We present a surgical technique through an axillary incision to perform scapular neck osteotomy and insertion of bone graft for recurrent anterior dislocation of shoulder. Fifty patients in the age group 09–40 years with the history of anterior dislocation of shoulder more than three times were operated during 1988–1998. The dominant shoulder was involved in all cases and there was no history of epilepsy, addiction to drugs and psychosomatic ailments. The surgery was performed through an axillary incision. The lateral border of the scapula was palpated and infraglenoid tubercle identified. The scapular neck was osteotomised parallel to the glenoid margin, from infraglenoid tubercle to the lateral border of the base of coracoid leaving the superior cortex intact. The osteotomy was prised open and a 3 cmx1.5 cmx1 cm corticocancellous bone graft was wedgedwhich projected 10 mm anteriorly and 6 mm inferiorly. The graft remained secure and compressed in the osteotomy without any need of metallic fixation.The shoulder was immobilised in arm chest bandage for 4 weeks followed by mobilisation aimed to regain full movements in 12 weeks. The bone graft got incorporated in all patients in 6 months.There were no recurrence at follow up of 2–10 years. All the patients returned to their previous occupation. Rowes shoulder evaluation revealed excellent result (85–100 units). This surgical technique is extra-capsular, requires no muscle cutting, blood transfusion or metallic fixation. The projecting bone block anteriorly increased the depth of glenoid resulting in glenohumeral stability in larger arc of shoulder movements.

Thirty patients with chronic pyogenic or tuberculous arthritis of the hip treated by Girdlestone's excision arthroplasty were reviewed two to seven years after operation. There was marked or complete relief of pain in 29, control of infection in 27, squatting and sitting cross-legged was possible in 27, and 16 were able to stand on the operated limb. Overall results were good in 16, fair in nine, and poor in five. Tuberculous disease was not reactivated and the use of traction for 12 weeks and a weight-relieving caliper for 12 months after operation helped to reduce the shortening to an average of 3.8 centimetres. Excision arthroplasty is considered a sound operation to restore the ability to squat and sit cross-legged.

Demineralised homologous bone-matrix implant was used to bridge a large circumferential osteoperiosteal gap in the diaphysis of the ulna of rabbits. Periodic observations of the graft were made clinically, radiologically, histologically and by tetracycline fluorescence up to forty-two weeks. By the twelfth week after operation 81 per cent of the animals revealed bone formation in the implant and complete bridging of the gap. The new bone was laid on the surface and in the substance of the matrix, suggesting that the inductive principle was acting locally. The bone, once formed, remodelled to the texture of a mature tubular bone and did not undergo absorption during a long follow-up period. Demineralise bone-matrix proved to be a highly osteoinductive and readily osteoconductive material. The graft did not evoke any appreciable local foreign-body or immunogenic reaction. The high degree of success in bridging massive bone defects justifies further serious studies and hopes for a useful substitute for massive autologous bone grafts.