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Summary The fatigue response of PMMA-specimen was tested under cyclic bending of 1.5 Hz in a particularly designed testing device. Specimen were tested that a “Wöhler” curve and the corresponding fatigue strength could be evaluated. The fatigue strength was reached after a comparatively short time and ranged in the order of 33 per cent of static breaking strength.

Summary From 1972 to 1979, 576 compound fractures were treated at the trauma center of the Hannover Medical School: 178 were first degree, 244 second degree and 154 third degree open fractures. In 90% of cases treatment involved internal fixation. Fifteen patients underwent a primary amputation, 12 needed amputation during the first week because of ischaemic complications. The bone infection rate was 5.1%. In a closed series of 199 cases, alternate patients were treated with antibiotics. In the group treated with antibiotics, the infection rate amounted to 2.7%, in the group treated without antibiotics to 5.8%.