International orthopaedics
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Hundred-seventy patients with the 4 commonest degenerative neuro-muscular disorders (limbgirdle and Duchenne muscular dystrphy, Kugelberg-Welander's spinal muscular atrophy and peroneal muscular atrophy) were screened for scoliosis, which was found in 56%. Of 76 patients in the early stages of their respective disorders (stages 1-6 of Gardner-Medwin and Walton), scoliosis was found in 72%. ⋯ Morphologically, scoliosis in these disorders was not found to differ from idiopathic scoliosis. Neither side nor site of the scoliosis were related to the distribution of muscle weakness as determined by manual testing.
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The Hoffmann external fixator was used to stabilize unstable pelvic fractures in 56 patients with multiple injuries. It was applied under general anaesthesia and the dislocated pelvis reduced and secured with a single tie bar. ⋯ Forty-three patients were symptom free with regard to the pelvis at the time of review whereas 5 patients had residual pain and 3 diffuse symptoms. The technique of application is simple but requires two surgeons at the time of reduction and fixation of the pelvis.