[French plastic surgeons and humanitarian missions, does a French touch exist?]. / Chirurgie humanitaire, implication des plasticiens français et particularités. Recherche d'une spécificité française ?

France like many other countries has long since been committed to Humanitarian Medicine within the framework of evangelical and territorial expansion. As prodigies of the Age of Enlightenment and the universalisation of Human Rights, French surgeons have successfully exported these inherited values through The Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the creation of nongovernmental organisations recognised worldwide. In addition to the finely acquired medical skills that French surgeons share with other prestigious countries, the "French Touch" appears to be found in their transfer of this knowledge along with their will and commitment to return to the same places as often as possible in order to cultivate local self sustainability.

[Aesthetic surgery: the Union]. / Chirurgie esthétique : le Syndicat.

The author reports an evaluation and a retrospective study of the union's different activities. A quality approach, a serious commitment, a high level of competence and an openness as seen in the brochure and on the web site are discussed. Survey results carried out on our patients, which explore the perception and image of cosmetic surgery, the methods of recruitment the reputation of the union and the degree of information received by the public are also discussed.

[Beta-hemolytic streptococcal periorbital necrotizing fasciitis in a child]. / Fasciite nécrosante péri-orbitaire à streptocoque bêta-hémolytique chez l'enfant.

The authors report a case of beta-haemolytic streptococcal periorbital necrosing fasciitis in a two old girl. Extensive cutaneous necrosis of the four eyelids developed after the installation of a major septic syndrome. Excision of the necrotic tissues required removal of the palpebral part of the orbicularis muscle and opening of the orbital septum. A graft was performed on the 23rd day. Active palpebral occlusion was retained by means of the orbital portion of the orbicularis muscle. Two complementary grafts had to be performed to ensure satisfactory palpebral occlusion. The periorbital localization, exceptional in children, must not be confused with periorbital cellulitis, a common disease, which never progresses towards necrosis. The authors stress the necessity of an early diagnosis in view of the importance of medical treatment and surgical drainage with opening of the septum, which is the only way of decompressing the oedema and preventing palpebral necrosis due to tissue ischaemia.

[Gastric fundus necrosis following acute gastric dilatation]. / Nécrose gastrique, fundique, consécutive à une dilatation gastrique aiguë.

Total gastrectomy with immediate re-establishment of digestive continuity successfully treated a patient with gastric fundus necrosis due to acute dilatation of stomach. The very particular circumstances of onset of this major complication are outlined, diagnosis being dependent on radiological and endoscopic findings. In cases with necrosis of the fundus the extensive nature of the ischemic lesions as shown by results of histopathology strongly suggests the need for total gastrectomy in these patients.