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Our experiences with organ saving procedures of the spleen in childhood are presented. In 9 out of 12 children (75%) with traumatic rupture we preserved the organ partially or completely. In 4 patients a partial splenectomy was performed, in three cases of splenorrhaphy was done, and once the organ was repaired with fibrin adhesive. One child was treated conservatively. Another patient underwent splenectomy followed by autotransplantation. Two out of twelve died intra- or postoperatively from severe concomitant injuries. Out of 11 patients with Hodgkin's disease we performed partial splenectomy in five. Only in macroscopically involved cases the organ was removed. In one patient a huge epidermoid cyst of the spleen was enucleated. In another child with a big twisted wandering spleen a splenopexy after partial resection was carried out. In children the spleen should be preserved if ever possible.

The application of crushed ice or hydrogenated silicate, a micro-crystalline substitute has been used as a method to treat posttraumatic and postoperative irritations of the locomotor system for a long time. Closed systems using pumps can be viewed as further development as they enable continuous, water-free cooling of operating areas. The analgetic effect of postoperative cold therapy was evaluated in a prospective clinical trial, including 312 patients after total knee or hip arthroplasty. Conventional cold packs, consisting of microcrystalline silicate were compared to a continuous applicable closed system. Continuous cryotherapy resulted in a depression of skin temperature to 12 degrees C, whereas intermittent cooling only caused a mean temperature decrease of 1 degree C. Clinically continuous cold application leads to a more than 50% decrease of analgetic demands in both, systemic and regional application (p < 0.001). This observation was found in a significant correlation with patient's pain sensation as well as primary range of motion. Intermittent cryotherapy was found to be ineffective in postoperative pain relieve in hip- and adequate in knee arthroplasty patients. We could not report an influence on postoperative blood loss, as discussed in previous reports.

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