Purpose. To identify factors related to knee flexion after total knee arthroplasty in a Chinese population. Methods. Records of 242 total knee arthroplasties were retrospectively reviewed. The parameters evaluated were age, gender, diagnosis, preoperative knee flexion and extension, preoperative flexion arc, tibiofemoral angle, Knee Society knee score and functional score, and implant design. Results. Advanced age, female gender, and good preoperative flexion and flexion arc were related to better postoperative flexion. Postoperative flexion tended to migrate to the middle range despite different ranges of preoperative flexion. Preoperative tibiofemoral malalignment had no significant effect on postoperative flexion. Conclusion. Contemporary designs of posterior stabilised prostheses with right and left femoral components were superior to older designs.

Solitary dislocation of the scaphoid can be classified as simple, or complex if the distal carpal row is included. It may be total or partial. Partial dislocation of the proximal pole may occur in a radial, palmar or dorsal direction. Each type has a different significance in terms of surgical approaches, complications and prognosis.

The position of the patella in the Southern Chinese population is 15 to 20% higher than in Western populations, both in controls and in disease. Those with patellar dislocation and anterior knee pain have significantly higher patellae than the controls in both population groups, and this is confirmed in the 5 methods of measurement we have studied. Patella alta is more common in our region. The patella alta index described in this paper provides a reliable and reproducible measurement of patellar height. A value of more than 3.4 is abnormal in our population.

II.

Successful intercarpal arthrodesis requires a stable fusion with maintenance of correct alignment and spatial relationship of the carpus. The technique described utilizes a series of tube saws to fashion the arthrodesis bed and then insert a sized iliac crest dowel bone graft with a tight interference fit. This technique has been used in 24 patients over a two-year period in both medial and lateral column intercarpal fusions. All wrists had fused by the tenth post-operative month. The technique is precise, reproducible and technically simple with a high fusion rate and minimal donor site morbidity.