[Not Available]. / Chirurgie Plastique des Sequelles de Brulures de la Main. Experience du Centre National des Brules, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Casablanca.

Burns sequelae in the hand are frequent and various, ranging from the aesthetic and functional to the simple and complex. We report our experience of five years of burns sequelae treatment at the National Burns and Plastic Surgery Centre in the University Hospital Centre in Casablanca, Morocco. Our survey concerned 65 patients aged 2 to 70 years (45 men and 20 women) on whom we performed a total number of 143 surgical operations in 105 hands. The sequelae were located in the back of the hand in 57 cases, followed by the commissures in 43 cases. Various reconstruction methods were used, notably skin graft (58 cases) and local flaps (32 cases). We assessed the patients' level of satisfaction with the results achieved using the different methods and found that, with regard to skin graft, 94% were satisfied with the results achieved in the back of the hand, 90% with the local flaps in the first commissure, and 95% with distance flaps. With regard to reconstruction of the thumb, 100% of the patients treated with pollicization of a finger declared their satisfaction and 75% of those treated with transfer of the second toe.

[Burns caused by paint thinner]. / Brulures par Diluant.

Flame deriving from paint thinner is not a rare cause of burns in Morocco and we thus considered it useful to conduct an epidemiological survey of paint thinner flame burns (PTFB) in the National Burns Centre (NBC) in the Ibn-Rochd University Hospital Centre in Casablanca, Morocco. The research covered the 10-month period from September 2007 to June 2008.The aim of our work was to present the characteristic features of such burns in order to prevent them by increasing public knowledge regarding the risks involved in using paint thinner, i.e. burns in particular. During the period in question, we colligated 17 cases of PTFB out of a total number of 356 patients admitted to the NBC for acute burns of all aetiologies. The patients' average was 32 yr and they were nearly all male (16 men/1 woman), with past histories of drug addiction and/or delinquency. They were all of low-level socioeconomic class and lived mainly in shanty towns. The burn was often secondary to street violence (92% of the cases).The mean burn surface area was 23% and the burns were often deep and located mainly in the upper limbs and the trunk.

[Reconstruction after tumour's excision in lip's cancer: report of 100 cases]. / La recontruction après exérèse carcinologique des cancers des lèvres. A propos de 100 cas.

OBJECTIVE: Cancer of the lips is a frequent pathology, it represents 1/5 of cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract. Its objectives are to present the experience of the plastic and reconstructive surgery unit of the universitary hospital of Casablanca. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The authors present a retrospective study about 100 cases of lips cancer treated between January 1999 and December 2002. RESULTS: The average age is 59 years. The sex-ratio is 7.3. Eighty-five percent of our patients were smokers and 22% were alcoholics, the association alcoholic and smoker was found in 20%. In our study 71% were classified T1-T2 and 29% as T3-T4. The tumoral location was the lower lip in 82% and the upper lip in 10%. The histological study showed a squamous cell carcinoma type in 85% and a basal-cell carcinoma type in 14% of cases. After the tumour's excision, the reparation was done by cross-lip flap in 25%, the naso-lateral flap in 16% and the Gillies flap in 8%. The functional result was good in 92% of cases and the aesthetic result was excellent in 60% of cases and good in 30% of cases. The survival rate at 2 year was 90%. CONCLUSION: Actually, lip's cancer treatment is essentially surgical. The reconstructive techniques are various, depending on the size and location of the loss of substance.

[Thoracic reconstruction by a free fibulaire flap and latismus dorsi]. / Reconstruction de la paroi thoracique antérieure par lambeau fibulaire libre et latissimus dorsi.

In order to preserve the respiratory function of the thorax the reconstruction must be immediate and must answer currently to principles of repair very codified. We reported a case of thoracic reconstruction by an association of flaps, free fibular and pedicled of the latismus dorsi, after a resection of a shrewd tumour of the thoracic partition. This reconstruction has permitted the contribution of a musculocutaneous cover of good quality and the contribution of a skeletal support satisfying at a time. The association of flaps can be considered like one of the solutions for the reconstruction of the big losses of substance of full thickness of the thoracic partition requiring a restoration of the thoracic skeleton.

[The Marjolin's ulcer, destiny of a unstable scar. About 54 cases of burn's sequelae]. / L'ulcère de Marjolin, destinée d'une cicatrice instable. A propos de 54 cas de séquelles de brûlure.

