Of 142 Chiari pelvic osteotomies for osteoarthritis in dysplastic hips, most performed by Chiari himself, we were able to review 82 and obtain information about 18 by questionnaire. All patients were over 30 years of age at operation; follow-up averaged 15.5 years. Twenty hips had undergone secondary total hip replacement. The outcome was good in 75%, fair in 9% and poor in 16%. High osteotomies all gave good results, and the result also depended on adequate medialisation. Statistics were worse for patients over 44 years of age at the time of operation. For osteoarthritis secondary to hip dysplasia, the Chiari pelvic osteotomy is an alternative procedure to early hip replacement. In contrast to intertrochanteric osteotomy, it has the advantage of facilitating the implantation of an acetabular prosthesis should arthroplasty become necessary at a later stage.

One hundred twenty-two patients with tuberculous or pyogenic spondylitis were investigated retrospectively. Patient histories, laboratory tests, and radiographic findings were compared statistically between the two groups. Significant differences were calculated for the interval between onset of symptoms and diagnosis, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, mean vertebral loss at discharge, and sclerosis of the vertebral bodies involved. Open or closed biopsy was performed in 91 patients. The result provided a clear distinction between tuberculous and pyogenic spondylitis in 62.2%, either by means of histology or by culture growth. In pyogenic spondylitis, staphylococci were the most predominant bacteria isolated. Neurologic deficits were demonstrated in 17.8% of patients with tuberculous spondylitis and 22.7% with pyogenic spondylitis. At follow-up examinations, only two patients still had a motor deficit. Additionally, pain, gibbus formation, and bony fusion were evaluated, but no significant differences were found. The combination of several unspecific findings such as patient history, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and radiographic assessment can lead to the correct diagnosis. A definitive diagnosis is established by means of biopsy, histologic evidence, and bacterial culture.Spinal infections are relatively rare, so larger series of patients for comparative stud-

Scoliosis seen in the chicken after pinealectomy resembles adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in man. It has been suggested that in both species, deficiency of the pineal hormone, melatonin, is responsible for this phenomenon. In nine patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and in ten age- and gender-matched controls, the circadian levels of serum melatonin and the excretion of urinary 6-hydroxy-melatonin-sulphate, the principal metabolite of melatonin, were determined. There were no statistically significant differences in the secretion of serum melatonin or the excretion of urinary 6-hydroxy-melatonin-sulphate between the patients and the control group. The hypothesis of melatonin deficiency as a causative factor in the aetiology of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis cannot be supported by our data.

Scoliosis seen in the chicken after pinealectomy resembles adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in man. It has been suggested that in both species, deficiency of the pineal hormone, melatonin, is responsible for this phenomenon. In nine patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and in ten age- and gender-matched controls, the circadian levels of serum melatonin and the excretion of urinary 6-hydroxy-melatonin-sulphate, the principal metabolite of melatonin, were determined. There were no statistically significant differences in the secretion of serum melatonin or the excretion of urinary 6-hydroxy-melatonin-sulphate between the patients and the control group. The hypothesis of melatonin deficiency as a causative factor in the aetiology of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis cannot be supported by our data.

We investigated the necrotizing effect of a 75% alcoholic solution of phenol on normal tissue harvested during surgery (muscles, fatty or connective tissue) or post mortem (peripheral nerves, arteries, epidermal tissue, joint and epiphyseal cartilage) and on tumor tissue (60 samples freshly harvested from patients suffering from bone tumors). The necrotizing effect was measured by determining the thickness of the cell layers demonstrating nuclear pyknosis or necrosis after 2 min of phenolization in a light microscope by ocular measurements in microns. No effect could be seen in epidermal tissue and in cartilage, whereas all other normal tissues exhibited necrotic zones between 40 and 500 microns. In all the tumors except those with chondromatous tissue, necrotic zones between 40 and 1000 microns were found. No difference in extension of the necrotic zone was seen between specimens from benign and malignant tumors and tumor-simulating processes. Phenolization cannot be recommended for the treatment of chondromatous tumors.

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The devitalizing effects of 5-90 percent phenol for 30 seconds on bone marrow cells were examined on vertebral bodies of fresh animal cadavers. Evaluation was made by measuring the width of the zone of necrotic cells. The zone increased with rising phenol concentration up to 75 percent, reaching an average width of 0.75 mm. However, when protected by bone trabeculae, the cells escaped devitalization.

No abstract