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Achilles tendon injuries are rarely associated with osseous lesions. The combination of mediomalleolar fracture with Achilles tendon rupture has been reported as a rare combination injury in alpine skiers, but never before in basketball. This report presents an Achilles tendon rupture in a senior basketball player in combination with a non-displaced fracture of the medial malleolus. The osseous lesion was initially missed, because the tendon injury with all typical clinical and sonographical signs predominated. The routine X-ray examination was only done in the lateral and axial plane, because the examiner did not even think of an ankle fracture, since the description of the sports accident and the clinical signs were so typical for a sole tendon injury. This case report should remind us not to exclude an osseous or ligamentous ankle injury in those cases of acute Achilles tendon rupture especially if postoperative swelling and pain persist for a prolonged period.

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For the standardization of serological tests for Lyme borreliosis (LB) in Europe, the influence of the heterogeneity of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato must be assessed in detail. For this study four immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) with octyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside extracts of strains PKo (Borrelia afzelii), PBi (Borrelia garinii), and PKa2 and B31 (both B. burgdorferi sensu stricto) were compared. Strains PKo, PBi, and PKa2 at the passages used for antigen preparations abundantly expressed outer surface protein C (OspC), whereas strain B31 at the passage used for antigen preparation did not express OspC. Sera (all from Germany) from 222 patients with clinically defined LB of all stages, 133 blood donors, and 458 forest workers were tested. None of the forest workers had symptoms consistent with LB at the time that the samples were collected. For IgM tests, receiver operating characteristic curves demonstrated that discrimination between sera from patients and blood donors was best with strain PKo and worst with strain B31. The discriminatory abilities of the four IgG ELISAs were similar in a diagnostically reasonable specificity range (90 to 100%). More than 20% of the sera from forest workers reacted strongly in the PKo IgG ELISA (optical density value, >1.5; other assays, less than 8%). Western blots of the sera with the most discrepant ELISA results revealed almost exclusive reactivity with p17. This highly immunogenic antigen is only expressed by strain PKo. This observation might be important for the development of assays enabling discrimination between asymptomatic or previous infection and active disease.

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The operative management of the subacromial impingement syndrome includes reconstruction in cases with ruptured tendons and enlargement of the subacromial space by arthroscopic or open resection of the coracoacromial ligament and acromioplasty. In nearly 20% of all cases, however, surgical treatment fails. This study was conducted with 124 cadaver shoulders of older specimens with a balanced male/female ratio. The coracoacromial ligament did not present homogenous morphologic characteristics. We found 25.8% of all ligaments undivided, 59.7% bipartite, and 14.5% consisted of three parts. The third part, located most medially, took a hidden path to the coracoid process and was not visible during dissection until after the clavicle was resected. This medially situated third part of the coracoacromial ligament has not been described in the medical literature before the time of our investigation. It could well be responsible for persisting subacromial pain after surgery, if it is not identified and resected during surgery.

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Since 1987, cementless THR acetabular components with coarsely reticulate surfaces (S&G, ESKA) have been implanted in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery of the Alfried Krupp Hospital in Essen. By 31st December 1995, 590 of these components had been implanted. Follow-up of the first 51 of these completely cement free THRs revealed loosening in an only single case (2%). Despite these good medium-term results, however, it must be expected that over a ten-year period, the life of the THR will decrease, the probable reason being increasing debris caused by polyethylene (PE) wear leading to aseptic loosening. An alternative to the PE/ceramic system of opposing materials would be ceramic/ceramic. Experience to date has shown that the biological inertness of ceramic does not allow ingrowth and bony integration to take place. Against this background an acetabular component employing a metal backing with the 3-dimensional reticulate surface mentioned above and a Biolox ceramic cup insert articulating with a Biolox ceramic femoral head was designed. The result is a cement free modular THR with optimal bony integration properties and articulating surfaces. To investigate the superiority of this new concept, a comparative study involving two groups of 50 patients each, one group receiving the PE/ceramic system, the other the new ceramic/ceramic system, has been initiated.

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It is well known that adaptational processes following athletic training affect not only muscles and tendons, but also the skeletal system of the athlete. Functional adaptation of the bone is shown by an increase in cortical thickness, frequent development of bony spurs at the insertion of tendons and joint capsules, an increase of density of the bone substance, and bony changes as a reaction to increased mobility of bony junctions such as the symphysis of the pubic bones of the sacro-iliac joints. Recently, in an investigation involving 20 professional tennis players, we demonstrated that--in addition to the adaptational processes mentioned above--stimulation of longitudinal bone growth and widening of the joint space (cartilage hypertrophy) occur. The possibility of bony hypertrophy as a result of athletic training, especially with regard to increases in of bone density and bone diameter, should lead to incorporation of sports medical considerations into the prophylaxis and therapy of osteoporosis.

