[Self-closing flaps in the treatment of scalp burns due to high-voltage electricity]. / Lambeaux autofermants pour le traitement des brulures electriques du scalp par haut voltage.

Electrical burns caused by high voltage are responsible for extensive tissue damage. This damage continues in the days following the accident because of the heat deriving from the Joule effect and vascular microthrombosis. In such cases of destruction of the periostum and the calvarium we use coverage flaps. From June 1997 to June 2008, 15 patients were treated for loss of scalp substance due to high-voltage electric burns. The loss, in the tonsural region and varying in size from 9 to 11 cm, was reliably covered per primam in the first week following the accident using axial and multiple coverage flaps. We report the experience of the Division of Plastic Surgery, Ibn-Sina, Rabat, Morocco.

[Severe burns of lower limb due to association of hot water and citrullus colocynthis]. / Brulure grave du membre inferieur par l'association d'eau chaude et de citrullus colocynthis.

The case is reported of a patient suffering from severe burns through having used Citrullus colocynthis as a medicinal plant together with hot water. This led to carbonization of the foot and to its amputation. A description of the plant and its toxicity is given.

Finger avulsion injuries: a report of four cases.

Injury that occurs to a finger wearing a ring though rare can have grave consequences. It is a preventable injury which has a peculiar mode of trauma that is usually occupational. Injury ranges from simple contusion to degloving of soft tissues to traumatic amputation. We hereby report our experience of four cases of finger avulsion injuries due to a ring and discuss their variable clinical presentation and individualized management.

[Extensor digitorum brevis muscle flap: its help in coverage of distal foot defects. Report of six cases]. / Le lambeau du muscle court extenseur des orteils à flux rétrograde au secours des pertes de substance distales du pied. A propos de six cas.

From January 1997 to march 2002, six extensor digitorum brevis muscle flaps have been used in four women and two men. Their ages were between five and 65-years-old. The defects were localised in the hallux in three cases, the dorsum of foot in one case, the other toes in one case and the external border of foot in one case. The defects were secondary to burn retraction in four cases, secondary to trauma in one case and secondary to osteomyelitis in another case. All the flaps were elevated on the distal dorsalis pedis artery with a retrograde flow. With an average of four years follow-up, all defects covered were very satisfying and there is no functional sequellae.

[The "necktie lasso": a new technique for the simultaneous treatment of Wartenberg's sign and claw deformities in the hand due to ulnar nerve palsy]. / Le "lasso en cravate': une nouvelle technique pour le traitement simultané du signe de Wartenberg et des déformations en griffe des mains atteintes de paralysies cubitales.

The "necktie lasso" is a new technique that allows the simultaneous active treatment, of both Wartenberg's sign and claw deformity of the fifth and the fourth digits in the hand with ulnar nerve palsy. The flexor sublimis of the fourth digit is taken by a palmar approach. It is then divided into two strips up to the proximal part of the palm; The radial strip is used as a classical "direct lasso" to treat the claw deformity of the fourth digit; The ulnar strip is wound around the base of the fifth digit by a palmar and dorsal approaches at the level of the proximal phalanx, like a necktie, being medial to its radial pedicle, dorsal and superficial to its extensor apparatus, then lateral to its ulnar pedicle; It is then recovered in the palm and sutured to itself. From September 1998 to April 2003, this technique has been used in eight patients aged between 21 and 35 years old and suffering from post traumatic low ulnar nerve palsy. It was always very effective in dealing with Wartenberg's sign: the active adduction of the fifth digit appearing at the start of flexion. The claw deformity of the fourth and fifth digits was equally actively corrected. No complications are reported in this series. With a mean follow-up of 3 years there was no recurrence of any of the deformities.

[The protected tendinous graft in zone 2 or fibroblast trap]. / La greffe tendineuse protégée en zone 2 ou le piège à fibroblastes.

INTRODUCTION: We present a simple technique for preventing adhesions to tendon grafts in zone 2. A silicone tube is cut longitudinally and the third of its diameter is removed. It is then introduced under the pulley with the slot towards the skeleton. The tendon graft is introduced into this tube which will protect it from adhesions except at the slot level where fibroblasts create a new vasculature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between April 2002 and April 2003, we have used this technique in three patients, two in their thumbs and one in the long finger. In the Boyes classification, one thumb lesion corresponded to stage 1 and the other two cases to stage 4. The main pulleys were preserved. The tube measured 12 cm in length, and extended from the proximal juncture to the distal one (Pulvertaft technique). After 5 weeks of strict immobilization, the tube was withdrawn and the patients began active mobilization. RESULTS: After 8 weeks, comparison of the results with the opposite hand showed: Normal extension in all cases. Flexion deficit of 15 degrees in the thumb interphalangeal joints. Flexion deficit of 20 degrees in the proximal and distal interphalangeal joints of the long finger. There were no reported complications. With a mean follow-up of 1 year, these results were stable. CONCLUSION: These results support the contention that a good blood supply to the tendon and a good gliding surface have been developed with this technique. The tube seems to work as a fibroblast trap and blocks harmful adhesions.

[The bilobed flap: a very efficient method in aesthetic reconstruction of small skin defects at the alar and tip regions of the nose]. / Le lambeau bilobé : un moyen très efficace dans les reconstructions esthétiques des petites pertes de substance cutanées de la pointe et de l'aile du nez.

From October 1996 to January 2001, 20 patients (14 men and six women) ranging from 36 to 75 years old have been treated for their small skin defects of the nose by using the bilobed flap. These skin defects were located in 15 cases at the alar region and in five cases at the tip region. They were secondary to the resection of basal cell carcinoma in 17 cases and benign tumors in three cases. Their diameter ranged from 8 to 17 mm and in all these cases there was no involvement of the lining or cartilage. The design used for this bilobed flap was the Zitelli one, based on some mathematical principles; its base was medial or lateral depending on the site of the defect. With this method, the skin defects were reconstructed esthetically without any distortion of local anatomy of the nose with skin having the same color, texture and thickness. With an average of 28 month follow-up, all these reconstructions were stable with discreet scars and without the trapdoor phenomenon. No complications were reported. Esthetic reconstruction of such subunit nasal skin defects is easily done by this technique and is better than that obtained by the majority of others methods.

[Reconstruction of large scalp and calvarium defects by using the semi-free latissimus dorsi flap associated with methylmethacrylate implant for cranioplasty]. / Reconstruction des larges pertes de substance du scalp et du calvarium par association du lambeau semi-libre différé de grand dorsal et cranioplastie au méthylmétacrylate.

The semi free latissimus dorsi flap is characterized by a temporary vascular anastomosis on a pedicle not belonging to the loco-regional anatomy of the skin defect; after a period of autonomy, the section of the flap pedicle is obligatory. Its advantage compared to the classic free flap is the great microsurgical security avoiding complex, and stressful supervision in the postoperative period. From June 1998 to January 2001, 7 patients ranging from 18 to 65 years old and suffering from large scalp defects going between 20 x 13 cm and 27 x 18 cm have benefited from this surgical method. The etiology of these defects was: in 4 cases dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans involving the periost, in 1 case destruction of the near entirety of the scalp and calvarium by electrical burn, in 1 case an instable scar of burn with osteomyelitis and in the last case an osteomyelitis on a frontal cranioplasty. Three stages have been used:--The thoraco-dorsal artery was anastomosed on the wrist to the radial artery in a termino-lateral way and the thoraco-dorsal vein to the superficiel radial vein in a termino-terminal way;--The flap was fixed to the forearm for 2 weeks, then, the debridement which has always exposed the dura was done; The flap was sutured to the defect after reconstruction of calvarial defect with the méthylmétacrylate implant;--After 3 weeks the pedicle was sectioned and the flap tailored exactly to the defect. No postoperative complications were reported. With a mean follow-up of 18 months, the scalp coverage was very satisfactory.