[59 operations for removal of hip prosthesis. Comparison between simple removal and coaptation]. / Cinquante neuf ablations de prothèses de hanche. Comparaison entre l'ablation simple et la coaptation.

The authors have studied fifty-nine patients in whom a total hip prosthesis had been removed for various reasons. In forty-five cases the greater trochanter was inserted into the acetabulum and the position maintained by external fixation. In fourteen cases the prosthesis was simply removed and traction applied for several weeks. Forty-one patients were available for follow up study. The results were identical as regards pain. The residual stability was better in cases of trochantero-pelvic penetration but residual mobility was better after simple removal. The latter procedure should be performed in cases of acetabular destruction, in advanced age or in cases where the insertion of a new prosthesis can be anticipated later. Healing of draining sinuses is related to the extent of tissue excision and the removal of all cement.

[A case of an accessory soleus muscle]. / Une observation de soléaire accessoire.

The authors describe a case of accessory soleus muscle they have seen. It caused the development of a painful swelling on the medial side of the lower third of the leg with progressive equinovarus deformity of the foot. The upper attachment of the accessory muscle was in front of the normal muscle and distally was attached to the inner aspect of the calcaneus. The case was treated by transferring the accessory tendon to the tendo Achillis. 7 other cases reported in the literature are discussed in detail.

[Chiari's pelvic osteotomy in adults. 35 cases (author's transl)]. / Ostéotomie pelvienne de Chiari chez l'adulte. 35 interventions.

Between 1968 and 1978 the authors have performed 35 Chiari's pelvic osteotomies in adults ; 25 cases reviewed after a more than one year follow-up. The operation is a relatively major one, and complications are not uncommon. Carried out in adults for sequelae of hip dislocation in childhood, with or without arthrosis, it relieves pain remarkably well and improves walking distances but has little effect on hip mobility. Pelvic osteotomy may also give satisfactory results in some advanced forms of arthrosis, provided hip mobility remains sufficient (70 degrees flexion or more).

[Ambulatory treatment of congenital dislocation using a harness to maintain the hip in hyperflexion (author's transl)]. / Traitement ambulatoire de la luxation congéntale de la hanche dans les premiers mois par un harnais en hyperflexion.

Eighteen children aged between zero and seven months have been treated by a method using Scott's harness to maintain the hips in hyperflexion. Twenty one hips were subluxated. In two cases, the method was inadequate and the hips had to be treated by progressive traction. In one case osteochondritis developed. In other cases the treatment was successful. The technical details of this technique are given.

Thyroid autoantibody levels during lithium therapy.

The study of the levels of thyroid antibodies was conducted in 58 patients treated with lithium and in 40 subjects who received other psychotropic drugs and who were used as controls. The measure of the antithyroglobulin antibodies were made by passive hemagglutination and that of the antimicrosomal antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence. For the whole control group, the research of the antithyroglobulin antibodies was positive in 3 cases, i.e. 7.5%. For the 58 patients treated with lithium, this research was positive in 11 subjects, i.e. 19%: thus, lithium seems to cause immunological reactions in the thyroid. 5 lithium-treated patients developed a goiter. The antibody determination was positive in only 2 subjects and was negative in the others. The measure of antithyroid antibodies before lithium did not enable us to predict the emergence of thyroid complications. On the contrary, subjects treated with lithium presented signficantly high antibody levels without developing clinical thyroid manifestations.