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We describe 13 cases of soft tissue impingement in the ankle by localized synovial proliferation and scar tissue. A number of papers have described symptomatic improvement in sportsmen who have undergone resection of this tissue. We report the results of this procedure in Army personnel. Of the 13 patients, 8 had excellent or good results, while 5 had poor results. Two of the latter subsequently revealed another significant problem and were then excluded, thus 8 out of 11 patients had an excellent or good result. We therefore believe that this procedure is useful in the management of chronic ankle pain in Army personnel.

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SUMMARY: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of patellectomy on the service career of soldiers. Information on 184 individuals on whom patellectomy was performed between 1981 and 1986, was retrieved from computer records. The criterion for success of the operation was the recovery to a fully fit category.Fifty three patients (29%) regained full fitness. The outcome of patellectomies performed for chondromalacia patellae and osteoarthritis appears to be worse than that for patellar fractures. IntroductionPatellectomy is an operation that has vacillated in and out of fashion over the years. It was performed by Putz(l) in 1860 for habitual dislocation of the patella and at the turn of the century patellectomy was used in the management of chronic arthritis, osteomyelitis of the patella, chondromalacia patellae and fractures.There has been a divergence of opinion in the literature on the role of patellectomy in the management of such conditions and especially in chondromalacia patellae. In 1978 Bentley(2) strongly supported patellectomy in the management of chondromalacia patellae. He compared the results of patellectomy with patellar tendon transfer, shaving of the patella and cartilage excision and drilling of the subchondral bone. He had good results, 82% of the 34 patients who had primary patellectomies achieved satisfactory results and 62% of cases who had patellectomy after a previous operation had a satisfactory result. This compared to only 25% satisfactory results for patella shaving and overall 60% satisfactory results for patella tendon transfer.

A case of thoracic discitis secondary to a pyodermal skin condition known as 'Woodbury' rash is described.