[Unreported cases--obstacle to exact research in clinical orthopedics and traumatology]

In number 2 1991 of the "Orthopädie Mitteilungen" we referred to problems in obtaining valid data in orthopaedics and orthopaedic traumatology. There we mentioned several unknown cases in the epicrisis related to anamnestic facts. Now we continue the report with the support of our completely quality checked basis documentation. The comparison of the operation-report and the epicrisis shows us that data in three out of four cases are identical. We get nearly the same result, if we compare the operation-site (left or right are in four out of five cases identical). Furthermore we discuss a critical research of aneurysmatic bone cysts out of 24,000 epicrisis. Research into benign tumors or tumorlike lesions is very difficult, because the patients normally leave the hospital before the exact diagnosis was made. Therefore we must take into account uncertain results of our investigations. As far as possible our results take into account rare bibliographic data. Therefore we can show that our modified documentation of all epicrisis should be preferred to documentation of specific forms. Furthermore the investigation demonstrates, that our "frame coding system" is superior to a "precise coding system" for the precise system does not regard the background of the inquiries. But considering the background, we are able to discover most of the unknown cases and make them part of our conclusions.