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Nine elderly patients were treated by salvage hip arthroplasty following failed internal fixation of an intertrochanteric or subtrochanteric hip fracture. The mean age at time of fracture was 79 years (range 67-94 years). The mean interval from initial fracture fixation to conversion arthroplasty was 7 months (range 5 days to 19 months). One 84-year-old patient died 6 weeks postoperatively from a pulmonary infection. The remaining eight patients were assessed clinically and roentgenographically after a mean follow-up period of 41 months (range 4-85 months). The functional results, rated according to the Merle d'Aubigné hip rating scale, were excellent in one patient, very good in four patients, good in two patients, and fair in one patient. Serial roentgenographic analysis showed new bone formation around the extramedullary part of the femoral component in all these patients and bone remodelling of the diaphyseal part of the femur in all patients. The preservation of the functional continuity of the abduction apparatus during surgery and the early walking with full unrestricted weight-bearing made possible by the arthroplasty are considered to be the major contributing factors to these results.

We have reviewed the history of 154 primary, traumatic dislocations of the shoulder in order to determine the risk of recurrence. We found a recurrence rate of 68% in patients under the age of 20, after a follow-up period of 1-9 years (average 4.5 years). There was a highly significant difference (p < 0.0001) in the recurrence rate of patients under, and above, 30 years of age. Twenty per cent of the patients had a concurrent minor fracture at the shoulder with 2 out of 39 of the recurrent cases (5%) and 29 of the 115 non-recurrent cases (25%); this is also a significant difference (p < 0.01). Neither the need for general anaesthesia at primary injury nor the occupation of the patient was a relevant factor in the final outcome of the dislocation. Four nerve injuries were encountered (3%), with no severe sequelae at follow-up. The young patient with no concurrent fracture at the time of the primary shoulder dislocation has a high risk of recurrence.

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In a prospective study, the diagnostic accuracy of three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of ruptures of the lateral ligaments of the ankle was determined by comparing three-dimensional magnetic resonance findings with operative findings. In a series of 18 consecutive cases of acute significant inversion trauma to the ankle, a three-dimensional fast imaging with steady-state precession pulse sequence (3D FISP) was performed. The study included only those cases in which views showed a difference in talar tilt of 15 degrees or more, and a difference in anteroposterior drawer of 10 mm or more between the imaged and the normal ankle. All ankles were scheduled for surgical exploration. Compared with operative findings, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 3D FISP imaging were, respectively, 100%, 50%, and 94.4% for ruptures of the anterior talofibular ligament and 91.7%, 100%, and 94.4% for ruptures of the calcaneofibular ligament. We believe that 3D FISP magnetic resonance imaging is a noninvasive, fast, and very accurate diagnostic aid to operative planning for double ligament tears in younger competitive athletes.