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Background Scabies is globally ubiquitous and is a significant health issue for institutions, the economically disenfranchised, resource-poor areas, and for those with weakened immune systems. Topicals are usually effective, but are cumbersome and expensive to use in large populations and for those nonadherent to topicals. Oral ivermectin became available in Canada for the off-label treatment of scabies in the fall 2018. Objectives To review the diagnosis and management of scabies. Dose schedules and concomitant management measures are outlined for scabies simplex and for crusted scabies. Ivermectin use is outlined. Methods Medline, colleague discussions, practice review, and experience from managing scabies in institutions. Results Oral ivermectin is safe, easier to use, cheaper, more effective, and more economical than topicals in widespread institutional scabies, for those nonadherent to topicals, and in crusted scabies. Conclusions Oral ivermectin is the treatment of choice in large populations, the nonadherent, and for crusted scabies. Oral ivermectin is produced by Merck Canada as Stromectol 3 mg. The treatment dose for noncrusted scabies is 200 µg/kg, taken in a single dose with food. For example, 15 mg (5 tablets) for a 70 kg person. Retreat in 10-14 days to enhance effectiveness, and perhaps to reduce scabicide resistance.

Problems are infrequent, but patients must be informed of all material risks and treatment options. Thorough chart documentation is required, and patient consent must be given. CS doses should be as low as possible, and CS courses should be as infrequent and as short as possible. The literature reviewed in this article clearly indicates that a short course of CS of 1 week, in the absence of specific contraindications, is unlikely to be harmful (psychotic or prepsychotic episodes possibly excepted).

ILS at 2.5 mg/cc is safe, economical, and effective and its greater use should be encouraged in inflammatory dermatoses such as psoriasis and localized dermatitis. Further well-designed research would be helpful.

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Ethyl chloride medium-stream spray, in conjunction with precooling by frozen ice packs, is highly effective in reducing painful injection sensations. Its use is safe, economical, and easy to learn and does not require special equipment.

This retrospective study reviews 43 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee who underwent arthroscopic surgery, from January 1979 until April 1982. Percutaneous drilling of an osteochondral defect in the femoral condyle was performed in 22 patients to relieve the high intraosseous pressure and rest pain associated with this disease; successful results were recorded in 80% of patients at an average followup of 25.1 months. Partial meniscectomy was performed in 21 patients to remove an obstructing degenerative meniscal tear; 81% had successful results with an average followup of 40.6 months. There were no postoperative complications. Percutaneous drilling and excision of degenerative meniscal tears can be valuable arthroscopic procedures in properly selected patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.