SununaryDenmark has a population of about 5·2 million. The rehabilitation of spinal cord injured (SCI) takes place in two specialised rehabilitation hospitals. The incidence of new traumatic SCI admitted to these hospitals in the period 1975-1984 was 9· 2 per million per year. During this period 92 Danes with non-traumatic and 268 with newly sustained traumatic spinal cord lesions were admitted to the rehabilitation hospital in Hornbeek, which uptake area corresponded to South and East Denmark and Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Among the traumatic SCI 47% were due to traffic accidents, 23% to falls to a level below, 8% to attempted suicides, 6% to shallow water diving, and 6% to sporting accidents. The number of SCI caused by traffic accidents was found to decrease coincidently with the introduction of general speed limits and compulsory seat belt wearing. The male/female ratio was for the traumatic SCI 3-3, which was significantly lower than in the preceding la-year period. 40% of all traumatic SCI were sustained at 15-24 years of age, and 51% had tetraplegia. Traffic accidents gave rise to more cervical, and falls to more caudal lesions. 41 % of the traumatic SCI had an improvement in their neuro logical status after their admission to the neurosurgical department until the dis charge from the rehabilitation hospital. Those with incomplete lesions showed greater improvement than those with complete lesions regardless of the level. Complete cervical lesions had significant better remissions than complete thoracic/lumbar lesions.

In a consecutive series of 26 patients (10 men and 16 women) undergoing abdominoperineal resection of the rectum, cystometry and pressure-flow-EMG measurements were made preoperatively and three and 6-12 months after operation. Two patients developed neurogenic bladder paresis (7.7%, 95% c.l. 1-25%). Men with even slight complaints of bladder outlet obstruction preoperatively ran a risk of postoperative aggravation demanding surgery. In women no significant changes in micturition patterns were found. It is concluded that urinary flow measurement and cystometry should be available as minimum screening procedures after abdominoperineal resection of the rectum to detect bladder dysfunction at an early stage.

Vas occlusion and vasectomy for contraception were compared in a prospective, randomized trial comprising 79 patients. No intergroup differences were found in regard to failure rates or local postoperative complications. Scand J Urol Nephroll7Scand J Urol Nephrol Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by QUT Queensland University of Tech on 11/02/14For personal use only.

Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2003) 73, P78–P78; doi: