Footedness of left- and right-handers

The performance on a simple tapping task of the hands and feet of left- and right-handers was tested. Right-handers tapped faster with their right hand and right foot. Left-handers tapped faster with their left hand and right foot. Thus, footedness follows handedness in right-handers but not in left-handers. Left-handers showed smaller left/right differences than right-handers in both hand and foot performance. These data are in loose agreement with the modified genetic theory of handedness proposed by Annett (Hand preference and the laterality of cerebral speech, Cortex, 1975).

Thigh emphysema and hip pain secondary to gastrointestinal perforation

A patient presenting with thigh emphysema and hip pain may suggest intra-abdominal pathology. Three new and 19 previously reported cases of thigh emphysema secondary to bowel disease are reviewed. The thigh and hip manifestations can obscure the primary intra-abdominal process either due to the obvious emphysema or to the obtunded abdominal signs secondary to associated neuropathy. Only one of 22 patients with thigh emphysema secondary to bowel perforation had gas gangrene. Early diagnosis of this clinical association is essential since eight of the 11 deaths occurred within a few days after admission. Right-sided thigh emphysema suggests appendicitis, whereas left-sided emphysema is more likely to be secondary to left colonic diverticulitis or carcinoma.