[Deaths in orthopedics].

Seventy-four deaths during treatment at the orthopedic university hospital Homburg/Saar between 1965 and 1981 are reported, causes and basic diseases are analyzed. Deathrate was 0,22% at our hospital comparing 0,61% average standard deathrate at West-German orthopedic hospitals. Main risk groups are patients with para--or tetraplegia (28 cases), patients following total hip replacement (16 cases), bone tumors (18 cases - 4 of these cases are figured as well in the first group because of the clinical sign of paraplegia). All other patients (about 29 000) are represented with 16 deaths. Comparing literature deathrate of paraplegia and total hip replacement are detailed discussed.