Designing a basic surgical training timetable.

Many hospitals are trying to develop a timetable for surgical SHOs that complies with the needs of working time, teaching and service commitment. This suggested plan is taken from the 'best practice' that I have seen and will need to be modified for each surgical department.

Basic surgical training tips.

I have been privileged to have studied basic surgical training in many hospitals. My observations have depressed me because so many people are trying to re-invent the wheel. I hope that putting down my personal observations may help others move towards the 'round wheel' of surgical education.

Long-term survival of Stanmore total hip replacements inserted with radiolucent bone cement.

Radio-opacifiers in bone cements are an accepted part of every-day practice. They have, however, been shown to be a potential cause of an increase in third body wear and to excite bone resorption in in vitro and in vivo studies. We reviewed the results of 228 consecutive Stanmore total hip replacements performed between 1981 and 1985 in 211 patients.

Dynamised cast management of Achilles tendon ruptures.

Non-operative treatment of closed ruptures of the Achilles tendon within 48 h of injury has been shown to produce results comparable with surgical treatment [1,2]. We report 49 patients treated using a dynamised cast, with a mean follow-up of 42 months, in which there has been only one case of re-rupture. A total of 33 patients were reviewed clinically and measurements revealed a mean calf circumference deficit of 1 cm and a mean functional range of ankle motion deficit of 3 degrees and plantar-flexion strength of 81-90%, when compared with the contra-lateral uninjured limb.