We performed diagnostic arthroscopy for acute knee trauma in 138 children and adolescents aged 13 (1-15) years. The compatibility between the clinical examination and the arthroscopic findings was 59 percent. Ligament injuries were found in 32 cases, 14 of which had rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament. The compatibility in the case of ligament injuries was 31 percent. 48 patients had dislocation of the patella, and a displaced osteochondral fragment was seen in 19, 14 of which were radiographically silent. In 37 cases of distortion of the knee a correct diagnosis would have been missed unless arthroscopy had been performed. Arthroscopy is therefore indicated in children with severe distortion of the knee, hemarthrosis and with dislocation of the patella.

A questionnaire was sent to 967 schoolchildren, in two age groups, in northern Finland in order to investigate the prevalence of chronic knee pain. A response rate of 88.5% was achieved. Adolescents (aged 14-15 years) had significantly more knee pain (p < 0.0001) than children (aged 9-10 years). The total prevalence of chronic knee pain at the time of the evaluation was 18.5% among adolescents and 3.9% among children. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of chronic knee pain between boys and girls in these age groups. Overweight was not a predisposing factor in chronic knee pain.

We report 2 cases of penile incarceration in a 10-year-old boy and a 40-year-old man. In both cases the penis was encircled by a metallic object. The string method described was successful, rapid, atraumatic and simple to use.

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Objective: To study the clinical manifestations and occurrence of mtDNA depletion and deletions in paediatric patients with neuromuscular diseases and to identify novel clinical phenotypes associated with mtDNA depletion or deletions.Methods: Muscle DNA samples from patients presenting with undefined encephalomyopathies or myopathies were analysed for mtDNA content by quantitative real-time PCR and for deletions by long-range PCR. Direct sequencing of mtDNA maintenance genes and whole-exome sequencing were used to study the genetic aetiologies of the diseases. Clinical and laboratory findings were collected.