The British Orthopaedic Association assessment questionnaire for knee replacements was adapted to allow comparison of the severity of underlying polyarthritis with the benefits of geometric knee replacement in a retrospective study of 150 knees between six months and six years after operation. Total or partial relief of pain was achieved in 81 per cent of the operation, and changes in mobility occurred in fewer patients. Late sepsis remained a serious complication of nine per cent of the operations and one patient died from septicaemia. Late sepsis was associated with previous synovectomy or osteotomy. Retropatellar pain rarely interfered with the mobility of the patient. There was no association of operations that failed with a high erythrocyte sedimentation rate, a high platelet count, a low haemoglobin level or with a strongly positive rheumatoid factor but pain in the contralateral knee was associated with a diminished functional capacity.

1. Four cases of sural nerve entrapment lesions in the ankle and foot are reported.

2. All the patients gained complete relief of symptoms following neurolysis.

3. The presence of a ganglion in relation to the sural nerve in the ankle and foot is a helpful sign in the diagnosis of this condition.

1. Five cases of avulsion fracture of the calcaneus are reported.

2. The "beak" fracture of the calcaneus is thought to be a variant of the avulsion fracture and not a separate entity.

3. The variable attachment of the calcaneal tendon to the calcaneus is described, and its relationship to the different forms of avulsion fractures discussed.

4. Operative reduction and fixation are appropriate for young and active patients in order to restore full heel-cord function.

5. Attention is drawn to the risk of pressure necrosis of skin overlying a displaced fragment. Early operative correction may be required to prevent skin damage.