The content of bone mineral (BMC), lean tissue, and fat tissue were measured by single and dual photon absorptiometry in both the paretic and the non-paretic limbs of 15 patients, hemiplegic due to cerebrovascular accident 23-38 weeks earlier. Compared with the non-paretic arm, the paretic arm had approximately 10% lower (P less than 0.01) BMC. This difference was largest at the measuring site with the highest ratio of trabecular to compact bone. The paretic leg had a 4% (P less than 0.001) lower BMC than the non-paretic leg. For both the arms and the legs, the lean content was lower (P less than 0.05) and the fat content higher (P less than 0.01) in the paretic than in the non-paretic. This was relatively more pronounced in the arms than in the legs. We conclude that partial immobilization, owing to paresis after a cerebrovascular accident, results in characteristic changes in the affected limbs, with a marked decrease in the content of bone and lean tissue and a pronounced increase in fatty tissue.

The intraperitoneal placement of this composite mesh is associated with a high level of patient satisfaction as well as low rates of both recurrence and infection.

Of 98 hydroceles (mean volume 125 ml) in a consecutive series of 92 patients, treated initially by aspiration, 14% (mean volume 70 ml) were cured. The 76 recurring hydroceles (mean volume 146 ml) were then randomised to either antazoline sclerotherapy on an out-patient basis or surgery. Cure rates were 89 and 100%, respectively, at follow-up 6 months later. Operated patients were admitted for a mean duration of 2.5 days. The results indicated that aspiration alone was inadequate, and sclerotherapy is advocated as the first choice of treatment for hydrocele.