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Clinical and arthroscopic findings after knee joint injury were evaluated in 35 children aged 4-15 years. Arthroscopy revealed a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in 9 patients; two lesions were only partial. Eight children suffered from patellar dislocation. Eleven patients showed minimal synovial and cartilaginous lesions as the only cause of hemarthrosis, hydrarthrosis and clinical symptoms. Three had chondral lesions due to a dysplastic patella. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed in only 12 of 35 cases. Arthroscopic therapy was performed in 15 and open surgical intervention in 16 patients. Our results show that hemarthrosis and persisting symptoms after a knee trauma in children indicate a severe knee injury. The diagnostic procedure and treatment should be as ambitious as in adults.

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In our surgical clinic, from January 1, 1978, to May 15, 1982, a total of 41 patients with polytrauma exhibited 45 concomitant vascular injuries requiring operation. This group of patients represents 10% of the 407 multiple trauma patients treated during this period. The incidence of vascular lesions of shoulder, neck, and upper extremities was 2.7% (n=11); lower extremities, 4.7% (n=19); within the abdominal cavity, 1% (n=4); and of acute thoracic aortic rupture, 2.7% (n=11). Seven patients (17%) died: 4 from additional brain trauma, 3 from hemorrhage by aortic ruptures. There were 6 major amputations (2 primary, 4 secondary) and 2 borderline amputations. In the remaining 26 patients, a good result following vascular repair was achieved. Angiologic examination, including computed tomography and angiography, is of great importance. Vascular repair deserves high priority since bleeding and/or ischemia threatens the patient's limbs, organs, or even life. This is especially true for the acute thoracic aortic rupture as a typical vascular injury in polytrauma. The incidence of peripheral vascular injuries in polytrauma is twice as high (7.3%) as in isolated extremity fractures (3.6%).