Physicians and the pharmaceutical industry: a growing embarrassment and liability.

The pharmaceutical industry, comprising corporate-owned, for-profit enterprises, employs nearly one sales representative with a budget of about $100,000 for each 11 practicing physicians. Physician contact with these individuals, epitomized by the drug company "free lunch," results in non-rational prescribing and increases the overall cost of prescription medication to patients. Other influential methods employed by the industry include sponsorship of tainted journal articles, restrictions on research, and biased continuing medical education.

Partial growth plate closure: apex view on bone scan.

A new technique of using 99mTc bone scan to assess partial closure of the growth plate is described. The site and degree of osseous fusion can be obtained by using the apex view. The technique has the potential of assessing serially the growth of a plate before and after surgery.

Supracondylar osteotomy of the humerus for correction of cubitus varus.

Cubitus varus is the most common complication of supracondylar fracture of the humerus in children. Although function of the elbow is not greatly impaired, the deformity is unsightly. It usually results from malunion, since growth disturbance of the humerus after this fracture is uncommon.

Compound elbow dislocation and brachial artery rupture.

A case of brachial artery rupture following compound dislocation of the elbow is reported. Arterial injury is a well-known complication of a supracondylar fracture of the humerus, but is very rare in association with elbow dislocation. A reversed saphenous vein graft was used for treatment of the arterial injury and is the recommended method of management.