Through a study of 54 cases of malignant transformation on burn's scar, collected during a period of 8 years, the authors underline the particularities of this tumor, reported at the literature such as the preponderance of spinocellular carcinoma as histological type, the high rate of lymphatic metastasis and recurrence, and also the poor prognosis. In addition, the authors underline the non-rare character of this affection, whose incidence is correlated to the level of medication; it's occurring in younger patients, and its short delay of transformation. The treatment is based on prevention by a correct management of the initial burns, the cure of any instable scar, and a regular surveillance. The biopsy should be realised in case of suspicion of degeneration. The radical treatment must be initially aggressive, consisting on large excision associated eventually to radiotherapy. This treatment must be integrated in an elaborating therapeutic strategy, taking on consideration the evolutive potentiality of these tumors in order to improve chances of recovery and survival.

[The use of preputial skin as cutaneous graft after circumcision. Report of 30 clinical cases]. / Utilisation de la peau préputiale comme greffon cutané après circoncision. A propos de 30 cas cliniques.

Through a study of 30 clinical cases, collected at the service center of plastic surgery and burns in Averroes University hospital at Casablanca, the authors underline the interest of using preputial skin as full-thickness skin graft for the treatment of burns and their sequelaes in non-circumcised boys, whose age ranged from one to four years. At this age, they are more exposed to domestic accidents. The preputial skin graft gives the advantage of the absence of scare prejudice at the donor site each time the circumcision is possible; and provides a skin of good elastic quality avoiding secondary retraction with a very favorable rate of graft intake. Although the application of this technique for other affections is possible, but remains limited by the hyperpigmentation of the graft.

The response of adult human saphenous vein endothelial cells to combined pressurized pulsatile flow and cyclic strain, in vitro.

Adult human saphenous vein endothelial cells (HVEC) were cultured in a compliant tubular device and evaluated by Northern hybridization for the effects of combined pressurized pulsatile flow and cyclic strain on the expression of mRNAs for endothelin-1 (ET-1), endothelial cell nitric oxide synthase (ecNOS), tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1). The hemodynamic environment was designed to mimic shear stress conditions at the distal anastomosis of a saphenous vein graft, a common site of intimal proliferation. Steady-state mRNA levels in experimental tubes were expressed relative to that in controls. No changes were observed in ET-1 mRNA after 1 and 24 hr, but a 50% decrease in experimental cultures was observed after 48 hr in the vascular simulating device. Similar results were obtained for ecNOS mRNA, although a subgroup (4 of 11) showed a significant decrease (>50%) by 24 hr. For tPA mRNA, no change was observed after 1 hr, but a significant decrease (>60%) was measured after 24 hr and no message was detectable after 48 hr. Steady-state levels for PAI-1 mRNA remained unchanged through 48 hr of treatment. These results show that pressure, pulsatile flow, and cyclic strain, when applied in concert, differentially alter vasoactive and fibrinolytic functions in HVEC. Moreover, the dramatic decrease in steady-state levels of tPA mRNA is consistent with a shift toward an increased thrombotic state.

Vein harvest: minimally invasive techniques and reduction in complications.

Revascularization of the coronary or lower extremity circulation ideally requires an autologous conduit. The saphenous vein is the most commonly used graft. Minimally invasive surgical techniques for harvesting of the greater saphenous vein (GSV) are gaining popularity. With better instruments, critical evaluation of techniques and longer follow-up of patients, the outcome of such vein harvesting is improving. An increasing number of authors are reporting a variety of techniques with reduction in wound complications compared to conventional surgery.

Laparoscopic abdominal incisional hernioplasty: principles, technique and complications.

Repair of incisional herniae by direct approximation of the edges is associated with high incidence of recurrence. Tension free repair with prosthetic material was an advance in decreasing the incidence of recurrence. Repair with prosthetic material, to be successful, re qui res extensive dissection and its associated complications. Advances in laparoscopy along with the improvements in prosthetic materials has opened up opportunity for further decreasing the incidence of recurrence with minimal dissection.

Complications of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair.

Laparoscopic herniorrhaphy has been gaining popularity along with other minimally invasive surgical techniques. With the sophistication of instruments, evaluation of techniques and longer follow-up of patients, the outcome of such repairs is changing. Many authors are reporting a variety of techniques, complications, and results compared to conventional surgery.

Characteristics of vascular wall cells subjected to dynamic cyclic strain and fluid shear conditions in vitro.

