1. A child with so-called ischio-pubic osteochondritis is reported from whom the affected ramus was resected. The features observed in the resected specimen were those of a normal closing epiphysis. 2. The literature is reviewed with emphasis on other children who had biopsies and on large scale radiographic surveys of normal children. 3. The conclusions are that the changes in the ischio-pubic synchondrosis cannot justifiably be called osteochondritis, and that they require further investigation, which can most profitably be done at necropsy

1. In a survey of 107 cases of Erb's paralysis, twenty-seven instances of incipient or actual posterior dislocation of the upper end of the radius were discovered. 2. The type of case in which the dislocation occurs is defined and the early clinical and radiographic signs of the displacement are described and illustrated. 3. The probable causes—muscle imbalance and rigid splinting over a long period—are adumbrated and the prevention and remedies are suggested. 4. The occurrence of anterior dislocation—six cases—and its significance are discussed

Aims

Arthroscopically controlled fracture reduction in combination with percutaneous screw fixation may be an alternative approach to open surgery to treat talar neck fractures. The purpose of this study was thus to present preliminary results on arthroscopically reduced talar neck fractures.

We describe a method of closed, unlocked nailing for femoral fractures using ultrasound instead of an image intensifier. Radiography was used only to confirm that the guide wire had been passed into the intramedullary canal of both fragments. The method succeeded in 26 of 30 cases. The failures all occurred in fractures which could not be reduced within 20 minutes. The operating time in those nailed successfully with ultrasound control was not different from the time for 30 control cases using conventional methods with an image intensifier

Sixteen consecutive patients with tibial plateau fractures were investigated by standard radiography, biplanar tomography and computerised axial tomograms (CT scans). It was found that CT scanning proved most helpful for classifying the type of fracture, for evaluating the degree of comminution, and for measuring displacement. Moreover, because a single position was maintained throughout the investigation, the patients felt less discomfort than during other assessment procedures. For these reasons CT scanning is recommended for evaluating this type of fracture

Aims

The Walch Type C dysplastic glenoid is characterized by excessive retroversion. This anatomical study describes its morphology.

The familiar picture of spinal tuberculosis is one of destruction of adjacent vertebral bodies and of the intervening disc. There are, however, other patients without these radiographic changes and with no clinical deformity who present with symptoms and signs of compression of the spinal cord or cauda equina. These patients fall into two different groups: those with tuberculosis of the neural arch; and those with extra-osseous extradural tuberculosis. Both may require laminectomy, but whereas the first has bony involvement and a cold abscess, the second has neither

Five vertebrae with unilateral spondylolysis are presented. The associated asymmetry of the posterior elements supports the concept of a localised form of growth deficiency. The defect is difficult to demonstrate radiologically, and is perhaps present more frequently than is recognised. It should be suspected clinically from asymmetry of the neural arch and from unilateral wedging of the vertebral body, and may be demonstrated by further radiographic examination. The clinical significance is uncertain, but one patient is presented in whom unilateral spondylolysis was associated with intermittent sciatic pain

Anterior subluxation of the cervical spine from flexion-rotational violence is often overlooked. Either radiography is omitted or the slight displacement visible on the films is not recognised. A method for recognising these injuries is suggested. Five cases are described showing that in these subluxations the soft-tissue damage is severe, that late increasing displacement can occur, with varying neurological sequelae, and that instability can persist indefinitely. Four of the patients required stabilisation by operation, in contrast with complete dislocations in which 80 to 90 per cent fuse spontaneously

1. The radiographic appearance of normal thoracic and lumbar vertebrae at 15-degree intervals of rotation is described. Each image can be identified by its characteristic features. 2. The appearance on antero-posterior radiographs of apical vertebrae in scoliosis closely resembles the normal at each phase of rotation, on the basis of which an image-matching method is proposed for estimating rotation in scoliosis. 3. The method gives only approximate values of rotation but has the advantage of being able to monitor rotation through 90 degrees

1. A diagnosis of upward translocation of the dens was made in eight patients with chronic rheumatoid arthritis selected from a group of patients who had radiographic studies of the cervical spine and from whom a number of patients with atlanto-axial subluxation were also identified. 2. Two of the patients presented with an acute neurological syndrome of serious import and required a stabilisation operation. Though this is an uncommon complication of rheumatoid arthritis it seems that urgent neurological syndromes are likely to be more common than in atlanto-axial subluxation

1. Epidural abscess should be suspected in patients with lumbar and sciatic pain who have a history of staphylococcal skin infections or of diabetes. 2. The diagnosis of epidural abscess should be considered before that of herniation of a disc if the patient presents an otherwise unexplained pyrexia. The absence of radiographic changes is no bar to this diagnosis. 3. The hazards of lumbar puncture in cases of epidural abscess are obvious. 4. Early diagnosis and operation are essential to control the infective lesion and to ensure recovery of the neural lesion

1. Three patients with enchondromata of the metacarpal bones are described. 2. The nature of the enchondromata in all three patients was confirmed by histological examination. 3. Treatment was by radical excision and bridging of the gap by a cortical bone graft. 4. There has been no impairment of function in the hands. No patient complained of pain after the operation. 5. Radiographs taken one year after operation in two patients showed that the flat bone grafts had become cylindrical and that medullary canals had appeared

1. A case of low back pain due to a sacral extradural cyst is reported. Radiographs of the sacrum showed an ovoid expansion of the sacral canal. Myelography and exploratory laminectomy revealed an extradural cyst associated with a defect in the dural root sleeve surrounding the second left sacral roots. Relief of symptoms followed evacuation of the cyst and repair of the defect. 2. The differential diagnosis of the condition, the varieties of extradural cyst, and the features which distinguish them from perineurial cysts are described

Aims

Controversy about the use of an anatomical total shoulder arthroplasty (aTSA) in young arthritic patients relates to which is the ideal form of fixation for the glenoid component: cemented or cementless. This study aimed to evaluate implant survival of aTSA when used in patients aged < 60 years with primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis (OA), and to compare the survival of cemented all-polyethylene and cementless metal-backed glenoid components.

Thirty patients with osteochondritis dissecans of the ankle have been followed up for an average of 21 years. The histories and radiographs were reviewed, and it was found that most patients had only minor radiographic changes and symptoms. Two patients had developed osteoarthritis but in only one was this severe. Osteochondritis dissecans in the ankle thus seems to differ from the same lesion in the knee where late osteoarthritis often occurs. Two lesions were located on the joint surface of the distal tibia, a site not previously reported

The results of vascularised rib graft transfers are analysed in 25 patients followed up for more than two years (average 34 months). Radiographs showed early and rapid incorporation of the grafts in 4 to 16 weeks (average 8.5 weeks); external immobilisation averaged 11 weeks (range 5 to 24 weeks). The technique seems a useful alternative to allografts or homografts employing an avascular rib or fibula since it promotes rapid healing without needing microsurgical techniques

Objectives

The objectives of this study were: 1) to examine osteophyte formation, subchondral bone advance, and bone marrow lesions (BMLs) in osteoarthritis (OA)-prone Hartley guinea pigs; and 2) to assess the disease-modifying activity of an orally administered phosphocitrate ‘analogue’, Carolinas Molecule-01 (CM-01).

Fifteen patients with identical symptoms of pain and tenderness at the tip of the greater trochanter are reviewed. Diagnosis by the referring doctor was usually osteoarthritis of the hip or sciatica, but localised tenderness and pain on resisted abduction were the only clinical signs. Radiographs were usually normal. Most cases were relieved by one or more local steroid injections. This disorder has much in common with tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, coccydynia and policeman's heel. We suggest that all these conditions may be traction syndromes