Surgical fusion of the subtalar joint is a procedure indicated to alleviate pain of subtalar origin, such as in post-traumatic osteoarthritis, adult-acquired flatfoot deformity, and other disorders. Open subtalar arthrodesis has been performed with predictable results, but concerns exist regarding injury to proprioception and local vascularity due to wide surgical dissection. Minimally invasive techniques try to improve results by avoiding these issues but have a reputation for being technically demanding. We describe the surgical technique for arthroscopic subtalar arthrodesis, which has proved to be a safe and reliable technique in our experience, with consistent improvements in American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society scores.

The optimal management strategy of an unstable penetrating thoracic trauma remains a debate. It is unclear whether a 'stay and treat' or 'scoop and run' to the nearest operating theatre with cardiothoracic expertise is the best strategy. We describe a successful outcome of a young patient with injuries to the left internal mammary artery, upper lobe and main pulmonary artery following a stab injury to his left chest. He was transferred to the nearest cardiac centre for emergency sternotomy. Thoracotomy is the classical surgical approach in emergency setting but sternotomy allows adequate exposure to repair any cardiac injury, institution of cardiopulmonary bypass, and careful inspection of the mediastinal structures to prevent any late complications including pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm. An immediate transfer, where possible, to the nearest trauma centre with cardiothoracic expertise for 'resuscitative' sternotomy is advocated in penetrating thoracic injury for optimal outcome. An emergency room thoracotomy should be reserved to those in the extremis.

We report on a young adult with a foreign body lodged in the right main bronchus for at least 5 days, with no alleged recollection of aspiration despite the size and shape of the object, which was removed successfully by rigid bronchoscopy.