We have reviewed the literature to establish the role of lateral retinacular release in the management of disorders of the extensor apparatus of the knee. The scientific evidence for intervention is explored and reports on outcome are discussed.

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There is still debate over the use of drains following hip fracture surgery. We have performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature for randomised trials that related to the use of closed suction drains following hip fracture surgery. Six studies involving 664 patients were identified.

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The purpose of this study was to quantify daily intra-individual variability in mean step length, a basic descriptor for the running pattern. Following 60 minutes of treadmill accommodation, nine trained male subjects (X age = 34.2 yrs +/- 7.2, X VO2max = 57.0 +/- 4.8 ml.kg-1.min-1) performed daily (Mon-Fri) 6-minute treadmill runs at three submaximal speeds (2.68, 3.13 and 3.58 m.s-1) over a 4-week period. To minimize extraneous influences, subjects refrained from road racing and completed the 20 running sessions (5 d.wk-1.4 weeks for each speed) at the same time of day and in the same footwear. Treadmill velocity was calibrated for each 6-minute running bout and step length was determined during the last 2 minutes of each run. Results indicated that mean step length and coefficient of variation values were 0.984 m and 2.50% at 2.68 m.s-1, 1.124 m and 2.22% at 3.13 m.s-1, and 1.254 m and 2.26% at 3.58 m.s-1. Reliability analyses indicated that the percentage of variation accounted for in step length across all speeds was high and improved very little as test number increased (range = 96% for two days vs 99% for five days). Taken together, these findings suggest that when testing conditions are controlled, within-subject variability in step length measures obtained at multiple submaximal running speeds is small in trained subjects and that criterion step length values can be obtained by averaging duplicate measurements.

Tibiofibular dislocation is a condition that is a recognized cause of lateral knee pain in trauma patients and can occur in isolation or as a part of multiple injuries. There is usually prominence of the fibular head on clinical examination, with tenderness to palpation. Radiological investigation can confirm the diagnosis, and in the case or our patient, both plain radiographs and MRI were performed. MRI permitted pre-reduction assessment of the intrinsic knee ligaments, as well as the common peroneal nerve. The dislocated fibular head was successfully relocated under general anaesthesia as a closed reduction.