Technetium-99-labelled methylene diphosphonate uptake scans in patients with dialysis arthropathy.

Patients on long-term haemodialysis suffer from dialysis arthropathy due to the deposition of dialysis amyloid. We investigated the use of 99Tc-labelled methylene diphosphonate bone scans in 17 patients as a possible in vivo diagnostic technique. In most clinically affected joints, with the exception of shoulders and hands, there was increased radioisotope uptake consistent with uptake by periarticular bone.

Prophylactic povidone iodine in minor wounds.

A total of 628 patients requiring sutures for minor wounds in an accident and emergency unit was included in a controlled trial using povidone iodine dry powder spray (Disadine DP) as prophylaxis against wound infection. In patients with injuries of the forearm and hand there was a statistically significant reduction in infection rate (P less than 0.02).

The modified lumbotomy versus the oblique loin incision for renal surgery.

The time to full mobility and total analgesic requirements have been assessed in 40 patients undergoing renal surgery by the oblique loin incision or the posterior lumbotomy approach. By these criteria the lumbotomy group fared better than patients who had oblique incisions. We consider lumbotomy to be a valuable incision which should be in the repertoire of every urologist.