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Biomedical subjects

G Exner

Publications and source records attributed to G Exner.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

[Thoracopulmonary complications of fresh fractures of the thoracic spine with neurologic damage].

The number of thoracic injuries associated to traumatic fractures of the spine is increasing. The multiple trauma rate in this retrospective study of 253 spinal injuries with neurological damage, which needed admission to the Intensive Care Unit, was of 55%. Blunt chest trauma was found in 86% of the multiple trauma group, especially in combination with fractures of the upper and middle thoracic spine (up to 100%), while head injuries appeared in only 58%. Hemopneumothorax was diagnosed in 88%, pulmonary contusion in 48% of the cases, leading to a high rate of recidivating atelectasis and pneumonia. Emergent chest computed tomography should therefore be obligatory in thoracic spine fractures.

Adolescent

Phrenic nerve stimulation for central ventilatory failure with bipolar and four-pole electrode systems.

A multi-channel phrenic nerve stimulator developed in Tampere has been implanted into seven patients with C2-tetraplegia and into three patients with central sleep apneas. Six bipolar cuff electrodes were implanted bilaterally into the neck. Two four-pole cuff and 14 four-pole noncuff electrodes were used in seven patients and to replace one bipolar electrode. Four-pole electrodes were implanted within the thorax. Seven patients achieved total independence from conventional ventilators within 4 months of implantation, and one for 18 hours each day. Two patients died 12 days and 3 months after implantation and two patients after having achieved independence from mechanical ventilators from causes unrelated to the stimulators. Reoperations were necessary because of dislocation of receivers, electrodes, electrode lesions, nerve injuries, and technical failures in seven patients. Most of the problems appeared in two patients with obesity and in three patients with very thin phrenic nerves. Single unit prototypes failed technically more frequently than units of prototype serial fabrication. New electrode design, progress in the manufacture of receivers, and improved implantation technique should help to diminish failures in future.

Adolescent

Phrenic nerve stimulation in tetraplegia. A new regimen to condition the diaphragm for full-time respiration.

Unipolar phrenic nerve stimulation (diaphragm pacing) has been used for ventilation of patients with C2 tetraplegia. Four-pole sequential nerve stimulation delays muscle fatigue when compared with unipolar stimulation. This may help to achieve more frequently long-term full-time bilateral electroventilation. Four-pole sequential nerve stimulation also offers an opportunity to shorten the conditioning phase of the hypotrophic diaphragm from about 6 to 2 months. The new conditioning regimen was tested successfully in two patients with C2 tetraplegia. The new stimulation method and conditioning regimen remarkably shorten the time after injury during which mechanical ventilation is needed. This will give the patients earlier access to rehabilitation centres for spinal cord injuries and will diminish the work load of the personnel.

Adolescent

[Baker cysts].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Bursitis

[Integration through university studies--experiences and prospects for the future (author's transl)].

The experiences gained over a twelve year period with wheelchair-users attending Marburg university are reviewed. The technical pre-requisites gradually developed at the university and the Konrad-Biesalski-Haus, a residential home providing accommodation for both, disabled and non-disabled students, have proven good and served as a model for similar facilities in Regensburg, Darmstadt, Hannover, Bonn, Bochum and Bielefeld. Up to 1977, 25 severely handicapped students had successfully completed their studies at Marburg university. Of these, 19 are employed according to their qualification or are taking post-graduate courses. According to the graduates' experiences, personal contacts with the appropriate authorities and private employers were very important for their vocational integration. The general public's understanding of the disabled has improved. What remains to be done is the amelioration of vocational and study counselling services for physically disabled secondary school pupils. Preparatory measures for job placement following study completion should be initiated early on.

Persons with Disabilities

[Epidermoid cyst of the tibia (author's transl)].

Case report on a large epidermoid cyst in the proximal tibia in a 42-year old woman. Scrutiny of the available literature shows that this is the first recorded case of an epidermoid cyst in a long bone.

Adult

[Neoadjuvant chemotherapy of osteosarcoma. Preliminary results of the cooperative COSS-86 osteosarcoma study].

The neoadjuvant study COSS-86 was undertaken aiming at (1) improving the cure rate in osteosarcoma by early intensification of chemotherapy in high risk patients and (2) investigating the effect of intraarterial (i.a.) versus intravenous (i.v.) administration of cisplatinum. (1) Ifosfamide was added to the well proven drugs in osteosarcoma such as doxorubicin, high-dose methotrexate and cisplatinum in patients with large tumor size or/and high portion of chondroid groundsubstance or/and scintigraphic nonresponse after 4 weeks of preoperative chemotherapy. It was given in combination with cisplatinum. (2) The same patients were allocated to either the intraarterial study arm or the intravenous control arm of the study. The response rate (greater than 90% tumor necrosis) of all patients was 75% (88/118). No advantage in response rate was achieved by i.a. infusion of cis-platinum within this highly efficient 4-drug regimen (i.a. 75% (33/44) vs. i.v. 74% (35/47)). The significantly improved response rate in this study results in a better metastasis free survival (MFS) of 77% (+/- 4) at 4 years.

Adolescent