Pediatric cranio-facial surgery. First-year's experience with a gun applying bioabsorbable tacks

AIM: In 2001 a prototype of a gun to apply bioabsorbable tacks in cranio-facial surgery has been developed. METHODS: From May 2001 to May 2002 this device has been used in the University Hospital of Innsbruck (Austria) for different cranioplasty procedures, in 34 children, showing its reliability for cranio-facial bone fixation. The children were affected by isolated craniosynostosis or by syndromical synostosis (Apert, Crouzon) and in a case of benign tumor of the parietal skull vault. The range of age, at the time of surgery, was between 3 months and 204 months of age. Bone segments were fixed using self-reinforced polylactide plates and tacks. RESULTS: Firm fixation was obtained intra-operatively and the operative time was reduced about 25-30 minutes as compared to use of plates and screws. This device has just one limitation in its own spring force: sometimes the bone thinner than 1 mm has been broken applying the tacks. CONCLUSION: After the first-year's experience it is possible to confirm that this device reduces, in selected cases, operative time, blood loss, risk of infection and, as a result, the costs.

The impact of welfare benefits on natives' and immigrants' attitudes towards immigration

We investigate whether the dependence of immigrants on welfare benefits leads to opposition to further immigration by natives and immigrants in a pooled cross-section of 21 European countries for the 2004-2010 period. Explicitly controlling for the dependence of immigrants and natives on benefits we find that higher benefit take-up rates among immigrants than among natives lead to less favourable attitudes of natives towards immigration. Interestingly, we do not find similar stylised facts for immigrants' attitudes towards immigration.

Microsurgical reconstruction of the head and neck - Current practice of maxillofacial units in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland

Refinement in microvascular reconstructive techniques over the last 30 years has enabled an increasing number of patients to be rehabilitated for both functional and aesthetic reasons. The purpose of this study was to evaluate different microsurgical practice, including perioperative management, in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The DÖSAK collaborative group for Microsurgical Reconstruction developed a detailed questionnaire which was circulated to units in the three countries. The current practice of the departments was evaluated. Thirty-eight questionnaires were completed resulting in a 47.5% response rate. A considerable variation in the number of microsurgical reconstructions per year was noted. In relation to the timing of bony reconstruction, 10 hospitals did reconstructions primarily (26.3%), 19 secondarily (50%) and 9 (23.7%) hospitals used both concepts. In the postoperative course, 15.8% of hospitals use inhibitors of platelet aggregation, most hospitals use low molecular heparin (52.6%) or other heparin products (44.7%). This survey shows variation in the performance, management, and care of microsurgical reconstructions of patients. This is due in part to the microvascular surgeons available in the unit but it is also due to different types of hospitals where various types of care can be performed in these patients needing special perioperative care.

Delivery room management of very low birth weight infants in Germany, Austria and Switzerland--a comparison of protocols

Surveys from the USA, Australia and Spain have shown significant inter-institutional variation in delivery room (DR) management of very low birth weight infants (VLBWI, <1500g) at birth, despite regularly updated international guidelines.