We have provided some information on our website that we consider important. Here you will find
Sonja and Rainer wish you lots of inspiration!
Try to get through the autumn months in good health with the following tips:
After three German editions of the " Bildgebende Diagnostik der Hand" (1996, 2005, 2015) and an English edition (2007), we have created a new book format, which is expected to be published by Thieme company in February 2025. Rainer created the "two-man work" with assistance from Jan-Peter Grunz, MD (University of Würzburg). It covers a total of 112 chapters, which describe the most common pathological entities on the hand in a compelling format. Over 1250 high-quality images illustrate the partly complex disease patterns. Chapters on anatomy and diagnostic techniques have been omitted, but precise references are given in the text. Our publication written in German will be available as a classic book and in electronic form (Thieme's "eref").
Happiness is not only determined by external circumstances, but also by conscious decisions and behaviours in everyday life. This is the conclusion of the ‘Study on Human Happiness’ by the Harvard University, which was initiated as early as 1938 and which the authors Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz summarize in their book ‘The Good Life’:
1. Exercise
Physical activity makes us happy. During physical exertion, the body produces endorphins, which are known as ‘happy hormones’ and lift our feelings.
2. Mindfulness
Consciously living in each moment reduces everyday concerns and clears our minds. Therefore, a simple recommendation is to live in the here and now. Meditation and breathing exercises can help with this.
3. Social contacts
Regular contact with people we care about is an important factor for our happiness. Pleasant conversations and the sense of connection give us strength and a sense of well-being.
4. Kindness
Doing good also helps us. Kind gestures or even bigger things like volunteering also make us happy.
5. New skills
Learning new things gives us a sense of growth and progress. A new hobby, a professional qualification or a learned language increase self-esteem and provides a sense of purpose in life.
6. Goals
A good life is largely determined by fulfilled goals. Professional or personal goals provide direction and motivation. Achieving goals triggers satisfaction.
7. Positive thinking
With an optimistic attitude, life's challenges can be better mastered. A good mood makes everyday life more pleasant and easier.
8. Sleep
Restful sleep is crucial for the regeneration of the body and mind. Good sleep provides fitness and high mental resilience.
9. Nature
A gentle walk in the park or a strenuous hike in nature, breathing in plenty of fresh air, is not only good for the body but also has a calming effect.
10. Small things
An attitude of gratitude for what we have achieved promotes a positive outlook on life and social connections. Small and large things in everyday life should be appreciated and valued.
The ulnocarpal complex is an important structure at the ulnar-sided transition of the forearm to the wrist. The structure has a buffer function for the hand, e.g. when supporting, and - even more importantly - a stabilising function between the ulna and radius. As the name suggests, it is a complex structure whose anatomy and function have only been thoroughly understood in recent years.
That is also the reason why there are different classifications for describing injuries to this complex. The most commonly used classification to date, Palmer's from 1989, is anatomically outdated and inconsistent in content. A significant advance was the Atzei classification of 2011, which for the first time named the so-called ‘deep layer’ (foveal lamina) of the TFCC as the most important stabiliser in the joint between the ulna and radius. However, this important innovation does not sufficiently take into account the central disc and the peripheral capsule with other ligament structures.
These circumstances motivated us to develop a new classification for TFCC injuries. We have given the outcome the acronym ‘CUP’, with C for ‘central’, U for ‘ulnar’ and P for ‘peripheral’. Each of these categories is divided into three degrees of severity, resulting in a total of nine lesion types (3x3 rule).
Our initial description of this was published in early 2023 in the renowned ‘Journal of Hand Surgery European Volume’ (Schmitt R, Grunz JP, Langer M. Triangular fibrocartilage complex injuries – limitations of the current classification systems and the proposed new ‘CUP’ classification. J Hand Surg Eur 2023; 48: 60-66). A second publication will appear in the journal ‘Fortschritte auf dem Gebiet der Röntgenstrahlen’ in the first quarter of 2025, with extensive illustrations of the injury types (Schmitt R, Kunz AS, Reidler P, Huflage H, Hesse N. Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex (TFCC) – Anatomy, Imaging, and Classifications with Special Focus on the CUP Classification. Fortschr Roentgenstr 2024; doi: 10.1055/a-2411-8444).
Diagrams for the CUP classification are presented on the following page.