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BACKGROUND: Clinically relevant heterotopic bone formation (HBF) following total hip arthroplasty (THA) occurs in about one third of all high risk patients. HBF can reduce the functional result of surgery by pain and limited range of motion. The experience with patients treated with postoperative radiation therapy after THA with or without removal of HBF is reported. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Between November 1986 und June 1993, postoperative irradiation was performed on 238 hips of 216 patients (117 men, 99 women, median age 66 years, range 38-86 years) with defined risk factors using 10 Gy in 5 fractions (n = 176) or 7 Gy in one fraction (n = 62) with a cobalt unit. In general, irradiation was performed during the first four postoperative days after primary THA alone in 182 hips or removal of HTB in 56 hips with (n = 28) or without (n = 28) revision surgery. Risk factors for HBF were preexisting ipsi- or contralateral HBF in 105 hips (group 1) or hypertrophic osteoarthritis, previous operative procedures of the hip and others in 134 hips (group 2). After a follow-up of at least 6 months patients were examined and radiographs of the hip were performed to classify HBF. RESULTS: New or progressive ossifications had developed in the interval in 15 of 104 hips of group 1 (14.4%), compared with 19 of 134 hips in group 2 (14.2%). Clinically significant new HBF (grade 3 or 4) occurred in none of group 2, and in 3 hips of group 1 (2.9%). After radiation with 10 Gy HBF of all grades occurred in 23 of 176 hips (13.1%), and in nine of 62 hips after 7 Gy (14.5%). The lowest number of treatment failures was found in patients irradiated during the first 4 postoperative days. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that immediate postoperative radiation is efficacious for prevention of clinically relevant HBF following THA and removal of HBF.

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This contribution addresses the following questions: Does unilateral sports-specific strain affect the skeletal system of the athlete? Specifically, can any differences be found in longitudinal growth of the bones of the forearm and hand in professional tennis players between the stroke arm and the contralateral arm? An investigation was conducted involving 20 high-ranking professional tennis players (12 male and eight female players) between 13 and 26 years of age as well as 12 controls of the same age range. The radiologic examinations of the bones of the forearm and hand yielded an increase in density of bone substance and bone diameter as well as length in the stroke arm as compared with the contralateral arm. Whereas the first results confirm previous findings, the stimulation of longitudinal growth has never been reported. This change in bone structure and size can be attributed to two factors: mechanical stimulation and hyperemia of the constantly strained extremity. It may thus be regarded as a biopositive adaptation process.

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An impingement of the rotator cuff can be caused by chronic anterior instability of the shoulder joint. This particular disease is often found in athletes engaged in overhead motion in abduction/external rotation of the arm, such as in ball sports like volleyball or European handball, racket sports like tennis or badminton, or swimming. For those patients that cannot be cured by conservative treatment such as muscular stabilization, surgical treatment is indicated: anterior reconstruction of the capsule and/or the glenoid labrum, and in addition--if necessary--subacromial decompression and revision of the rotator cuff. Between October 1988 and April 1992, we operated on 66 shoulders in 64 top athletes suffering from chronic anterior or multidirectional instability of the shoulder joint that had caused an impingement syndrome of the rotator cuff. In all cases, the athlete was unaware of the instability. Conservative treatment had been unsuccessful. Surgical treatment was successful in close to 90% of the athletes.

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Hollow prostheses appear to represent a promising approach for the durable fixation of cementless hip-joint endoprostheses. The goal of the planned development is the design-engineering, quality-assured production and clinical testing of hollow prostheses displaying largest possible interior space and optimized wall thickness. With hollow prostheses the possibility exists for the first time of filling both the interior space of the prosthesis and cavities between the prosthesis bearing and the prosthesis with spongiosa. Theoretical considerations indicate that this should result in early and durable secondary stability. First results from animal experiments show that the canine femora operated on display a stress distribution closely approximating the natural stress distribution in the bone and exhibit the expected ingrowth of spongiosa into the interior space of the hollow prosthesis. The choice of suitable materials and particularly of wall thickness and cross-sectional shape has a decisive bearing on the elastic behaviour of the prosthesis. Compared with a solid prosthesis of the same geometry, a hollow prosthesis exhibits reduced flexural rigidity and hence higher elasticity. The dynamic tests performed on hollow prostheses in line with DIN 58,840 have shown that--given careful design and manufacture as well as effective quality-assurance measures--fatigue failure is not to be expected in the case of hollow prostheses.

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Congenital pseudarthrosis of the lower leg is described with reference to recent findings regarding its pathogenesis, development, treatment and prognosis; the condition is explained on the basis of the authors' personal experience with two cases.

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Stress fractures of the navicular bone are considered rare. Therefore, the authors report on 29 cases treated during the last 3 years, which must be defined as sports injuries and occurred primarily among women athletes (68%). In view of the different symptoms and duration of the course a differentiated diagnostic and therapeutic approach is required; this is illustrated with reference to the author's experience with 35 cases.

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Native collagen fibers were exposed to different dynamic loads to simulate damage to tendons and ligaments relevant clinically and for sports medicine. The results suggest that the rupture of a tendon is caused at the submicroscopic fibrillar level. Not only slow or very fast elongation, but also very fast unloading of stretched fibers seems to be responsible for disseminated damage, which reduces the stability of a fiber. This damage is induced by intrafibrillar sliding processes, which occur only a few seconds before macroscopic slippage takes place. The significance of these events for the beginning and progress of repair in vivo is discussed. The conclusions are supported by simultaneous mechanical and radiological measurements, as well as by light- and electron-microscopic results.

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Areas of disordered fibrillar structure similar to kinking deformities have been observed in specimens from ruptured tendons. It seems possible to compare this phenomenon with experimentally produced deformations. The significance for the pathomechanics of tendon rupture is discussed.

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