor sensitivity (44.4%)., Conclusion: After rotator cuff repair MRI- and ultrasound-findings frequently stand in distinct discrepancy to clinical results. Based on clinical findings, postoperative MR-imaging shows a slightly higher sensitivity than ultrasonography. Despite this, both radiographic methods do not allow deductions concerning the clinical outcome. The postoperative shoulder-scan and MRI should therefore be interpreted with utmost care. Symptoms and functional results are of high clinical relevance in the assessment of the postoperative shoulder.

Aim: The posture of school children was examined in order to establish whether possible differences in clinically normal and insufficient posture can be detected by means of ultrasound topometry., Method: 105 healthy school children (56 female, 49 male) with an average age of 8 years (+/- 0.9) were examined. To classify the children as having sufficient or insufficient posture the Matthiass posture test was used. While the child stood in a relaxed position, the profile of the spine was measured with a topometric digitiser, recording each spinal processus from C7 to L5., Results: 42 children (22 female, 20 male) showed an insufficient posture during the Matthiass test. The topometrically measured angles of kyphosis and lordosis were significantly smaller in these children, corresponding to a clinically greater thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis. No significant differences in the lateral and anterior-posterior trunk deviation, nor in the range of trunk sway in the relaxed standing position could be observed., Conclusion: Using ultrasound topometry, the posture of children with sufficient and insufficient posture can be differentiated by measuring, the angles of kyphosis and lordosis. This quantification could be used for objective monitoring of the posture.

Two-dimensional (2-D) ultrasound (US) of rotator cuff lesions is a well-established tool. The aim of this study was to elucidate if the use of 3-D sonography can increase the diagnostic yield of US. A total of 40 patients were preoperatively evaluated using 2-D and 3-D sonography, and these results were compared to intraoperative findings. Ultrasound was performed on a 530D US machine (Kretztechnik, Zipf, Austria) with a 10-MHz transducer. We found an increased validity of 3-D imaging, mainly based on the higher reliability in the diagnosis of partial-thickness cuff lesions. Sensitivity and specificity were found to be 91% and 82% for 3-D sonography and 74% and 82% for 2-D sonography, respectively. With 3-D US partial-tear rotator cuff lesions can be predicted more accurately.

Aim: Sonographic evaluation is a reliable method for the detection of rotator cuff tears. However, the diagnostic value of the different echogenic patterns of the rotator cuff, especially in elderly patients, has led to a controversial discussion. The present study elucidates whether three-dimensional ultrasound can increase the diagnostic significance of different sonographic echogenicity patterns of tendons compared to histopathological tissue degeneration., Method: To evaluate the sonographic appearance of tendons in elderly patients, the sonographic echogenicity of 33 rotator cuff specimens with macroscopic absence of rotator cuff lesions was classified in three groups and compared with the histopathological morphology., Results: The sonographic appearance of the degenerated rotator cuff in elder patients correlates with a reduced sonographic echogenicity. The two-dimensional ultrasound evaluation of the rotator cuff led to a sensitivity of 84.0%, a specificity of 42.9%, a positive predictive value of 63.6%, a negative predictive value of 69.2%, and an accuracy of 65.2%. The three-dimensional ultrasound evaluation of the rotator cuff led to a sensitivity of 91.6%, a specificity of 50.0%, a positive predictive value of 66.6%, a negative predictive value of 84.6% and an accuracy of 71.%, respectively., Conclusion: As a high incidence of false positive results has to be taken into consideration, neither the two-dimensional, nor the three-dimensional ultrasound evaluation seems to lead to a reliable correlation.

Aim: As precise operative control is difficult to achieve, the accuracy of femoral osteotomies can only be estimated. Therefore, a computer-assisted ultrasound navigation system was developed in order to apply an on-line control for femoral osteotomies., Method: Three ultrasound emitters were fixed on a triangle. The exact position of triangles could be determined by measuring the time the ultrasound beam takes to reach microphones positioned in a frame. With a reference triangle fixed distally to the osteotomy and a second triangle fixed on the surgical chisel the exact correction angle can be determined three-dimensionally., Results: A high degree of accuracy was found in both laboratory trials and in simulation trials using pig femurs. The deviation of measured values compared to a laser beam control was less than 0.5 degrees., Conclusion: The system was introduced into our operating theatre as an optimised control device that can provide excellent support to the surgical procedure.

We report on a 27-year-old male Caucasian with severe haemophilia A who presented with acute onset of neck pain with cervical nerve root irritation, due to a spinal epidural haematoma. His past medical history revealed carrying of a moderate weight as a possible traumatic mechanism. Under immediate factor VIII replacement therapy complete remission of the symptoms was achieved within several days. The diagnosis of spinal epidural haematoma and complete resorption was revealed by initial and follow-up magnetic resonance imaging studies of the cervical spine. Having reviewed the literature on spinal epidural haematoma, we present an overview of the treatment and outcome as regards haemophilia.

The most widely used tests to detect seminal and serum sperm antibodies are the mixed antiglobulin reaction (MAR as recommended by WHO) and the tray agglutination test (TAT). It has been suggested that the prognostic significance of sperm antibody tests might be influenced by a concomitant reduction of sperm numbers and/or sperm motility. Furthermore, the relative sensitivity of these sperm antibody tests to detect sperm antibodies is not known. We therefore compared TAT, performed with serum and MAR results retrospectively for 565 infertile patients and MAR IgA and MAR IgG results for 1189 infertile patients. The association of TAT and MAR results with changes in sperm number, morphology and motility was assessed for 565 and 1185 patients, respectively. The influence of MAR and TAT results on sperm cervical mucus penetration test (SCMPT) results was investigated for 349 and 434 patients, respectively. Whereas only 23% of all MAR IgG positive patients were also MAR IgA positive, 82% of all MAR IgA positive patients were also MAR IgG positive. There was a significant (P < 0.0001) correlation between serum TAT, and MAR results. Positive MAR and TAT results were not associated with reductions in sperm number, motility and morphology. There was a significant correlation between MAR IgG and MAR IgA results and the sperm cervical mucus penetration test (SCMPT) results. According to these results, the MAR IgG would be sufficient as an initial screening for seminal sperm antibodies. MAR IgG negative patients with strong indication for immunologic infertility should also be investigated with the MAR IgA and the serum TAT.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The prognostic significance of seminal sperm antibodies for male fertility is difficult to define. Among other factors, spontaneous remissions and transient induction through genito-urinary infections may change their significance for male fertility considerably. We therefore investigated their spontaneous course over time and their association with leucocytospermia. For the investigation of possible relationships between the mixed antiglobulin reaction (MAR) test results for IgA and IgG sperm antibodies and leucocytospermia, 138 patients with > or = 1 million leucocytes/ml ejaculate were compared with 1051 patients with < 1 million leucocytes/ml ejaculate (WHO normal range). In a second part of the study the spontaneous course of MAR IgG and IgA test results was investigated in 58 of the 1189 patients who had three or more MAR tests and a leucocyte concentration of < 1 million/ml ejaculate. The mean interval between the first and second MAR test was 4.1 (SD +/- 4.2) and between the second and third MAR test 6.0 (SD +/- 6.7) months. In total, 64% of patients with an MAR IgG test result > 40% showed a stable spontaneous course. Patients with lower MAR IgG test results and the majority of all MAR IgA-positive patients were found to have an undulating course of MAR test results. There was a higher incidence of leucocytes > or = 1 million/ml ejaculate in patients with higher MAR results (p < 0.05 for IgG, p < 0.001 for IgA).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)