Spindle-cell sarcoma of the hand may present as a benign recurrent nodule.

THE JOURNAL OF BONE AND JOINT SURGERY Discussion. The size ofthe ridge remaining after resection correlated well with the late results : the best results followed its complete removal. Chronic mechanical irritation often produces adhesions between the calcaneal tendon and the posterior surface of the calcaneus, with loss of the radiolucent retroca!canea! recess (Pavlov et a! 1982). At operation this gives the appearance of a higher tendon insertion, which may explain the incidence of incomplete resection. The amount of bone to be resected should be determined from pre-operative radiographs. This allows any adhesions between bone and tendon to be divided, without danger to the insertion itself. There is no evidence that the calcaneus is dangerously weakened by full resection. During eversion and inversion of the foot the calcanea! tendon glides on the dorsal surface of the calcaneum. After resection, there should be no contact between the tendon and the bone above its insertion, even in full ankle dorsiflexion. If the line of resection is too steep, contact may occur and cause irritation of the ca!caneal tendon and chronic tendinitis. The aim of surgery is to produce a gently sloping, smooth surface above the level of the insertion of the Achilles tendon which does not make contact with the tendon (Fig. 2).