Topical Analgesia for the Urethra

Abstract

MEDICAL MEMORANDA~~MEIUJUM by 2 in.(5 cm.) at its greatest width.It was attached by its narrower extremity to the costal aspect of the vertebral border.The wider end bore rounded facets indicating the points of contact with the ribs.The pathological report stated that the specimen con- sisted of normal compact and cancellous bone, covered by a layer of hyaline cartilage at its wider end, and without any evidence of haemopoiesis or malignancy.The post-operative recovery was uneventful, a full range of painless movement, together with disappearance of the " winging" of the scapula, being obtained in eight weeks. COMMENTIn only two cases of the present collected series of 26 instances bf exostosis of the scapula were the exostoses found to be present at a site other than the medial angle or vertebral border.Du Mortier and Halpert (1934) believed the exostosis to grow from an accessory centre of ossification, but Lunardi (1934) thought it to be due to an over- growth of the epiphysis of the vertebral border.Treatment consisted in excision of the exostosis as close to the scapula as possible, and sometimes a portion of the scapula may need to be resected with it.The results of operation appear to be uniformly good, and even in cases in which winging has been present for many years, as in the case here described, correction of the deformity and return of full function is the rule.I wish to thank Mr. G. Hyman, under whose care this case was admitted and who performed the operation, for permission to publish and for encouragement and advice; and Dr.