Spondylolisthesis in sportsmen.

A review of spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis in sportsmen is presented, and a suggestion is put forward as to how this occurs and the means by which it can be treated.

'Locking knee' due to osteochondroma.

An unusual cause of locking of the knee is reported, due to an osteochondroma at or around the inner part of the upper tibia. It usually presents in young teenagers who frequently have difficulty extending the knee from a fully flexed position. The cause is interference with the free excursion of the pes anserinus.

Surgical treatment of spondylolisthesis in children and adolescents.

A retrospective study is reported of 36 children and adolescents who had undergone spinal exploration and fusion for Type I of Type II spondylolisthesis of more than 10 per cent. The patients were examined and their radiographs studied. No progression of slip after operation was found even in the presence of a pseudarthrosis.

The Stanmore hinged knee arthroplasty.

The Stanmore hinged total knee replacement was introduced in 1969 for severe destructive arthropathy of the knee, and the results of one hundred consecutive operations are presented after an average interval of two and a half years. Insertion of the prosthesis relieved pain in 94 per cent, improved the range of movement in 67 per cent, invariably restored stability and corrected valgus or varus deformity. Gross flexion contractures were improved but not always fully corrected.

Spondylolisthesis in children and adolescents.

A study of spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis in 142 children and adolescents is reported. In twelve of the seventy-nine patients followed for over a year the affected vertebra slipped further by 10 per cent or more. Increasing slip occurred mainly during the adolescent growth spurt, and was greater when spinal bifida or other vertebral anomalies were present.