We recently developed an in vitro silicone rubber tubular apparatus, the vascular simulating device (VSD), which simulates pressure, flow, and strain characteristics of peripheral arteries (Benbrahim et al., 1994, J. Vasc. Surg. 20, 184-194). In this report, we tested the ability of silicone rubber surfaces to support the growth and differentiation of endothelial cells (EC) and smooth muscle cells (SMC) and studied the effects of arterial levels of pressure, flow, and strain on these properties. Human umbilical and saphenous vein EC and bovine aortic EC and SMC were cultured on coated and uncoated silicone rubber in flat and tubular configurations (6 mm inner diameter) and on tissue culture plastic (TCP). Attachment, growth, and differentiation were compared on these surfaces. In addition, the effects of arterial pressure, flow, and strain conditions on adhesion and subsequent growth and differentiation were studied in the tubular configuration. Attachment and growth of vascular wall cells on fibronectin-coated silicone rubber was similar to that obtained on TCP. Application of arterial levels of pressure, flow, and strain did not alter adhesion of the cells to the tubes. Subsequent passage of these cells demonstrated that attachment, growth, and differentiation (uptake of LDL and expression of factor VIII-related antigen by EC and expression of muscle-specific actin by SMC) were similar in cells derived from experimental and control tubes which were not subjected to arterial conditions. Finally, mRNA expression of specific "housekeeping" genes was similar in cells isolated from experimental and control tubes. We conclude that the VSD supports the culture of viable and differentiated EC and SMC. These experiments demonstrate that it is possible to evaluate the effects of arterial strain and fluid shear on vascular wall cells in vitro, in a configuration similar to the blood vessel wall.

Laser assisted vascular welding with real time temperature control.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Previous studies in laser assisted vascular welding have been limited by the lack of a reliable end point for tissue fusion. As a means of improving the reproductibility of laser assisted repairs, a system incorporating real time temperature monitoring and closed loop feedback was used. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: The system consisted of a direct view infrared thermometer for monitoring the laser heated spot, a 1.9 microns diode laser, and a microprocessor for data acquisition and feedback control of the laser power to maintain a constant tissue temperature. Rat aortas were welded under constant surface temperature conditions. RESULTS: In vivo temperature stability of +/- 2 degrees C was achieved over a temperature range of 70-90 degrees C pertinent to welding small vessels. When welds were completed using the feedback system to maintain the tissue temperature at 80 degrees C, the acute success rate was 100% and the burst pressure was 290 +/- 70 mmHg. CONCLUSION: These studies demonstrate that the use of real time monitoring and feedback control results in improved consistency for vascular tissue welding.

Device for the application of a dynamic biaxially uniform and isotropic strain to a flexible cell culture membrane.

A large number of studies have demonstrated that mechanical perturbation modulates cellular metabolism; however, the systematic characterization of the molecular and cellular transduction mechanisms underlying mechanically induced metabolic modulation has been impeded, in part, by the limitations of the mechanical device. The objective of this investigation was to develop an in vitro experimental system that would provide independent control of the spatial and temporal biaxial strain distribution imposed on a flexible transparent tissue culture membrane that permits attachment, proliferation, and maintenance of the phenotypic expression of cultured embryonic osteoblasts. Such a device would permit a systematic investigation of the cellular response to specific, independently controlled parameters of mechanical deformation. Using a prototype device designed to impose a dynamic sinusoidal spatially isotropic biaxial strain profile, we confirmed experimentally that the strain was biaxially uniform and isotropic (radial = circumferential strain over the entire culture membrane) to within 14% (SD/mean) for the range of the peak strains tested (2.3-9.4%). Additionally, the uniformity was maintained at 1 Hz for at least 5 days of continuous operation. This experimental verification of the theoretically predicted isotropic strain profile suggests that the design principle is sound. Embryonic osteoblasts cultured on the flexible substrate proliferated and exhibited a temporal pattern of phenotypic expression (extracellular matrix accumulation and mineralization) comparable with that observed on polystyrene of tissue culture grade.

A compliant tubular device to study the influences of wall strain and fluid shear stress on cells of the vascular wall.

PURPOSE: Cellular constituents of the blood vessel wall are continuously subjected, in vivo, to both mechanical and hemodynamic forces, which elicit structural and biologic responses. We have developed a compliant tubular system, the vascular simulating device (VSD), that reproduces these forces, while supporting the attachment and the experimental manipulation of endothelial and smooth muscle cells. METHODS: The VSD consists of a compliant silicone rubber tube coupled to a pump system, which permits the simultaneous application of known levels of pressure and flow, to vascular wall cells cultured on the inner surface of the tube. Seeded cells can be monitored visually under phase contrast or fluorescent optics, as well as harvested and analyzed for biologic responses. RESULTS: The elastic modulus and compliance of the silicone rubber tube are similar to those of canine and human arteries. Endothelial and smooth muscle cells cultured on the lumenal surface of the tubes remain attached and viable after subjecting them to physiologic pulsatile flow and cyclic strain. CONCLUSION: The VSD makes it possible to approximate, in vitro, those forces encountered by vascular wall cells, in vivo and therefore may make it possible to determine whether specific combinations of mechanical and hemodynamic forces are causally associated with specific vascular diseases.