5 degrees to 6 degrees of distal femoral cut for uncomplicated primary total knee arthroplasty: is it safe?

The angle formed between the anatomical axis and mechanical axis of the femur determines the angle of resection of distal femur in total knee arthroplasty. The objective of this study was to analyse the safety of the routine practice of selecting 5-6 degrees of valgus for distal femoral cut during uncomplicated primary total knee arthroplasty. A retrospective study was undertaken involving a review of pre-operative CT scout films of osteoarthritic knees in 83 consecutive patients (44 males and 39 females; mean age 70 years) who presented for total knee arthroplasty.

A new metabolite from the marine bacterium Vibrio angustum S14.

The new metabolite [1-(2'-methylpropoxy)-2-hydroxy-2-methylpropoxy]butane was isolated from the cell-free culture supernatant of the marine bacterium Vibrio angustum S14 as part of studies investigating the role of chemical signals in prokaryote--prokaryote and prokaryote--eukaryote interactions. The structure was elucidated by interpretation of its high-field NMR and mass spectrometric data. [1-(2'-Methylpropoxy)-2-hydroxy-2-methylpropoxy]butane induced the acylated homoserine lactone (AHL) reporter system in Agrobacterium tumefaciens and bioluminescence in Vibrio harveyi.

Isolated dislocation of the pisiform bone.

A case is reported of dislocation of the pisiform, successfully treated by conservative means.

Metastatic calcification as a cause of ulnar nerve compression at the wrist.

Compression of the ulnar nerve in the canal of Guyon is a well recognised condition but we have not been able to find another reported case resulting from extrinsic pressure from calcium deposits at the wrist level. The causes of pathological calcification are briefly reviewed.